The Middle Class and Why It's Disappearing | Highlights Ep.36

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In this Highlight from Hillsdale College’s FREE online course, “American Citizenship and Its Decline,” Victor Davis Hanson explores the roots of citizenship in ancient Greece, explains how a strong middle class is essential to free government, and describes how we are losing the middle class today.
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Hillsdale College is an independent institution of higher learning founded in 1844 by men and women “grateful to God for the inestimable blessings” resulting from civil and religious liberty and “believing that the diffusion of learning is essential to the perpetuity of these blessings.” It pursues the stated object of the founders: “to furnish all persons who wish, irrespective of nation, color, or sex, a literary, scientific, [and] theological education” outstanding among American colleges “and to combine with this such moral and social instruction as will best develop the minds and improve the hearts of its pupils.” As a nonsectarian Christian institution, Hillsdale College maintains “by precept and example” the immemorial teachings and practices of the Christian faith.
The College also considers itself a trustee of our Western philosophical and theological inheritance tracing to Athens and Jerusalem, a heritage finding its clearest expression in the American experiment of self-government under law.
By training the young in the liberal arts, Hillsdale College prepares students to become leaders worthy of that legacy. By encouraging the scholarship of its faculty, it contributes to the preservation of that legacy for future generations. By publicly defending that legacy, it enlists the aid of other friends of free civilization and thus secures the conditions of its own survival and independence.

[@cobyhart8816]

I was a smart kid in school, but did not choose the university path. I chose freedom and adventure. I wanted a trade to fuel my adventures. At the age of 19 I started working for my stepfather in the asphalt paving trade just to make extra money. Since then I got my contractors license and started my own paving business in 2000. I used to be ashamed of not going to university, and thought of myself a bit of a loser. However, after more than 20 years in business, and a house bought and 2 kids, and after listening to the wise words of Victor Davis Hanson, Jordan Peterson and Thomas Sowell I realize that the path I took was a wonderful and meaningful path. A path I feel so very fortunate to have taken. Like the middle class you mention here, I am not poor and I do not envy the wealthy. I make small and large decisions on a daily basis and use my body as well. It truly is a fantastic combination and has helped live a life of minimal regrets. I have much appreciation for this and wish that these ideas of how to live are shared with our young generation. There is more to life than a college degree. To adventure!!! Peace out.

[@sonilynn6791]

You still are smart for chosing your own path and it's was very fulfilling for you. Proud of you!

[@scottsanders5595]

You made the right choice. The world will always need people who can build and / or fix things. Going to college is a waste of time and money for the majority of people who attend. Especially starting 20 to 30 years ago due to all the leftist indoctrination that is shoved on students. It is only going to get worse. Attending college for most people is a living definition of "Go woke, go broke."

[@spearhead30]

Wise words. My path is very similar, started poor, ran away at 16. GED and nothing else. I am now in the 1%.

[@CarlosVargas-oo6gn]

I am 18 and recently decided no to go to college. I am working with my dad as a handyman. I don't really know what I should do or have as a goal. Do you have any advice for a lad like me?

[@Carlos-sd6cz]

"There is more to life than a college degree". I would like to had knew that quote when I decide to go to College. It is amaze me the comment in this video that even in the US (I am Mexican Living living in Canada) the chances to get a job after graduate are every day less. I thought that such situation would only apply for a 3rd world countries but if it is happening in the US and Canada then the world is upside down and I had get in my mind that the future will be return to a feudalist society. So glad I decide to do not have children.

[@garykcarpenter]

In politics, economics, religion and in life itself, the middle is where the joy of living resides. Why our society has decided to destroy that joy is beyond me.

[@oliveoil7642]

Jealousy, envy turned to hate

[@Foxie635]

@@oliveoil7642 Greed

[@cherylmockotr]

Because evil is flourishing at the moment.

[@oldsalt8011]

The introduction of foreign imagination at too fast of a pace.

[@oldsalt8011]

typo "immigration"

[@shanetoumey2835]

Every time this discussion about student debt comes up, no one ever wants to talk about WHY college is so ridiculously expensive. The answers are clear to any reasonable person not blinded by whatever ideology they subscribe to: -The push to get everyone into college. -The government subsidizing the colleges through student loans and other methods. Colleges are big businesses that behave in the same abhorrent ways as other big businesses, yet somehow they get a pass from society.

[@ajharvey19]

Why does one go to an elite private college? Why does one go to an elite law school to take a public position?

