So the re-organization of the ghetto must come simultaneously from above below, and in the middle as well.
Let's discuss some ideas about how to re-organize from above, then the middle, and then from below.
Re-organizing society, is of course, a daunting idea. First there are many ideas to choose from.
But the first over-riding issue I will address, is the issue of inequality in American society and in the Western World generally.
Fully 70 percent of the wealth generated in the last 40 years has gone to the top 1% of our society. The remaining 30 percent has gone to the bottom 30 percent.
We have huge ghettos, rampant homelessness, stagnant wages, and indeed, wage cuts, huge debt for our kids to pay off, endless wars, and we seem to be divided between those who feel hopeless, and those who hold on to what they have got and hope no one takes that away from them and that they don't get fired before their pension kicks in. And revealingly, we have an aging population; more and more seniors, and the entire Western Society has not and will not replicate itself, such that immigration is inevitiable by 2060, to replace "Americans." That is the reality that Trump is recognizing and reacting to.
Ominioulsy, in addition, we have a new aristocracy arising, that is the 10 percent. These are those who are not the 1% but are in the immediate 10 percent below. They mimic the 1% and they are growing and they prevent mobility from the middle class below them. Bad.
What to do with the inequality machine and how to transform it such that it works for everyone and does not wreck our society as we try to solve its problems.
There are a number of ideas extent: we could go with socialism which many milliennials agree with and the Berniecrats. We see it's attractions growing in the progressive wing of the democratic party. It's program includes a number of items including:
1. Free education and forgiving the educational debt of our children amounting to over 1.3 trillion dollars, more than mortgage debt or auto loan debt.
2. Medicare for all- especially since our population is aging.
3. Housing as an infrastructure item for the housing shortage
4. Federal income supports: rectify trade imbalances, and guaranteed income to ward off automation which replaces jobs
7. Get money out of politics with Federal funding of political campaigns
8. Women's Rights, and reproductive rights
9. Supports for Seniors
10. Curb Wall Street, Big Banks and restore Glass Steagall
Well you might not agree with all the items on the list but let's assume that one or two appeals to you. What do you do to get the real priorities of the American people on the table, and really get problems solved? Is socialism the answer?
Next time.
I agree, for the most part, with the 10 items they generally are part of the progressive platform and Democratic Party. Most are violently opposed by those that follow Trump and believe that unbridled free enterprise can fix all of our problems while the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Like Sandie wrote below, they tend to think like Marie Antoinette. When observing a crowd of poor people crying out for bread, she remarked, "Let them eat cake." From the perspective of those with wealth or those that believe that poor people are taking their wealth, it's always how hard they worked to get where they're at. Factual data shows that they are wrong,
I believe your description of the 10% is spot on. The 1% are expressing some guilt with their philanthropic ways of changing the world. Unfortunately, their charities focus on their peculiar desires and not on the needs of people in general. Free education should come with strict standards so that money is wasted on those who aren't determined to learn. Funding Medicare for All, will be a problem that must be addressed by taxation and curtailing of medical costs that are way out of line with reality. Warehouse housing isn't the answer. Rebuilding neighborhoods with renovated housing seems like a less costly and better way to go, similar to Habitat for Humanity, but for all of those in need of housing… Getting it by sweat equity to engender ownership. Getting money out of politics is critical if the people are to run the country and not the oligarchs. Curbing Wall Street and bank excesses is critical because their effect on the economy is devastating to all but insiders.
Finally, back in 1971, Richard Nixon proposed a "workfare" program to replace welfare. I believe that you and I believe that work is essential to well-being. That work may be dabbling in painting, pottery, textiles or poetry. You and I know that most people that work in artistic fields or study great ideas like philosophy, receive little or no compensation unless they are suddenly famous like rap stars or avant-garde artists. Workfare could provide everyone with an above poverty wage and not reward having children without any resources like the current tax system does. Instead of creating entrepreneurs in the illegal drug trade, we could support local sports teams, garden groups and tinkerers.
I disagree to many of what you have listed, but that does not mean it won't happen. A lot of things takes time to come into effect. Also it would cost the country a lot of money. It takes money to make money. Money does not grow on tree for the president to pluck them out to give freebies to everyone.
Children have to learn to do things on their own and be responsible for the debts that they have incurred. My children worked their way up since they were early teenagers. They have worked and paid for their own tuitions to be where they are today. I, myself, began working when I was 15. The kids nowadays cry for free stuff, and won't stay in school to learn. They worry about being transgenders, wear women's clothes, heads down to look at their iPhones. They are totally out of touch with the world's economy.
A country HAS to have rich people in it. The rich people will buy stuff to advance the technology for the country. They will also create jobs for the middle class and the jobless class. That is the reason why Donald Trump is gathering up all the rich people in America, making sure they stay in America to help it grow.
"The Great Teen Fruit War, A 1960 Novel" involves conflict between the Blues (sons of blueberry farmers) and the Reds (sons of peach growers) in a southern New Jersey agricultural community.
Books 1 & 2 of Never Leave Your Monastery, both in one volume. This Collector's Edition features the ORIGINAL ART of the Author, over 25 hand-drawn illustrations.
Although available elsewhere; the author urges you
