Although The American Dream says that hard work will lead to wealth and success, it doesn't seem to apply to most of us. Indeed, the smallest economic returns go to those generally laboring the hardest of all: the working poor. In the previous post, billionaire Thomas Peterffy argues in his anti-Obama ad that America's rich will lose motivation to work if they are required to pay more taxes. But while preaching the value of hard work, he fails to note that the rich have virtually monopolized income gains over recent years. Reflecting on the unequal opportunity for financial security that the class structure presents, the late Beth Shulman, in her 2005 book, The Betrayal of Work, was one of the first to examine the diminishing well-being of the working poor. In an interview on PBS's NOW in 2007 (view here, starting at about the 12:20 mark), she observed that worker productivity has grown significantly, but this has not trickled down to those in the bottom reaches of the American class structure. Indeed, "The top 1% is garnering 80% of income gains." (Today, it's over 90% going to the top 1%, according to Saenz). With this being said, how is it possible for most American workers, and particularly the poor, to sustain their dream of a better life when their incomes remain so low and stagnant that they continue to struggle just to get by?
These hardworking poor people will NEVER be able to make it to the top. Some how some way they will forever be trapped into the jobs that they have, that barely keep their head above water. The only people that are gaining TRUE gain in wages are the people who are already in these large executive positions. These people have tax cuts where the poor have increased taxes. The way this nation is set up there is only 2 classes. The rich, and the Poor, and the poor are working a whole hell of a lot harder then the rich in most cases. We have been living in the most UNEQUAL times since the very beginning. We werent created equal and we will never EVER be equal.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Simone’s post in that the rich get richer and the poor are held captive in a situation that is almost inevitable to overcome. My thoughts go back to what we have been studying recently on the inequalities of education and the environment that we are surrounded during our upbringing years. It is so unfair and unjust that depending where you live depends on the quality of education a person can receive. Im so tired of hearing our government talk about education and the freedom it will bring to overcome poverty and provide “The American Dream”. Individuals living in poverty are barely putting food on the table are for the most part are living in volatile situations. I had a discussion with a fellow student yesterday about his education goals and he shared with me he that he wanted to initially go to UT Austin and get his degree in broadcasting. However, even though he was the top 8% in his high school they would not accept him because the schools’ curriculum was not up to their standards. Seriously? He is from San Antonio and not from one of the best of neighborhoods. It’s time the rich quit being so greedy and put some money into our schools so, that we ALL have an equal opportunity at a good education! I can’t imagine the disappointment he felt for something that was not his fault! However, I was impressed that his situation was not stopping him from pushing forward!
ReplyDeletei also agree with Simone. The rich don't have to work hard and keep continuing to become richer as the poor work so hard for what they have but yet are trapped in the situation that they are in. every year it continues to get tougher as it gets easier for the rich.
ReplyDeleteIt seems that the class we are born in is where we will most likely end up later on. The rich will keep getting richer and the poor will still be poor. It is very unequal and there should be a better system. The American dream is that if you work hard you will end up with a better life style but that is a dream and reality is so much different. The reality is that we are trapped as Brandon Reeves said.
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