The BEST & WORST of Times in America

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   gmwilliamsposted 4 years ago

   
   This forum post was inspired by Castlepaloma.   Starting in the 1980s, America became a tale of two cities.  The class divide was starting to be noticeable in the 1980s.  The rich were becoming richer w/more opportunities while the poor & middle class saw less opportunities to advance.  The 1980s were the era of Wall Street corporatism; also there was the increase of homelessness.  The 21st century in America totally exacerbate the class divide.   The upper middle & upper classes have it made educationally & socioeconomically.  They have the education & skills to obtain, even create jobs while the middling & poor classes are slowly sinking into poverty or worse.  The lower classes are becoming the new SLAVE class w/little or no prospect of advancing themselves or their children.  Your thoughts?

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   1. 61

      TessSchlesingerposted 4 years agoin reply to this

      The roots were created far earlier than the 80s. It was the 80s where the system that created the inequality (neo-liberalism otherwise known as laissez-faire capitalism or non-regulated capitalism) came into its own. However, it became known in the mid-60s when the seeds were sewn.
      
      Milton Friedman was the economist who gave it respectability. As he taught this to students (University of Chicago, I think), his ideas spread widely. By the time Reagan and Thatcher gave it respectability in the mid 70s, it was more than beginning to flower. It had become a creed. Yuppiedon in the 80s brought it into full force.
      
      By removing regulations, the system allowed those born into the psychopathy spectrum to float to the top. It is a necessary characteristic of power that it tramples other human beings to remain on the top. Michiavelli clearly established that in his book 'The Prince.'
      
      There is also this excellent article on leadership and psychopathy. http://www.whale.to/b/callahan1.html
      
      "The lower classes are becoming the new SLAVE class with little or no prospect of advancing themselves or their children."
      
      I think that is a fair statement. For the past 30 years, the lower classes have been in the throes of wage slavery. There is no way out. Count me one of them. I know many like that - no degrees or talent have removed them from that position. Nor has intelligence, hard work, or any other characteristic. They lack the psychopathy gene - the willingness to trample, to lie, to cheat.

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      1. 75

         Castlepalomaposted 4 years agoin reply to this

         I have been told I am honest to a fault. Took as a compliment as integrity is what I want at the end of the day. There will be a handful of friends that will be there to the end.
         
         It is beyond me how many people will live a lie and what they will do for money. May as well enjoy the freak show, wail enjoying your own adopted family circle.

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         1. 61

            TessSchlesingerposted 4 years agoin reply to this

            Yup. Also why I am poor. Not for lack of talent, education, hard work, etc I just cannot bring myself to trample on other people or take more than I need.

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            1. 75

               Castlepalomaposted 4 years agoin reply to this

               You are likely, to be happy. Because money has the least to do for happiness.
               
               Stay healthy, it's wealthy.

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2. 75

   Castlepalomaposted 4 years ago

   Happy to inspire.
   
   It is a time of financial unbalance growing fast with poverty in America. Good news, is most the third world are growing faster from where they were. Centralizion or new world order has most to do with the imbalances, it's basically greed. I sense the people are becoming quicker at awareness issues and the Ying and yang.
   If they shut down our free internet and speech, then Sh_t will really hit the fan.

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