I don't understand why more Americans aren't angry. Over the
last 10 years, the incomes of middle-class Americans have not gone up, while the
rich are richer than ever.
The American dream worked for me but it doesn't work
anymore. When my father died at seven, with no insurance, I was supported by
Social Security checks. When I went to college Social Security gave me money.
My mother never made more than $5000 a year, but I ended up with a PhD. I
eventually became a University vice president.
Could that happen today? I severely doubt it. Despite the fact
most Americans believe in the American dream, the middle class has been
pummeled almost out of existence. The future for rich kids is bright, but the
future for the African-American and Latino students that I taught in University
are not.
But we accept this. Despite the fact we are
one of the least upwardly mobile societies now, people still think the American
dream is alive. And that is what is killing us.
The Republican Party protects the rich. The Democratic Party
makes a lot of noise. But the fact is, the rich are getting richer and we all
are getting poorer.
Our world has changed and we cling to old realities. We need
to get pissed off and demand a more fair society. Clinging to elusive old
stories won't fix things. Making the rich richer, is making most of us poorer.
It's time to wake up and take some action.
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