Real Middle Class Politics
What we in the middle class want
Premise #1
• The middle class is the backbone of democracy:
As the middle class thrives a democracy thrives.
• According to Aristotle, a large, prosperous
middle class may mediate between rich and
poor, creating the structural foundation upon
which democratic political processes may
operate.
• The middle class has a special role in a
democracy and must be favored, protected.
• (We use “democracy” broadly and ignore the
nuance and arguments concerning “republic” vs
“democracy” as unimportant to this discussion.)
Class Roles in a Democratic
Society
• The rich provide capital for investment
and may provide leadership due to free
time and resources
• The middle class provide the know-how
and the effort to run a democratic society
• The poor provide the raw material to
expand the middle class
• Those who do not wish to contribute
to or participate in the society should
not reap its benefits
Premise #2
• Democracy and Capitalism are
inextricably intertwined, although
sometimes at odds
• People should be free to make a living,
and should prosper
• Rules must create a “level playing field”
for capitalism and free enterprise within a
democratic society; without those rules
capitalism will fail
Company Roles within a
Democratic Society
• Large Companies create stability and
reliable institutions- they should be
regulated to ensure that stability
• Small Companies provide Growth- they
should be encouraged and subsidized to
assure growth.
• All companies should either belong to this
country or to another- “multinationals”
with divided loyalties and no home should
be prohibited; Companies also contribute
to the democratic society, and have
responsibilities.
Premise #3
• A country or nation exists to serve its citizens
– “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more
perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide
for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure
the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain
and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
– “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created
equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain
unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit
of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted
among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the
governed. That whenever any form of government becomes
destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to
abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on
such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them
shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness.”
• A country does not exist to serve foreign interests or non-citizens
or non-participants in the democratic society
The Role of Government
• Our government is formed to be
responsive to the people. To this end we
have a federated democracy with states
and local governments having more
jurisdiction than the federal government.
• The communist or socialist ideal of “one
world government” would deny
responsive representation, cause laws
representative of the powerful with
reduced justice and freedom.
The Role of Government 2
• Countries compete: each country is
responsible for creating competitive
advantage for its citizens and
companies.
• In this way the country “promotes
the general welfare” and helps to
“secure the blessings of liberty”
Some Issues
• We will now apply a middle class
perspective to some issues of the
day in the following slides…
Economics
• For 30 years the Japanese, many others and later the
Chinese sought to devalue their currency so that we would
buy their products. In doing so they bought large amounts
of US bonds causing the prime rate to go lower and credit
to become very cheap. This caused America to consume
and not produce as much, creating a “throw away” culture
of waste. American leadership embraced this with the
“strong dollar policy” and later encouraged unqualified
borrowers to buy homes. All this benefitted financial
companies, retail, shipping and rich special interests at the
expense of manufacturing and US technology. It caused
great harm to US self sufficiency, innovation and
thriftiness- key American values. The US middle class lost
good jobs in these industries, but gained low paying retail
and shipping jobs in return. Eventually this irresponsible
economics lead to a financial crisis only exceeded by the
great depression.
Leadership
• For many years the President has been said to be “leader
of the free world”, but his role as leader of Americans has
been underemphasized. Congress and other politicians
have been controlled by the money from rich special
interests. Corporate leaders have emphasized
globalization and ignored responsibilities to our country.
Schools have failed to remind students of management
and business administration, politics and public
administration of the responsibilities to our country before
foreign interests or self interest.
• Our leaders now often prefer to provide service illegal
immigrants, foreign citizens, foreign or multinational
companies, visa holders, foreign poor and charities
instead of their US citizens, poor and companies.
Race, Color and Creed
• Today all minorities demand special treatment for
perceived slights. Each insists that they are discriminated
against. The result is law and policy that discriminates
against the perceived majority- who will soon be
outnumbered by the minorities. Today the President is not
white. At less than 50% whites will no longer dominate
America and will be just another minority. Who will we
blame then? We must return to the principles of equal
treatment under the law without special cases and special
exceptions. We must return to freedom of religion and
separation of church and state. We must return to
accepting responsibility for our own lot in life and stop
blaming others who have little or no control over our fate.
• National origin, once you become a citizen of OUR
country, forsaking past citizenship in your country of birth,
should also not be an issue.
A Report Card for the Obama
Administration
Area Grade Why?
Still focused outside the USA
Serving the Citizens F
No change to visa quotas,
Insourcing & Outsourcing F programs, outsourcing
disincentives
No action
Wage Deflation & Real Income F
Backed off- went back to “strong
Currency Manipulation F dollar”
Still focused outside the USA
American Leadership F
No policy, no statements, no
Industrial Policy & Manufacturing F significant action but bailouts
The economic crisis precludes an
Current Account & Trade Deficit D F grade- imports are falling without
Obama actions
Electing racist woman to supreme
Prejudice & Special Interests F court- rhetoric and policy against
whites continues, pandering to
gays
No action
Corruption & Corporate/Foreign F
Influence
A Report Card for the Obama
Administration
Area Grade Why?
Focused on poor, not middle class
Health Care C
Focused on poor, not middle class
Education C
No action- no support for US
Energy Independence F natural gas
Narrow focus on global warming
Environment C only