Debunking the Myth of the Middle Class | Amanpour and Company

[@SteveScottRootsMusic]

"The most significant divide in the country isn't a fracture over race, or for that matter even over gender. It’s between people who are likely to benefit from the current regime of inequality and those who are hurt by it." Adolph Reed

[@lanewilliams6099]

Always has been. From before Day 1 of the Magna Carta, 15 June 1215, it has always been a fight to take away power from the King and Nobles, and give to the masses. The King has been winning in America for the last 90 years. Centrist Policy won't fix this.

[@OmegaSeraphim]

Always has been.

[@macdermesser]

It is more than wealth inequality that hurts some. The authoritarianism and social inequality make it very hard for the most resourceful and industrious people to "pull themselves up by their own bootstraps," since this would tend towards meritocracy and would threaten the power structure.

[@SteveScottRootsMusic]

@@IsisAdgerWasHere21stC. Because they're afraid to give up what they're convinced they have.

[@macdermesser]

@@SteveScottRootsMusic To loosely quote Stalin, "It doesn't matter who the people vote for, they are voting for us."

[@steelbill1834]

Historically, this idea of pitting workers of different ethnicities against each other is also a key ingredient when nations have devolved into fascism.

[@lanewilliams6099]

That is an understatement!

[@jesusfernandez5180]

💯 exactly 👏🏼👏🏼

[@justsaying3729]

This has been going on for years, if you know your history. this is the message Martin Luther King Jr. tried to get across to the poor white but politicians tried to show poor whites they were Better than black people.....& here we are.

[@suezbell1]

Well said. Divide and conquer the majority of the people is the playbook of the greediest of the wealthiest among us -- a permanent minority -- fascism. www.ratical.org/ratville/CAH/fasci14chars.html The rich gain and keep power via the power of money. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

[@danielwittig8002]

Capital and their GOP pols despise unions and always try to play different workers against each other. Differences in religion, race, ethnicity, income, education, and levels of skill from training, are just a few examples. European countries after WWII had much more homogenous worker populations, making the task of joining together union brotherhood and solidarity better in Europe. As a result, European democracies had greater worker solidarity that unions could count on. So in Europe, Solidarity meant a strike in one industry could be turned quickly into regional or even national strikes, as workers refused to help corporations use their labor to win strikes against fellow workers. Also, workers in Europe didn’t allow armed thugs hired by the companies to break up strikes by killing, maiming and torture tactics used to force workers to name key organizers so the company could kill them. In America, companies often hired “private detectives” to spy on unions, spread rumors, and to Intimidate workers with private, violent gangs of “detectives” beating up union workers, threatening their families, or even firing rifles into labor camps or houses. Corporations facing strikes could even call on local or state militias to force workers back on the job at gunpoint. These violent tactics didn’t end until workers voted for Roosevelt and his New Deal Democrats beginning in 1932. Roosevelt created a legal process of elections to decide if a union could organize a workplace. Uncle Sam was the judge, and ultimately decided who won a union election, not armed thugs.

[@jjgdenisrobert]

There was never a significant middle-class in America. What there was, was a mollified, moderately well-paid working class pitted against a badly paid one. The name “middle class” in America is used to divide those parts of the working class that have better conditions from those which Capital wants to keep down as a labour reserve to ensure control over the working class as a whole. The real middle-class, the petty bourgeois, is composed of small business owners and self-employed professionals; they’ve always been a small portion of the population. If you work for a salary, are a contract worker on a long-term, renewable contract, a gig worker dependent on one or two providers that control how much you receive for a job, you are working class. How much you make doesn’t determine your class; only your relationship to the means of production does. The false divisions in common usage in America are all nothing but methods Capital uses to avoid the pitchforks.

[@joeb1092]

I know poor people that have more class than rich people.

[@Ms.Byrd68]

Nicely put. I remember when the 'Working Class' started deciding they were 'Middle-class' too & all of a sudden $50 - 60,000 a year was Middle-class instead of the original $100 to 120, 000 or so, I knew it wouldn't end well for us...

[@macdermesser]

Abraham Lincoln recognized this, as suggested by his comments on wage earners. I believe he used the term "wage slavery." He would have seen things clearly, as a self-made man originating from an organic rural culture. Self reliance coupled with freedom of enterprise will ultimately be the only path towards freedom and unfortunately both are in short supply today.

[@darrylgoodwin7947]

True and well put.

[@cerimite7674]

@S L this narrative seems very ego focused. The "I and Me or even my" is how one tends to justify greed socially and generationally. We are all created equal.

[@claudermiller]

I'm a 64 year old white man who misses hearing the late Ed Shultz say "A rising tide lifts all boats." I welcome everyone. It's the way I was raised.

[@MsTMarie83]

Thats an awesome quote :)

[@bryanmachin2152]

I agree. Thanks for the comment!

[@paulkennedy9759]

64 year old white woman agrees with you. I'm using my friends KZbin.

[@750dollarman2]

Joe Biden knows that very well. He will make it happen.

[@danielhutchinson6604]

@@750dollarman2 Implying massive Presidential powers seems to ignore the powers the Constitution designated to Congress....

[@bobramsay4355]

It's a testament to the power of greed, we could have done something about these discriminating policies a 100 yrs ago, so over 100 yrs of grief has passed by and.....

