I'm not always a fan of Krugman, but...actually there is no way to end this

I’m not a fan of Paul Krugman, but his op-ed on Mitt Romney and the Republicans’ views on the middle class are spot on.

Krugman begins by discussing the “shocking videos” of Romney with his wealthy donors. He provides context for the statement made on the 47% of lazy Americans.

Then Krugman poses the real question: 

“Should we imagine that Mr. Romney and his party would think better of the 47 percent on learning that the great majority of then actually are or were hard workers, who very much have taken personal responsibility for their lives? And the answer is no.”

Krugman goes on to cite pretty excellent example of Republican contempt for laborers, really all workers who aren’t self-employed, the non-job creators.

Examples:

“Consider the Twitter message sent out by Eric Cantor, the Republican House majority leader, on Labor Day—a holiday that specifically celebrates America’s workers. Here’s what is said, in its entirety: ‘Today, we celebrate those who have taken a risk, worked hard, built a business and earned their own success.’ Yes, on a day set aside to honor workers, all Mr. Cantor could bring himself to do was praise their bosses.” 

Romney’s RNC acceptance speech, he never mentioned workers. 

Romney’s view on opportunities America offers to immigrants? “Freedom to build a business.”

Krugman then asserts that the GOP’s disdain for workers isn’t just rhetorical, but also in policy. They believe working Americans are under taxed while corporations and the wealthiest deserve tax breaks.

He concludes by asking:

“Where does this disdain for workers come from? Some of it, obviously, reflects the influence of money in politics: big-money donors, like the ones Mr. Romney was speaking to when he went off on half the nation, don’t live paycheck to paycheck. But it also reflects the extent to which the GOP has been taken over by an Ayn Rand-type of vision of society, in which a handful of heroic businessmen are responsible for all economic good, while the rest of us are just along for the ride."

Krugman points out that when this vision is challenged those challenging it are perceived as socialists. Additionally, this isn’t a new world view. Rand was writing since the 1950s. All of this culminates not in Romney’s statements as an incident, but rather that this incident was when we were able to hear how the GOP really feel about the rest of the county. 

I'm not particularly shocked that the GOP has nothing but disgust for working people, but I am a little surprised to see them saying it out loud and it going unchecked for so long. Honestly, I'd be impressed if any of them could ride this into an election victory. Krugman makes some valid points about the GOP focusing on "job creators" over laborers. While it isn't anything knew, we seen this dance danced before, but for them to be so open about it while courting the voters. Damn, son. 

About time someone is thinking about the middle class

Thanks, David Brooks!  After all this time you finally acknowledge the middle class.  Soon everyone will look back on it fondly.  Because according to Brooks, the middle class is dying off, and soon it won't exist at all.  This is of course the middle class which was created during the 1990s...wait what?  The middle class was a product of post-World War II America...industrial jobs, suburbs, every family with a car, you know the Cleavers.  Then with Reagan and deregulation we say the stratification of the classes stretching the middle class into upper middle class and lower middle class.   This is ridiculous; Jezebel is right the article is almost twenty years out of date.