[@Dooblecaine]

Flashy Campuses with all the amenities is also a big factor. The college has to pay for all the niceties on campuses these days. It is similar to housing these days -- you can sell the house for a reasonable profit or you can install granite counters, hardwood, and fancy appliances then charge 30% more. We're pricing ourselves out of education and shelter.

[@shanetoumey2835]

The flashy campuses issue came about as colleges had to find more and more lavish ways to compete for the cash hose of taxpayer money. The schools with water parks with “lazy rivers” are my favorites.

[@vinke3177]

I talk about it a lot to whomever will listen. These universities (public AND private) get all of the financial perks, but assume NO RISK, provide a largely INFERIOR product, and still raise their prices (even in the era of covid and zoom classes). And the sheeple still lineup to participate. These college administrators and lefty professors have good racket going thanks to the government bureaucrats touting the BIG LIE: “go to college and earn $1,000,000.00 more over your lifetime.” Yeah, right. Meanwhile, good luck getting a competent tradesman to hang an entry door or electrician to rewire your home.

[@JOHN----DOE]

The other reason: the ridiculous expectations of students and their parents that they will live in luxury circumstances, and the arms race among colleges to provide that luxury. I attended one the the most expensive and definitely best colleges in the country in the 70s--for around $4000/year--because I lived in a concrete bunker with a roommate, a bed, a bookshelf, and a desk for three years. No TV, and certainly no room wired with broadband. Live like that, and spend all your time studying, and maybe college would be less expensive. Oh, yes, and fire the 400% increase in administrative staff that cater to every student whim. God knows the money doesn't go to the beleaguered faculty, over 70% of whom are now adjuncts with no benefits or security making $3000/class. Why would they have any investment in your kids or the school? They have to respond to student evaluations and give the kids the appearance of an education without any real rigor or learning. No wonder they can't get jobs.

[@bobwaller1649]

Every high school in America needs a teacher like V.D.Hanson! Imagine the different paths kids might choose and the economy we could have.

[@deadwingdomain]

Except his ideas on what woke means, he seems to be alright.

[@Ja50nkAt]

If you're poor you get subsidized by the gov't, if you're rich you have assets that go up with inflation and also tax shelters. If you're middle class you're just plain getting screwed by the system and you have to work harder to keep making the same money in terms of purchasing power not nominal amount. The middle class is drowning via inflation and taxes.

[@ckl5590]

The sad thing is people believe it when the government says, “ we are only going to tax the rich.”

[@malachiwhite356]

Assets that go up with inflation? Tax shelters? You've got to tell me about this.

[@julianmarsh1378]

The middle class has voted against its own self interest for decades, following one lying republican after another. "We share your values." Such B.S.

[@dustbowlhammer7119]

True facts

[@drumyogi9281]

Your best bet in the middle class is to max out all retirement funds and lower your income tax as much as possible. Be a minimalist to lower more taxes from point of sale. Take fewer vacations or don't take any. Learn to find experiences within your own city that are cheap. Find every way to grow your retirement fund. I would rather live a minimalist lifestyle and be able to retire comfortably than to live beyond my means in my youth and wither away at work in old age. Oh and don't have children, especially out of wedlock. Don't get married because you are lonely. To make wealth a reality you have to give up worldly possessions.

[@BirdDogey1]

I would add the breakdown of the social contract that existed in the business world. Employees could expect to work for a company all their adult lives and receive a pension. Now companies dump employees to boost quarter dividends, fire older workers to reduce payroll etc...

[@Gnofg]

Reagan economic policies started the destruction with this Trickle down nonsense and the tax policies of the 90's was the final blow to the middle class. We used policy to offshore manufacturing and the MBA was the driving force. Finally Milton Friedman"s shareholder theory also contributed to our decline. Finally, executive compensation being tied to the price of the stock is counterproductive as laying off people increase the share stock price

[@jamestomkin8119]

Reagan's neoliberal economic policy was the beginning of the end of the true American middle class. We are now in the land of the working poor!