[@lanewilliams6099]

America was more Progressive between the years of 1880 and 1910 than it is now. The destruction of Unions helped destroy the middle class. Replacing pensions with 401k's helped. Investing your whole economy to be considered 'good' when the top 10% becomes richer isn't stable. One of America's wheels came off driving down the highway at 85 mph years ago, and centrist policies is not going to be the thing that fixes it. But more importantly...think about this... 40 years ago, anybody that would have been telling you things like this, speaking out to the masses, saying 'THESE CORPORATE POLICIES AREN'T GOOD FOR AMERICA!', screaming it from the roof tops... they would have been called Radicals, Commies, Pinkies, Socialist, Extremist, UnAmerican, Traitors, Hippies, and Liars... by people who had an investment in keeping things status quo.... Why would they do that? And who were those people? 60+ years ago, MLKjr was the one speaking out like this, and we all know how he was treated.

[@gertrudewest4535]

Greedy middle classes, you mean.

[@jiminy6195]

Gertrude west greedy rich and politicians

[@ramseyabsessien8990]

@@gertrudewest4535 in other comment, you lamented that you are a single white mom who get treated less than your minority males coworkers and illegal immigrants?

[@danielhutchinson6604]

Welcome to the new version of the Roaring Twenties! What are your plans for the next Economic Depression

[@aclem8246]

Nothing has changed because both parties serve big business and not the people so Nothing has changed in the past 30+ years.. If minimum wage had kept up with inflation it would be more than $20 an hour today and we all know that a $20 an hour job today is considered pretty good for many many Americans.

[@markbrownner6565]

and even 'fight for $15' only gets you $31,200/yr....

[@OmegaSeraphim]

Amen

[@rrickarr]

And so what are you doing about it!!!!!!!!!

[@markbrownner6565]

@@rrickarr many states have now changed the wage rates... latest is florida...

[@whygohome172]

I worked for the last census. I was going to college and it was a summer job in a rural town that paid $15 hr which was significantly more than the average pay. You would NOT BELIEVE THE BACKSTABBING the $15 hr wage created. It was MINDBLOWING!

[@peterrees6346]

Simple answer as to why he didn’t achieve this... he never had any intention of doing so. He’s all talk.

[@birdlover7776]

dlee t Our douchebag in chief

[@JeffreyGillespie]

They all are.

[@IExpectedBSJustNotThisMuchBS]

@@JeffreyGillespie Yeah, cynicism is working so well for us.

[@jessicalt4121]

Unfortunately, I have yet to see many recent Presidents who care about the middle class. Look at the bail outs of only corporations and businesses in the 2008 recession and housing crisis (who helped ordinary Americans) and jobs sent to China for the last 20 years. Trump won in 2016 BECAUSE people realized politicians didn’t care, so a non-politician won. America needs a 3rd party.

[@Oscoe63]

@@jessicalt4121 No, America does not need a 3rd Party. It just needs the Dems to control both the Exec and the Legislative bodies and grow a spine and do what's right for the working class. It also needs the average American voter to wake up and realize that distracting issues like 2A and abortion have absolutely nothing to do with making their lives better. It's a false dichotomy that the GOP has used along with "tax cuts!" and "deficits!" to sucker the middle class into believing that they represent their interests. They don't, and they never have. The Dems have sucked at messaging and have allowed themselves to be out-maneuved by this GOP con game.

[@carlpop2324]

Damn, this guy did his homework! It is a shame that so few politicians address these issues this clearly.

[@wookinooki9023]

it is obvious why they don't.

[@OmegaSeraphim]

We get punished for discussing pay among ourselves.

[@zxb5998]

It's called "White Identity Politics". It's always hilarious to hear working class and poor White people complaining about "Identity Politics" when the reality is that this nation has always operated on Identity Politics that has benefitted White family's over all others. People nowadays are demanding their fair share. We've lived in a society that has a system built to disenfranchise poor people & working class people primarily black people as a matter of Federal Government Policy. If poor & working class White family's would wake up to that fact they'd see that it hurts them as well.

[@vg7985]

Zerius B but this would require poor whites admitting that they are same or even worse than blacks and immigrants. This would hurt white self esteem, especially white men. Turning around and blaming immigrant for my lost job or black kid getting into better school than my kid on affirmative action is very convenient. We all need humility and self reflection to change our society, and it's not happening in the age of narcissism.

[@macdermesser]

@@vg7985 I don't think many whites in any income group have a need to feel they are better than blacks or immigrants. People are waking up these days. Poor whites have been screwed by the system as badly as anyone and they are now becoming aware.

[@jukker95]

Hear hear! I have had to point this out to my friends on the left as well, when they also complain about identity politics.

[@lanewilliams6099]

You are spot on with your answer. JD Vance wrote a book all about this called Hillbilly Elegy years ago. Good read. Conservatives lost the Culture War. But they won the Economic War and the Political War. How did that happen? Because they screamed hell and high water the whole time they were seemingly 'fighting' the culture war, while in reality pulling the rug out of Americans on the other two fronts, and Americans didn't even realize they were being attacked in such ways. Saying your answer even 10 years ago, would have been considered Radical. Saying it 60 years ago would have gotten you called a Commie at the least, arrested just a little, and lynched if you were black. MLKjr's message was for all Americans. White. Black. Brown. And the people who would spend decades gaining from the exploits knew it then, and know it now. So as America wakes up from this kidnapping, and regains its senses, remember to stay angry enough to put your boot on the necks of the people responsible. If you need help identifying them, let me know. But they aren't your neighbor. They aren't your co-worker. They aren't even people who just work in government offices. The 'PEOPLE' who need to be smashed are the people who are considered body-less, unaccountable under the law, no restrictions on political spending, Citizens United, headless Corporations, and any elected official that supports them over the masses. The line has been drawn in the sand for decades. Pick a side. They drew the line. And they have dared you to do it, knowing, betting, that you never will.

[@lanewilliams6099]

@@vg7985 I love your answer. Very Smart. It is time for the Age of Stoics. Stoicism went out of fashion 1700+ years ago, but can always make a comeback. With just a little faith.

