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--The
disconnect between the politicians and the voters, the media
and consumers, Wall Street and main street, the haves and
have-nots -- has reached a critical mass. Simply put, people
are going broke just trying to keep their heads above
water.
--
Everything
from housing and utilities to taxes and insurance to health
care and transportation -- cost more than the majority of
Americans earn. Subsequently, most people must borrow just
to eat and survive -- forget about sharing in the 'American
Dream' or living like the people on TV, in the movies, or in
the magazines.
--
Average people
from all walks of life, and of all races, religions and
political affiliations are working hard, but still suffering
and doing without the most basic of things that the power
elite take for granted.
--
According to
the latest U.S. Census Bureau figures, there are 40 million
Americans living in poverty in the U.S. (As defined by the
Office of Management and Budget and updated for inflation
using the Consumer Price Index, the weighted average poverty
threshold for a family of four in 2008 was $22,025; for a
family of three, $17,163; for a family of two, $14,051; and
for unrelated individuals, $10,991). Add the unemployed,
senior citizens and children to this; and more than half of
the U.S. population is either out of work and/or living
below the poverty line. And of course, 46 million people
still have no health insurance, and still won't be able to
afford it, under the bills working their way through
Congress.
--
The average
individual income of those that do work is roughly $2,000
per month (or $500 a week). With average housing expenses
(rent, mortgage and utilities) costing over $1,000 per
month; and car payments, gas, insurance student loans,
credit card bills and medical and expenses costing nearly
the same, there's nothing left for food and living -- unless
it's borrowed.
--
Why don't the
reporters and politicians talk about this? Don't they know
that the majority of people are at their wits end -- living
on the edge -- frustrated, angry, depressed -- even
suicidal? How could the 'powers that be' be so cold?
--
Actually, most
in media, politics and Wall Street are completely oblivious
to the fact that the majority of Americans are poor. Since
they live and work around millions of affluent people, they
see the face of poverty as the homeless person on the
street, or as the person featured on a segment about
foreclosure. In effect, they can't see the forest for the
trees -- they forget that while there may be millions of
rich people in the country, there are over 300,000,000
people who are not rich. They need to have their eyes
opened.
--
Anyway,
despite all of this, TV will remain full of commercials for
cars that cost more than people earn in a year. The cost of
houses will continue to rise higher than many people earn in
their lifetimes. College educations will be worth less and
less -- as graduates find themselves in debt for more than
half their lives. And the list goes on...
--
The system is
broke... it's too far gone... the only way out now is to
nationalize everything as soon as possible. We need to give
people free health care (like most civilized nations do), we
need to help the poor with food, rent and utilites; and,
there must be forgiveness of loans and credit card bills
that have gotten out of control due to ridiculous fees and
interest rates. Anything less and we're headed for a crisis
worse than Medieval Europe.
--
Yeah, it
scares me too.
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