Comments on: Dismiss the middle class at your peril http://blogs.reuters.com/david-rohde/2011/10/27/dismiss-the-middle-class-at-your-peril/ The Global Middle Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:27:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: SinoKat http://blogs.reuters.com/david-rohde/2011/10/27/dismiss-the-middle-class-at-your-peril/#comment-196 SinoKat Fri, 04 Nov 2011 12:54:16 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/david-rohde/?p=125#comment-196 When the middle class is disenfranchised and stripped of power, social unrest will occur. I believe we're already seeing that unrest take place in the Arab Spring and OccupyWallStreet movements, as well as the Greek demonstrations. In the United States, the "1%" can earn their bounty only with the tacit cooperation by the voting electorate, which is predominantly middle class. If the middle class keeps taking it on the chin economically, this class will ultimately demand that the moneyed elite yield some of its power and perks. It would behoove the powerful elite to promote the success of the middle class, at least to some degree, in order to secure their own long-term interests. When the middle class is disenfranchised and stripped of power, social unrest will occur. I believe we’re already seeing that unrest take place in the Arab Spring and OccupyWallStreet movements, as well as the Greek demonstrations. In the United States, the “1%” can earn their bounty only with the tacit cooperation by the voting electorate, which is predominantly middle class. If the middle class keeps taking it on the chin economically, this class will ultimately demand that the moneyed elite yield some of its power and perks. It would behoove the powerful elite to promote the success of the middle class, at least to some degree, in order to secure their own long-term interests.

]]> By: M.C.McBride http://blogs.reuters.com/david-rohde/2011/10/27/dismiss-the-middle-class-at-your-peril/#comment-188 M.C.McBride Mon, 31 Oct 2011 03:35:27 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/david-rohde/?p=125#comment-188 A smart tariff plan is one way to fix the American economy. An education system that focuses on producing people that can create and serve consumer demand versus the current one that is focused on creating more bureaucrats and funding research boondoggles. The US education system also needs to become cheaper and more efficient. A media that actually reports relevant economic news and information is another one of the many important improvements necessary to fix the system. A smart tariff plan is one way to fix the American economy. An education system that focuses on producing people that can create and serve consumer demand versus the current one that is focused on creating more bureaucrats and funding research boondoggles. The US education system also needs to become cheaper and more efficient. A media that actually reports relevant economic news and information is another one of the many important improvements necessary to fix the system.

]]> By: matthewslyman http://blogs.reuters.com/david-rohde/2011/10/27/dismiss-the-middle-class-at-your-peril/#comment-182 matthewslyman Fri, 28 Oct 2011 10:56:52 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/david-rohde/?p=125#comment-182 > "Not enough Americans believe they can compete and win." Many of them are not wrong. Some of your other readers have been recommending this TED talk, which proves the point: http://www.ted.com/talks/richard_wilkinson.html > “Not enough Americans believe they can compete and win.”

Many of them are not wrong. Some of your other readers have been recommending this TED talk, which proves the point:
http://www.ted.com/talks/richard_wilkins on.html

]]> By: OneOfTheSheep http://blogs.reuters.com/david-rohde/2011/10/27/dismiss-the-middle-class-at-your-peril/#comment-181 OneOfTheSheep Thu, 27 Oct 2011 22:58:28 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/david-rohde/?p=125#comment-181 Until recently the "American Market" was a private preserve of relatively well-heeled consumers who, in the main, traded among themselves for the necessities and most of the luxuries of life. It was hated and opposed by the Soviets, China, Cuba and North Korea, none of whom had much of the international economic pie and would have gladly invaded the U.S. to take all that it had if they could have done so successfully. The U.S. has become a victim of those who followed our example. Only the economic midgets of the above remain "outside looking in". Russia has huge natural resources needed by many countries. The corruption and repressive nature of it's government have proven more of a hinderance than that of China, but today each has something to sell that the rest of the world wants instead of merely producing war munitions. But the "rising tide" does NOT raise all boats. The more people get into the "middle class boat", the less freeboard (security) is provided each passenger. There is a limit to the number of "above economic average" people that the world economy can support at any given time, and there is constant traffic into and out of the boat due to the sheer determination so some to get on board and the relative inertia and sense of entitlement of some born there. Those who continue to think and strive will always prevail under Capitalism. Those who want to coast along on the effort(s) of others will always find their hold on the "good life" tenuous, at best. My advice to my fellow Americans? The rules have changed. Learn the new rules and adapt or you're out of the boat (and you deserve to be). The world is fast becoming more and more a meritocracy (and that's good)! Until recently the “American Market” was a private preserve of relatively well-heeled consumers who, in the main, traded among themselves for the necessities and most of the luxuries of life. It was hated and opposed by the Soviets, China, Cuba and North Korea, none of whom had much of the international economic pie and would have gladly invaded the U.S. to take all that it had if they could have done so successfully.

The U.S. has become a victim of those who followed our example. Only the economic midgets of the above remain “outside looking in”. Russia has huge natural resources needed by many countries. The corruption and repressive nature of it’s government have proven more of a hinderance than that of China, but today each has something to sell that the rest of the world wants instead of merely producing war munitions.

But the “rising tide” does NOT raise all boats. The more people get into the “middle class boat”, the less freeboard (security) is provided each passenger. There is a limit to the number of “above economic average” people that the world economy can support at any given time, and there is constant traffic into and out of the boat due to the sheer determination so some to get on board and the relative inertia and sense of entitlement of some born there.

Those who continue to think and strive will always prevail under Capitalism. Those who want to coast along on the effort(s) of others will always find their hold on the “good life” tenuous, at best.

My advice to my fellow Americans? The rules have changed. Learn the new rules and adapt or you’re out of the boat (and you deserve to be). The world is fast becoming more and more a meritocracy (and that’s good)!

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