[@PH--ov7tf]

Documentary narrated by N. Chomsky: Requiem for the American Dream. Exposes the systematic dismantling of FDR’s New Deal.

[@SteveDavies01]

facebook.com/watch/?v=602798760321565

[@lanewilliams6099]

@C Seay It was a simpled-down version of socialism for its time. It was centrist, doing only a tenth of what real Progressives wanted. Even then. Since then, Republicans have actively stated out loud that their goal was to dismantle it. All in the name of Freedom. And people kept voting for it. Decade after decade, after election, after generation.

[@PH--ov7tf]

It’s difficult to deny that the marketing and propaganda machines in the United States have been very effective in brainwashing many Americans to regularly vote against their own interests, without them even realizing it. All in the exercise of the vile doctrine as defined by Adam Smith in 1776, and also the founding fathers/oligarchs/slave owners.

[@baderinwa1]

FDR’s New Deal did not benefit Black people, in this country .

[@lyns8062]

@@baderinwa1 no but something similar today could if you made sure it did.

[@kbstrong429]

9 years ago I a woman worked at an oil change at 7 mos pregnant they wouldn’t let me go to the restroom or eat my lunch because we were to busy and I was having a rough day I had my child 2 mos later and then stayed home because child care was to expensive.

[@kbstrong429]

@Green Machine Camping I was treated great until I got pregnant then I guess they lost interest. I worked with Boys that’s what it boils down to. ✌🏼🍀🇺🇸💯‼️

[@maestasify]

I agree with Tankersley. Almost every retired grandmother (and some times grandfather) I know is the child-care provider for their working children- FOR FREE. There is no documentation on the number of these unpaid caretakers/workers, that I know of. It seems helpful- taking care of the kids for free so a daughter or son can go to work, but obviously not, after listening to this economist. The story of the tobacco workers sealed it.

[@waltergodsoe5526]

Middle Class? We are all peasants, we don't even know where the city on the hill is or what it would look like.

[@beesplaining1882]

Isn't that just an exhibit at Disneyland?

[@waltergodsoe5526]

@Kevin McCauley No, that is my observation

[@rrickarr]

And the peasants voted for the multi billionaire in droves and proclaimed him as their saviour no matter how foul he was. And now, they are too angry now that they realize they were all duped!

[@joeb1092]

@@rrickarr Spoken like a true sanctimonious liberal elitist.

[@fancynecrosi1848]

@@joeb1092 face it, your savior despises your class. doesn't even consider them as individuals with unique character. he loathes the idea of America and, even one full month after the 2020 election, he is actively trying to destroy what makes its very essence, american democracy. he has such a low opinion of the intelligence of his base that he screams and cries voter fraud whilst committing blatant crimes like overt voter fraud and cast vote erasure.

[@sallycasas4170]

Thank you Mr. Tankersly for doing your research and writing this historical fact based book. Compassion, transparency, integrity and accountability for all!

[@rogerhagger7967]

. "the crisis of humanity is the crisis of leadership" Leon Trotsky

[@bryanmachin2152]

For conservatives to have to abandon their "government is always wrong, capitalism is always right stance", they'd have to admit they've been wrong for decades, for many of them their whole lives. But I think its even more than that: to them it would be attacking America itself, which they define as the home of seeking individual wealth, and never relying on anyone else. So, non-conservatives can publish every book in the universe about what we should do differently, but a big group of the population will never accept ANY of those prescriptions, because they all involve using the thing that's "always wrong" (government), to steer the thing that's "always right" (capitalism). I just spent hours arguing with one who was convinced of the "perfection" of the free market, and that any politician with any other ideas was basically a Stalin or a Mao in newer clothes who would drag us into a "socialist dictatorship". And all the while our forests burn, and our wealth becomes more unequal, and more judges are appointed who will side with corporations over people every time. I used to the think a great depression would change people--like it did in the 1930s. But if we are in one now, or are soon to be, thanks to our fractured media, we won't be able to agree its even happening, let alone do something about it! I fear our problems have become incurable.

[@barbarahenninger6642]

We could go back to the foundation of our country by land and labor theft and ask ourselves if this is a strong foundation or one built on sand.

[@ozzyhouston2535]

Beware libertarians who claim to be "socially liberal".

[@DinamoDeet101]

25 years ago with 75.000 per year was decent life..TODAY with the same money my son is poor living in NY...America has died!!

[@bucketofbarnacles]

Quality of education is closely tied to property taxes.

[@patshelby9285]

Revenues should be more equitably distributed.

[@TheMyssT]

Absolutely! I've said since I was 19 years old(when I became a single mother) "Your success in life depends on where your mother brought you home from the hospital." Excluding the "Outstanding outliers." You need a dayum good education or a dayum good idea! Education, incarceration and discrimination! Maybe if more white people lends credence to this argument black people will start to be believed.

[@irishhi8333]

If the US had invested more in education over the last forty years, members of our populace could have prepared to move into tech jobs when shifts in manufacturing jobs occurred. Manufacturing is moving toward increased automation faster all the time. Job skills that fit the actual job market are crucial to the workforce.

