I have often reminded folks that the ability of America to remain a great nation revolves around the stability it garners from its middle class. The evidence (including that from around the world, as well as history) demonstrates that oligarchies are antithetical to liberal constitutions- and vice versa.
And, therein lies the big problem. For some four decades now, the stability of the US middle class has been eroded- on purpose. The politicians have stacked the deck to favor the rich and economic elite. That obtains, despite the fact that our Constitution eschews the concept of nobility and recognizes zero class distinctions. But, in practice, many politicians believe they are above it all (nobility) and that the rich deserve more. That’s why US citizens of almost all political ilks are certain that the system is rigged.
Which means that we- the people of the United States (and to be honest, this same problem has become an epidemic among the industrialized Western nations, so it is important for the citizens of those countries to act, too)- need to balance the scales. We need to decrease the gap between the rich and the poor- which strengthens and amplifies the middle class. When 20 Americans own more than 152 million other Americans combined (that’s the bottom half of the population), it doesn’t take a genius to realize something is very wrong. This is exactly the situation that pertained in other nations before revolutions turned everything topsy-turvy.
(You know those popular references to the fall of Greece and Rome? Where Plutarch warned that the disparity between the rich and poor left the republic in perilous condition? The wealthy elite desired the establishment of an oligarchy, while the poor followed demagogues and potential tyrants. Hello, America? Do you see yourself yet?)
Many things are making our situation worse. The Citizen’s United decision that lets the rich buy election results. The lobbyists’ power to subvert the intent of the people. Of course, The Donald and his ilk, which are running theUS like it’s a division of the Trump Organization- or, perhaps, finding a way for foreigners to conflate the idea of Trump and the US, winking as they violate the emolument clause of our Constitution.
Why did I list the Citizen’s United decision? Well, since 1972 when the not-yet-Supreme Court Justice Lewis Powell Jr suggested that business interests should influence the courts, they’ve done with a vengeance. Claiming they provide “public interest” (the only thing that could be considered public about their interests is that these are often “public” companies). In reality, they’ve been bribing (I know, we officially call these campaign contributions, but we really do know better) Congress. Their goal is to fund legislation (while they complain about class action suits, which provide the same concept they want employed in law, but antithetical to their business interests).
A great majority of Americans consider themselves to be part of the working class (47%, to be precise). A smaller percentage (42%) think they comprise the middle class. Yet, we are letting states- and the federal government- abrogate the rights of these classes. And, while many detest the union movement, the demise of the union systems matches the demise of the middle class. Yes, I know correlation does not prove causation, but there are enough facts here to merit the union’s demise as a principal (but not the only) factor. The unions served as the primary bulwark against the takeover by the oligarchy.
And, the real issue is that as economic inequality become amplified, our constitutional order is gravely threatened.
And, in the meantime, Nero fiddles as Rome burns.