[@mikee2923]

This country (and its middle class) was in trouble long before Ronald Reagan. In the 1950s and 1960s almost 2/3 of the US economy revolved around the production of automobiles. In those days and into the 1970s every part of an American automobile was manufactured in the USA. When the government started to meddle with how automobiles should be made (environmentalism, fuel economy, etc) caught manufacturers off guard as they were trying to make cars that people wanted. Large powerful fast and safe cars. This explains why pick up trucks and SUVs are the top selling vehicles today. During those times, pick up trucks were mainly bought by farmers and construction workers. Otherwise they couldn’t give them away. The government stepped in and basically told American manufacturers that they basically had to build Japanese style cars (lighter, smaller and fuel efficient) which required less steel and new technologies that America didn’t possess but Japan did. In the 1960s Japan was today’s China. Their products were viewed as cheap and inferior to domestically produced products. Slowly all the manufacturing was exported overseas because they were already set up for the new production. They started using foreign built parts to make American cars which first lead to the loss of manufacturing jobs in parts and eventually lead to people needing to buy cheaper foreign made products and it all spiraled down as more and more people lost their jobs. The government wouldn’t let up on its standards. America couldn’t build better Japanese cars than Japan could. This not only was true of cars but most all consumer goods like appliances and electronics. Make everything cheaper, harder to fix and disposable. Also eliminated a lot of service jobs for people to fix things as it makes more economic sense to just toss and replace something broken than to have an existing product repaired. Real good for the environment. I graduated high school in 1987. Even back then the government run public school system pushed everyone into college, even struggling students by convincing them that without a college education they would end up flipping burgers for the rest of their lives and working unskilled minimum wage jobs. This basically put most people into unnecessary debt. How many stories have you heard about people going to college, going into debt that didn’t even figure into their future? I work in the trades and never went to college. The vast majority of the younger people who come into the trades have college degrees and debt that they didn’t need. Just another example of government creating a solution to a problem they created. Unfortunately this vicious cycle will continue until the United States collapses. The way things look now, that won’t be very long.

[@blackphillip564]

You sound like a socialist, my friend---welcome to the club! Right-winger/conservatives have been so deeply brainwashed into thinking that dog-eat-dog capitalism is going to delivery for the average person. It doesn't. You can get a cheap smart phone that can make pancakes and take HD pictures of your junk but you work 12hrs a day and still can't afford to buy a home and get married. The answer to all our problems is the working person needs to organize and put the fear of god into the heart of Industry and say that you can't just use us like an old dirty wrench. And the more workers that organize the better. You could say: Workers of the world, unite!

[@Gnofg]

@@blackphillip564 I am actually a capitalist. I own my n business and I have been very involved in one business where I was employee number 6 and we grew it to 350 and I am in the middle of starting a second software business.

[@wwhitby]

What I've seen in my own middle class life is that the cost of living has grown far faster than wage growth, especially so in the past 13 years. I've worked in IT now for almost 29 years. From 1993-2008, the cost of living wasn't bad and wages were really great. Raises and bonuses were great. There was always plenty of disposable income available. Things you needed, like vehicles, were affordable. After 2008, if I got a raise, it was 1.2%, 1.4%, 1.0% or something much lower than even the government's official rate of inflation. It no longer mattered how good of a job you did, you were no longer compensated for it. Food, fuel, health insurance, and everything else that was needed for life went up and never came back down. Jobs that used to be plentiful were suddenly in short supply, which allowed companies to cut salaries. The middle class continues to get squeezed and is bleeding out. As one person so correctly said, it doesn't hurt the wealthy, and the poor get government subsidies. The middle class only gets screwed.

[@thetechnicanwithaheart1682]

If this continues what might happen is another Revolution similar to France

[@coopsnz1]

@DarkTagMaster franchise aren't the 1% the small business owners

[@rcnelson]

I strongly recommend his book "The Dying Citizen." He goes into more detail on this topic and covers much else too.

[@petersonlafollette3521]

Also "Zeitgeist" and it's sequel. Erosion is a $ocio-Economic byproduct- just like indentured servitude and loan repayments are- so debtor can never catch up to next class/caste system, but keep repaying- or lose assets, house, everything- by default.

[@EdD-ym6le]

I just bought his book . Victor is the man . I could have used him when I was a directionless young man .

[@charliesmash]

You can use him now.

[@Warcrimeenthusiast]

I carried his book The Western Way of War in my ruck all through my military career

[@Telcontar1962]

He is a fraud. Whether its out if naivety or calculated one can only guess. My guess would be the latter

[@Warcrimeenthusiast]

@@Telcontar1962 in what way? If your going to make an accusation at least back it up with an example. Anything else is just lazy

[@Telcontar1962]

@@Warcrimeenthusiast Not sure I'm the one being lazy. I put the specific accusation in its own thread on this specific video. I didn't seem.worth repeating it, plus no one one ever seems to be able to defend this guy whenever the charge is levelled at him. Its quote an obvious one given his classical background. He's from academia, they all speak from both sides of their mouth at once. None of that crowd can escape the taint any longer. Its pure posturing on their part for the $$$.. Intellectually they are as bankrupt as they are ethicallly.