[@lanewilliams6099]

Typically yes. But the 21st century isn't typical. This is a whole new ball-game, and it isn't even played on a 2D surface. The manufacturing jobs left America, but they didn't leave the globe. They just shifted to places where Corporations could exploit the local people there, enslaving them into a failed Capitalist system. MLKjr was advocating for UBI for all Americans in the 60's. In the age of automation, it will become more necessary. Having a Labour Pool that is able to fill all the jobs in the labor market means having immigration. All this is very complex. And multi-functional. Impossible to describe completely in a KZbin comment. But I am inspired by the words of Yuval Noah Harari in his 21 lesson for the 21st century. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eKicgZKQjbx3gLc In the 20th century, Capitalist saw that Communism was a way for the masses to destroy the power of the Capitalist, so they used them as a boogie-man. Very effectively. But that boogie-man doesn't apply today. "20th century communist assumed that the working class was vial for the economy. The communist political plan called for a working-class revolution. How relevant would these teachings be if the masses lose their economic value and therefore need to struggle against irrelevance rather than against exploitation? How do you start a working-class revolution without a working class?"

[@bluevan12]

@@lanewilliams6099 Or indeed a working class which is in unison. Instead all we have is a working class which seems to be divided both politically and ethnically.

[@kaila0075]

Middle Class? Where? We haven't had a raise in 40 yrs. #EconomicViolence

[@anonmist2529]

Many students can't afford a formal education america should modernize public school education maybe other students will have a fair chance against the rich ones.

[@davidduffy2046]

Yes, We have no middle class anymore

[@mikesteelheart]

@@davidduffy2046 You're "middle class" if you have a combined income of 100k+ lol.

[@idcltd8740]

'Deregulation' is an over used term, which can have serious consequences... impacting the environment, clean air / water / climate change / H&S in the workplace, a living wage, quality education, access to healthcare, transparency and accountability in the financial sector!

[@patshelby9285]

@Kevin McCauley corporations certainly do not want to. They always say they will, seldom do and never admit the risk of wreckage cost more than the rewards. Inveterate gamblers who con themselves and others into believing they can get away with cutting corners and make fortunes because they are smarter, better, quicker, etc. They don't "need no stinking regulations ".

[@mjcoronel61]

His book is a very important read. The myth had to be exposed.

[@kellyberry4173]

Jim, WELL DONE. Everyone needs to know this. Thank you. Truly.

[@justsaying3729]

This guys message is so true and easy to see and understand "if" you are Educated and/or have common sense.

[@muratuzer6772]

It’s amazing that a society that brings out researchers and scientists like Chris Hedges, Richard Wolff, Tom Nichols etc. simply does not take advantage of their intellectual capital...smh

[@jsc1227]

All brilliant men, its a crime we never elect the best and brightest. it will all collapse like the soviet union. current usa plutocracy rotten to the core impossible to fix without cleaning the slate and start over

[@kaila0075]

People like Paul Ryan stop it.

[@kaila0075]

Without a DTRONG MIDDLE CLASS DEMOCRACIES CANT SURVIVE.YOU CANT SUPRESS PEOPLE FROM MAKING A LIVING FOR ANY REASON. WE ARE ENDING ERA OF #ECONOMICVIOLENCE #ThisEndsNow #EliteWhiteMen

[@rrickarr]

And why don´t they, all brilliant thinkers, actually do something: run for public office--rather than just point out all the ills of the world!

[@fancynecrosi1848]

@@rrickarr because the DNC will just screw them over like Bernie. and in the case that one of them does pass the post, any serious leftist leader will surely be murdered like they all are in latin america; only in the USA it will be by the FBI not the CIA.

[@gking407]

Our elected leaders understand what needs to be don’t, but they won’t. Those few who benefit from the status quo are getting in the way of progress for the many. Great interview.

[@teleopinions1367]

It makes sense what Tankersley says about immigrants. The idea that immigrants come here to take white Americans' jobs is a lie that's been peddled for decades if not centuries. If that was the case, one could say that most Italians today would be on Welfare and all those White Americans from times past would have been collecting unemployment. The same thing goes for the Irish that came here during the Potato Famine. The descendants of the British who were here did not want them (the Irish) in the US and there was widespread discrimination against the Irish.

[@sallycasas4170]

Power to the courageous Black Warrior Women Goddesses 💪of this nation who change the future by demanding dignity and equality! Power to the People! Compassion, transparency, integrity and accountability for all!

[@tamilhoward9708]

Finally get to hear someone speak the truth about the 2007-08 recession, the underwater mortgage housing mess and how the administration didn't do enough for homeowners. Excellent segment overall.

[@donquijotedelamancha3529]

Why hasn't this book been made digital? I looked for it in stores and...nothing. What a shame!

[@simonbean3774]

There are 2 classes. The ultra-rich, and every other sucker

[@joeb1092]

You are allowing others to define your place in the world with such sophomoric thinking. Define yourself. Action speaks louder than words.

[@simonbean3774]

@@joeb1092 Well I use my real name for a start. And I trespass and wild camp all over England, of which 92% is 'owned' by a small number of aristos etc. Fuckem.

[@vertigo1997]

Bernie talked about this in his rallies but as someone else below said, both parties work for the elite corporations that fund their campaigns.

[@55vermeer]

"The US government prefers that public money go not to the people but to big business. The result is a unique society in which we have free enterprise for the poor and socialism for the rich." - Gore Vidal

[@luzmartinez6889]

It's a question of preparedness. "Education", as in college degree does not guarantee "good paying" employment.

[@joeb1092]

The electrician working for a county water service with a 2 year degree has the best benefits and a solid paycheck. Lib arts degree- not so much.

[@birdlover7776]

Truth

[@giselljames]

I agree it doesn't mean good paying employment. I think he meant Elem/Middle/Highschool education, not necessarily just college.

[@theaccountable]

Craziest thing about all of this is the fact that this has been designed since the 1600s when poor European servants, African slaves, and captured natives were forming rebellions TOGETHER against the upper echelon of the originally colonies.

[@jbundles6257]

Everything this gentleman said was on point!!

