URBAN PERSPECTIVE - The stalemate in Congress and the dictation of uncompromising ideologies is hurting the middle class and the poor. Depending on the party and the politician, the game of economic warfare has reached a new level of cruelty.
Facebook had an interesting posting that read:
“Over the last 3 years, I have witnessed the return of lynchings-this time not by men in white sheets but men and women in suits-Congressional lynching. These lynchings are being orchestrated under the guise [of] reducing the [deficit] and less tax, [when] in reality we are talking about economic discrimination. It’s time for the American people to put an end to the Republican Congress and its Congressional lynchings of the under and middle class American.
What’s wrong with affordable health care, less taxes for the under and middle class and jobs.”
Posts like these are pointing out the discontent that Americans have with politicians in the Senate and House. More so, it points out feelings behind the income disparities that are prevalent and challenges the moral character of our nation.
Where is the political expediency or core conviction to help those who are struggling most in this economy? There is none because there is an unfathomable pledge not to raise taxes and political posturing.
Before Congress is the extension of the payroll tax cut that is set to expire at the end of this month. More than 160,000,000 Americans will lose out on pocketing $1,000 to $1,500 each year.
The debate over the payroll tax is not so much about what is good for the economy or to build consumer confidence – it is about not increasing the payroll tax for people making over $1 million dollars. On face value, the motives to protect the wealthy are narcissistic and throw people on the fringes under the bus.
Middle class and poor Americans are being asked to take on a larger burden of building the economy than the rich. The politics of today is pushing for tax breaks for the top and no government intervention in the markets to bring balance. Who can embrace an inequitable America in the 21st Century when the middle class and poor pay and suffer more?
The political grandstanding and stalling is hurting millions of Americans. There are over 50 million people without health insurance and even more not accessing healthcare services due to the weak job market.
Finding affordable coverage is a needle in a haystack when you are trying to sustain your daily living. It costs more not to insure people than it does to insure them because hospitals and other healthcare outlets inflate their rates to cover expenses of the uninsured anyway.
Poverty has reached its peak. About 46.2 million Americans are living in poverty. This signifies a shift from those who were once part of the middle class to the under class since 60% of America’s households saw their income dip last year alone. Looking deeper, income has gone to the top.
The lynching of the middle class and the poor is not about class warfare. It is about equity and fair contribution to fix the American economy. If the political status quo continues in Congress, who is next on the lynching table?
(Janet Denise Kelly offers more than a decade of accomplishments in the housing and nonprofit sector. Janet brings valuable insight in the areas of community and economic development. Additionally, she brings knowledge regarding the leadership and management challenges faced by large and small nonprofits that are struggling or growing organizations. She blogs at jdkellyenterprises.org) –cw
Tags: jobs, unemployment, Congress, poor, middle class, Americans, lynchings, Congressional lynchings, payroll tax
CityWatch
Vol 9 Issue 98
Pub: Dec 9, 2011