[@JB-kx9bx]

The new economy has enormous rewards for people like software engineers and operations management but puts workers in precarious economic situations. I think we need economic policy that doesn't keep funneling grotesque rewards to big tech, big banks, big pharma, etc while stripping basic human dignity from half the country.

[@itgetter9]

Excellent coverage. Thank you.

[@deanna5687]

Why isn’t this talked about during elections by elected officials?!

[@richardfaymonville7449]

Because none of them has any inclination to fix these problems. Just look at the Cares Act. Dems and Repubs worked with Trump to socialize the stock market. Meanwhile over 30 million Americans can't work through no fault of their own and are facing food scarcity and eviction. Noam Chomsky summed it up: they won't get people to vote for them on policies of expanding the military budget and giving tax cuts to the rich, so they appeal to identity politics.

[@sherryburrows2252]

Because they are owned and operated by billionaires and the elites, 1%, whatever you call the movers and shakers of the Universe. Those who are not only rich but are getting richer and more powerful by the day. Politicians suck up to corporate CEO's and CFO's because they need their money just to run for office, and to get the money, there are a lot of things they aren't allowed to talk about, like unions for starters.

[@barbarahenninger6642]

Because the status quo works for the 1%, and they support the political class.

[@davidhefner8008]

🤔

[@patshelby9285]

@@sherryburrows2252 the billionaires seduce the political operatives and other tools into their forces like ISIS seduces naive internet cruisers. They use propganda and money. They seldom use guns directly but traffick in them to support their wealth and power. Exactly what are they but low key, stealth terrorists? Open to any infamy to manipulate outcomes to benefit themselves first always.

[@oldreprobate2748]

There are visual on the surface differences between us, but the fact remains that we are all humans. What also remains is that the care and happiness of humans is the first and indeed the only objective of good government. We whether presumably middle-class, poor, or in poverty as the demographic that makes up some 98 to 99 percent of the humans in our country are all in the same position of our governments failure to ensure that basic tenant of good government. Is it our individual identities or selfishness that fails us in standing together? I think both. I also think that that is a product of the propaganda that's produced to dissway us from rising up as one society who should be the leader of our country and the authority over our public servants. We have allowed since 1978 the ideology of capitalism to become unfettered in its greed element to take over, or overthrow the notion that we are to be a free society devoid of rulers. We have systematically allowed money/capital to drive us back into feudalism. There is a reason these people who would rule over us where given the name Robber Barons in the late 1800s. If we, all of the 98 or 99 percent as it be, don't stand up as one, we will be the greatest force to our own demise. Government that stands with and for any other ideology than that of our US Constitution is not just a failed government by and for the people, but a treasonist one. These are what must be taken into consideration when we choose our representatives. We must stay focused on the issue at hand, government that represents us all.

[@showshyankao4533]

So refreshing to hear this reporter telling the truth after he digs deeper into the issue; In this case economics. I have long suspected what Trump’s consistent claims on his achievement in handling our national economic life and most reporters went along with it. Because it could not have been accurate given his habit of making false claims as his policy from the get go.

[@SandyRiverBlue]

An irony of the "Middle Class" that I've run into recently, as part of some advocacy work I've been doing is that during this COVID crisis the nursing shortage has been severely exacerbated. There are a lot of retired nurses, and former nurses who have gone into other jobs (such as research), who would really love to return to help out with the pandemic. The boards of nursing are waiving licensing fees but that is not the only impediment, they will also need nurse level CPR, BLS, and depending on the job they need to fill, other recertification. My point is this, these nurses who have worked their whole lives, and are now willing to put their own lives on the line to treat us, are in many cases finding it very difficult to swing the often $2,000-$4,000 fees needed to get recertified. These folks are often grandma aged and excellent, often award winning, nurses with tons of experience. They are part of that generation with an ethic that is often bemoaned in the nursing profession as being lost; professional, well educated and willing to go that extra step to take care of their patients. We're talking about nurses who faced the last great epidemic in this country, AIDS, with a poise and grace that you that is laudable, and they are barely making ends meet. And meanwhile companies are making small fortunes off of these folks. Most of these courses and certs are available through the American Red Cross which has been tied to the US presidency for almost 100 years so I ask you, WTF is going on?!

[@patshelby9285]

All training and licensing costs should be covered by the government. The rich are trying to thin the herds of those they may be asked to help support .

[@Lambert7785]

a real service to bring this knowledge forward - thanks

[@judithwake2757]

FINALLY ! This guy is talking the TRUTH !

[@patriciasusman9070]

Is the middle class people that earn $20000. to $900000. a year? Rich white men sold out and bought out the unions with catchy slogans and legislation with bills like the right to work act. Labor, especially new recruits, and people who were willing to work for less, or without benefits, or safe guards that fairness, equal wages, discrimination were told they were being taken by union leaders for their dues. Friends of friends got jobs, nepotism was blatant, and discrimination got worse. Affirmative action went away. I experienced this starting in the 70's through 2003 as a laborer, heavy equipment operator working construction and for the government. I was one of two women to graduate from a union apprenticeship program in my state. Seldom did the people I worked with begrudge but supervisors and administrators or people who were not working made my life very difficult. They were white men that felt they could treat me anyway they wanted. It took years before EEO stepped up to the plate but filing a complaint was next to impossible. Requirements to file were short and complicated. Regulations for the agency was open ended, bliggerant, and not timely. If you were a minority that had filed a grievance the company did everything it could to get rid of you. It was a mental disability retirement that was used to prevent a claim from being awarded plus they were able to get rid of you. By 2000 labor in the west has only OSHA and MSHA to look out for the safety of workers but not their well being. Rich white men, lobbyists and congress did this. They even call small business companies with 500 or less people. What is a middle class???

[@MM-dv9hp]

You nailed it! Point to any map where there was once strong manufacturing, particularly in the automobile and aircraft industry, and everything you said can be corroborated. I saw it first hand growing up in the midwest.

[@capricorn7866]

The more things change the more they stay the same. We have come very far, but we have a very long, long, long way to go!

[@lorrainemosbylo8717]

I SURE WISH (I AM A 84 YEAR OLD BLACK FEMALE) WE BLACK FOLK WOULD DO THIS NOW... IT IS CALLED "BOYCOTTING" IS NOT THIS IS WHAT MARTIN LUTHER KING DID WHEN THEY BOYCOTTED THE BUS LINE???????

[@thabomuso6254]

There is an omission of one group in this debate and that bothers me, namely white men. Most white men were also poor or lower so-called middle class prior to World War II. Their level of income rose and essentially made America into a country with a majority of middle income earners during and the few decades after World War II. The same dynamics also lifted up all the other groups mentioned in this debate, although at a slower rate and at a lower level. Huge government spending largely financed by raised taxes invested in industry, services, education and health care turned America into a majority of middle income earners, as well as it created numerous more rich people. That is essentially the economic story of the entire Western World during the same time. Similar economic reforms need to be implemented, although somewhat different. Industry and particularly heavy industry is not as important nor as competitive in America these days. Nor is agriculture. Aside from investments in health care, the new "arms race" is education. If America invests in education on a level never before seen, it will maintain its economic dominance over the world for another century at least.

[@patshelby9285]

IF...

[@johnkuntz6528]

Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich has been saying the same thing for years.

[@sandrahall9030]

Thank you! We need more economic education like this.

[@lyns8062]

You need more education on common sense full stop.

[@victoriaallen3753]

The interviewer has really good questions.

[@Benedicte1ful]

the YWCA was the salvation for me to get out of an abusive relationship and get to work because they offered free daycare, subsidized for single mom’s.

[@donyamonique]

Wow, this was so informative and insightful! Thank you.

[@abocas]

My sister's defense for voting for trump in 2016 was, in mid-2017, "he is good for the middle class". I am still waiting to find out how :-)

[@jamescurly6153]

35 years ago my Army drill instructor said to my platoon / A small group of men which was at that time, 1985. approximately 45 to 50 men. More or less. He was a black man. Which didn't make a bit of difference to me. He was a man. He told all of us this. [ There is no I in the word T E A M. Somthing that my fellow Americans black and white have forgotten. However our black brothers and sisters seem to be better at helping one another and sticking together as a whole. No doubt the effects of suffering the tortures of slavery. Americans need to put away pride. It's a sin. We need to make racism unacceptable if not criminal. Which it should be. We need to re educate our children and shun even do away with a racist ability to function. Much like we shun a child molester. Degrade that behavior to the point where it become's plain that it is not righteous or even religious in any form. If we are to survive as nation more importantly as human beings. We need to come together as whole. Working together for the whole. A man or woman alone is easy prey. By being self interested individuals that think that we alone are special we will not survive. The human race will cease to exist. We have been programmed to believe that socialism is tantamount to communism or facism. We as a race, need to bury the ism's and move into the future together. Like they did in Star Trek. We must clean up our act and our planet. That job alone will employ billions of us as a whole. We don't have to endanger our country or our freedoms to do it. We all live on the same planet. With faith and understanding of each other we are capable of all our dreams. A wise man said. Was it Christ? There are none so blind as those who will not see. We are all on the same planet. The only one that we know will sustain all of us and we poison and pollute it. Whomever or for whatever gave us our existence is secondary to why. We could learn much from the ant. They work and fight for the whole. All. As a race we need to developed the psychology. All for one and one for all. The whole human race. Or we are doomed to be icstinct.

[@joanblond8527]

As an additional note, I have friends who are living in multi-million dollar homes and friends who are living in their cars. It is upsetting, to say the least. I grew up with these people. The current state of America is way too Darwinian.

[@francisdelacruz6439]

If you can implement progressive taxation structure similar to 1960's era which created the middle class, other positive policy changes could happen resulting in a more egalitarian society.

[@francisdelacruz6439]

The rich HV their wealth in Assets that's not covered by income taxes such as stocks and real estate.. They get their liquidity by loans against thrse assets thereby further avoiding taxes. The smell test says the very wealthy have avoided what by any means a reasonable person would judge as fair share

[@sudipakirtley2043]

Excellent points made👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@jamesmccarte1609]

The quality of education could make huge strides in educational equality if schools didn't have to rely so heavily on property taxes. Fund all districts equally by funding them entirely at the State or federal level.

[@patshelby9285]

YES!

[@jamesmccarte1609]

That would only solve half the problem. I saw a video that talked about the issue of funding, and the video maker pointed out that rich districts still have an advantage in that the parents have the resources to pay for things like field trips, exchange programs, etc. In addition, the deep-seated idea that the rich are genetically superior leads to elite schools largely favouring the upper class in their admissions.

[@jamesmccarte1609]

Who gets to decide to what degree an element should be emphasized? Fox News is overcome with rage that the President is considering a black woman for the SC............which tells me that race is UNDERemphasized!!!!!!!!!

[@jean-claudearsenault224]

Historical fact; African slaves were brought in for cotton (Delta), sugarcane (Texas) and tabacco ( South East Appalachian). Tobacco was the most lucrative, thus better conditions for Slaves.

[@patshelby9285]

@Kimberly Winters tobacco was used for currency in the colonies.

[@The_Red_Pill__]

Excellent interview! I’m going to get the book!

[@justsaying3729]

According to Trump, he inherited a Mess from the Obama Administration which we all know that is a Lie. Trump has ran up the National debt with his tax cuts for the rich. Obama inherited a country in decline from George Bush and bailed out the Banks, Wall St. Automotive industry etc. to save the Economy. Trump has destroyed that by putting party before country with the Economy being more important than it's Citizens.

[@royharper2003]

Go trump 2024, MAGA!

[@glendagraves1637]

Thank you for this interview.

[@josesaavedramarvez6283]

Fascinating interview! A learning experience for me.

[@mattroberts86]

Middle class AKA well paid slavery.

[@josephdibello846]

The Great Depression of the 1930s and the Great Recession of 2007 are the two worst economic crises between those respective time spans. The financial system was on the verge of freezing up in 2008 as it briefly did in the Great Depression. As a thought experiment one should compare the actions of the Roosevelt administration to that of the Obama administration. 2008 was the great inflection point when we could’ve changed course and initiated a new economic model, one that not only addressed the mortgage crisis in favor of the homeowners as opposed to the banks, but that quickthe American people first instead of Wall Street. The criminals in the banking system who rigged the system were not prosecuted as they were during the S&L crisis and, of course, as they were during the Great Depression. Union rights were not augmented, neither was the minimum wage- in fact, President Obama was willing to change the basket of goods which Social Security was based on in order to,in effect, cut Social Security benefits. It was only the recalcitrance of the Republican party, who wanted more cuts from social programs, that prevented this from happening. It was the insurance and pharmaceutical companies who basically called the shots regarding the Affordable Care Act and not a President Who won by a landslide! Change will only come from mass protests and not politics as usual. In essence, the corporatist who control the Democratic Party want to go back to “normal”. They would rather blame “Russians” then look at themselves in the mirror.

[@merlvinc]

It is not the Democrating party that is the ptoblem , it's the Republican selfishness and it is men who are the problem. --Bonnie Robinson

[@adambathon]

Great interview & information!

[@richarddelconnor]

I just re-published a book that I tried to published 10 years ago, but outraged all my friends so I took it down from the Amazon bookshelf. Could someone on your news team read it and then give me any comments on whether this is too radical for your show or any news show? The book is: It’s A Woman’s World - Putting Men In Their Proper Place by Rachel Connor.

[@hnttakata713]

I hope the middle class are watching these. Knowledge is power.

[@carolhaslam682]

This should be a movie we don’t know about this part of history

[@johnkuntz6528]

There’s no support for funding to increase the number of childcare professionals.

[@wnoelrobbins]

Families need to be able to plan to care for their own children. I agree with Mr. Tankersley to some extent, though. Black women have, indeed, been at the forefront of effective action on the fulfillment of human needs (vs corporate interests).

[@glendagraves1637]

I am very concerned about the black populations ability to rise economically above their fathers but I wish you would address the apparent shrinking possibilities for people of any race to rise above where their parents were.

[@freeindeed8416]

What fathers?

[@MCJSA]

The Reynolds Tobacco story is emblematic of the labor movement generally. Folks who are so anti-union today usually benefit from the work and sacrifice of people in the labor union movement who won for everyone things like the 40 hour, 5 day week, paid holidays, sick leave, workers' compensation, etc. None of this was ever "gifted" by benevolent management nor compelled by government without a fight. The US has one of the lowest rates of organized labor in the developed world, and the poorest working conditions.

[@markbertram9240]

I really appreciate this show, I followed you back in the day when you did documentaries for CNN.

[@ramjet5192]

When I was a carpenter with my own business, I increasingly lost jobs to illegal immigrants who were happy to work for less and live in undesirable circumstances. In fact, most businesses in my community benefitted from illegal immigrant labor. If they were legal, they would demand higher wages. So, we need to fix immigration laws so that people like me don't get hurt and immigrants aren't exploited.

[@kbstrong429]

16 years ago I couldn’t get a job at Taco Bell and I had been a banker for years and got out of it at a bad time for career exploring. It was pretty bad there for a little bit.

[@patshelby9285]

The Republicans tend to do that to ecoomies.

[@Ms.Byrd68]

The 'Rising Tide' thing only happens to keep those other groups at a HIGHER rate of pay than Blacks. Yes we fight and get 'better[ pay & 'better' working conditions but what we don't see is how the other groups are getting 'even better pay' (which remain private) even though the benefits (which are made public) are pretty much the same and that is why there is still about $3,000 between Black and White men.

[@gravityhypernova]

Absolutely right. A rising tide lifts all boats, sure... but some people have yachts and others, inflatable rafts. Wage transparency is radical seeming but would help resolve a lot of inequity, and probably make people more concerned about the already large, but continually growing disparity between average workers and the managers and executives.

[@Ms.Byrd68]

@@gravityhypernova Sure, transparent the way it is in Government. You can find the Military Pay Scale on line and the Civil Service pay scale can be found at the OPM website. You won't know at what level that person of your paygrade or scale is but you will have an idea of where YOU stand and with a little knowledge about your co-workers you can figure that out to see if your being paid fairly. Of course that means you have to actually 'talk' and interact with your co-workers, lol!

[@jamesmccarte1609]

The very term MIDDLE class means that there have to be people above and below them. How come no one on the right OR the left?

[@pinfantino]

Divide and conquer!

[@hollywoodhillbillyhippie5613]

The sinking middle class is a science of everything before it and now it is a mountain of science a head of it . If all had equal opportunities than the questions asked now would be of greater humanitarian needs and of a world of not greed driven but of greed giving for the better of humanity.

[@patshelby9285]

If all in our land and in others had good and equal chances, the Einstein's, Tesla's, Edison's, Pasteur's and innumerable unknown and undiscovered talents of milenia could already have made this a happier, healthier, safer and more wondrous world. We throw away or destroy every century more gifted contributors than made all our previous advances. We waste the greatest gifts God gives us to avoid completion. Disease, hunger, pollution could have all been conquered. We could be playing chess or basketball or working on our music or latest dance moves or running experiments while our AI's tended the fields, repaired the roads, vacuumed the corridors ran errands. But we are excluding people from the education, care, and epigenetics to heal body and soul out of sheer cussedness. God is waiting for us to get it together to make heaven on earth before we are allowed into outer space.

[@Chris-op7yt]

some things right but some things he says do not confer much benefit to mothers other than working for corporate profits whilst having less contact with own children. In any case, his economic views are based on classic economy, which has been shown to be not much more than a false model and periodically leads to crashes. He said nothing about the exuberance of the filthy rich taking most of the human labor generated wealth and unfair distribution of subsidies to the least deserving, e.g. oil companies and banks. A lot of unions are so corrupt by now that they do dirty deals with governments and corporates, with the workers being short-changed, as long as the union keeps their membership dollars coming in. Trump did far worse to the economy than what was discussed, thanks to isolationist propaganda whilst doing nothing at all for workers, and causing trade wars. Spending big on heavy tax cuts for filthy rich, whilst butchering public medical health. All those so called middle-class americans turning up for free food as they cant afford it during a pandemic. This author's visions about the economy is mostly trite classical economy lies.

[@pearlbarkley1019]

The people are the economy!!!! Middle class is a myth!!!

[@joeb1092]

Not for millions of public servants.

[@pearlbarkley1019]

@@joeb1092 are you a HAVE or a HAVE NOT???? What resources or means of production do you have access to and control???

[@mariabegejowiczczubernat1819]

I totally agree. Emigrants usually get a jobs american don't want to do. And if blacks have jobs and better social structure like child care etc. welfare wouldn't have to be way of life for those who don't have other option to survive.

[@thebuttonfreak]

I don't think you should underestimate the effect of non-college-educated white males. Their wages (as you say) have been hurt by immigration yet their vote is clearly pivotal.

[@yogaflirt7]

This Tankersley guy is really smart. I admire his feminist statements.

[@mdk1940]

Amen in regards to the childcare solution

[@markbrownner6565]

so was the factor of growing up in a home without a father taken into account..?? out of wedlock births do account for a large number people that remain in poverty & crime..

[@lexxon11]

This is depressing😣

[@Mockduck2020]

lexxon11 american is depressing.

[@Oscoe63]

Full disclosure: I am an unabashed Dem centrist who fiercely believes in our free enterprise system and its fundamental role as the engine that drives economic prosperity for all. But I also believe in govt as a force for good, and part of its myriad duties and responsibilities is to place guardrails around the vagaries of our capitalist system and provide a safety net for people when it goes off the road in bad times and for those who fall through the cracks in good times. As my dad taught me, the fundamental policy debates between our two parties have always been about whether the pendulum should be at 5 O'Clock or 7 O'Clock. Not 3 or 9, but between 5 and 7. From my own perception, the clock has been pegged at 7 for far too long, and the GOP's ability to keep it stuck there has been based upon its use of "cultural issues" to hold majority power, along with too many Dem powerbrokers having too cozy of a relationship with Wall St and abandoning labor. And so with one hand the GOP distracts by dangling the shiny objects of gun control, immigration, "sOciAliSm!" and abortion while picking people's pockets with the other hand. This is why so many people with a great need for better access to healthcare and affordable health insurance, higher/continuing education, and better wages continue to vote GOP.

[@sondrajean955]

The "three things" that hold ADOS (American Descendants of Slavery) back, should be listed in order 1. DISCRIMINATION, 2. EDUCATION, 3. INCARCERATION. FIRST, we've been consistently discriminated against. Policies have been written to keep us down. We have poorly funded schools whose funding is based on property taxes and we are in the minority of homeowners. Substandard education leads to a poorly educated public, with little to no job skills and high unemployment leading to incarceration. So, begin at the beginning. The U.S. Govt's continued support of discrimination against America's descendants of its slaves is the problem.

[@justinleemiller]

You’re living in the 1960s. Strikes only work if a robot can’t do your job.

[@kbstrong429]

I disagree with the last 4 years....

[@thomaspenoyer9711]

We've lost the better paying jobs. They went to states offering various tax breaks, then flat out of the country. The "service industry" jobs did not pay as well. In the months after 9/11/01 company's cut jobs, mostly older workers, some obsolete departments, but we have never come back up to that level of good full employment jobs available. Many cities never had enough jobs to go around. Many states never had any industries to provide any prosperity and cash flow to support small businesses. We need some investment in better jobs for whole community development with actual apprenticeships that can generate sustainable city planning.

[@dashdash_peacecampaign]

I think a better discrimination is they wish to better off than women and minority, not just have things better off for themselves. I always wondered why we have more immigration in recent history yet things for them are not better off for middle-poor class white men relatively (not counting social benefits (they view those benefits shameful))

[@isidralopezortiz4366]

Georgians please go vote blue, end McConnell era.

[@jencorea8748]

Thanks really interesting

[@bhamgathering]

buying the book

[@55vermeer]

"The US government prefers that public money go not to the people but to big business. The result is a unique society in which we have free enterprise for the poor and socialism for the rich." - Gore Vidal

[@coopsnz1]

Wrong middle class is way better off in USA

[@demetriusmiddleton1246]

Everyone wants to "debunk" something.

[@maplebones]

Everything should be debunked, even when the truth hurts.