[@noahrichardson466]

I like what George Washington Carver said, "The more independent the citizen is the less Dependent he is on the? Government. A true Social Prophet.

[@dixiebrick]

But GWC was black he could not know what he was talking about #KKK

[@andrewhooper7603]

@@dixiebrick not even a middling attempt, too obvious.

[@oldsalt8011]

@@dixiebrick GWC was a smart man that did not wait on a handout to get by.

[@xzqzq]

And what does it portend when over half the citizens derive some or all of their income from government ?

[@noahrichardson466]

@@xzqzq With Mr. Carver's rural intivtive he tried to get people to be as self sustaining as possible. For the income, that is not good. Those folks are to dependent. Therefore controllable

[@joeclarke7048]

I am in the UK but brought myself up on the Laura Ingalls Wilder chronicles which I discovered for myself in our small school library over 50 years ago. The values of these dependable, hardworking, proud people and the valuable family and community lives they forged often in the teeth of incredible economic and ecological hardship, had a seminal effect on my own life choices and path. This lecture brought these stories back to me so vividly. Thank you.

[@honeyjbc1]

What an articulate and brilliant communicator VDH is. I hope he takes good care of himself. A perfect diagnostician. We are lucky to have him.

[@charlesparker6985]

The dude looks like a constipated grumpy old man.

[@richardalvarado-ik9br]

Speak for yourself.......

[@clifflong1203]

There is no mention in this lecture regarding the impossible tax burden placed on the middle class. And then, the invisible tax of inflation systematically year by year impoverishing all but the very wealthy. Lastly, the sheer magnitude of corruption at every level of local, state, and federal government. As a 66 year old United States citizen, I would implore the young people to buy gold, silver, and ammunition. In light of the poor decision making of our government and its citizens, you are going to need all three in the coming years!

[@faith4freedom76]

@cliff long 🇺🇸 🇺🇲 💪🏼💪🏼✝️✝️

[@aussiehardwood6196]

Well said...it's truly sad a few stupid greed ridden fellows can do so much damage to the lives of many millions.

[@billydeewilliams9104]

Gold is worthless in a Blade Runner world liberal utopia. Whisky, bullets and rice.

[@AuntNutmeg]

@@aussiehardwood6196 If we had not turned our backs on God as a culture He could have revealed that corruption much sooner. But we told God we didn't need Him, and we are discovering we were wrong. Only God can save us now. Will we admit our failure and turn back to God in time?

[@BManStan1991]

@@AuntNutmeg we are partly to blame for why God has left our culture. We gave our children over to the government indoctrination centers.

[@francislarvey7942]

Surprisingly, the subtle background music actually works. VDH is a national treasure.

[@greygrump]

I connect with this middle class concept put forward by Victor. I have no desire to be rich, I live very comfortably and pay my own way. Any extra money that would come my way I could only see useful to support my children’s financial burdens. Once you are existing materially comfortable, relationships with good friends are what you cultivate.

[@rocketmom60]

I've always admired Victor Davis Hanson. He is simply brilliant.

[@mikegalvin9801]

I live in an upscale suburb where people obsess over what college their 1st graders will get into. One local family own a thriving plumbing business. The one grandson who preferred to go into the family business rather than go to university was openly sneered at by his peers. Now he's the one the others quietly go to for loans. Of course when I needed some work done on my mom's house I found out why that was.

[@clairet5636]

Ugh, disappointing to hear people are still buying in to the college scam. Get buried in debt and turn into a socialist.

[@MacakPodSIjemom]

@@clairet5636 That's exactly what it is - the college scam. It is not just the problem of student's loans, but also lost years of because of worthless "education". People end up with worthless degrees and unemployable knowledge, at the same tame loosing 3-5 years of their lives to achieve that.

[@dendradwar9464]

Yep college is good for some - but it's not good for all. Plumbing etc will take an awful long time to disappear, more emphasis on real skills delivered by small businesses

[@MacakPodSIjemom]

@@dendradwar9464 The college scam has been running for quite a time. I'm from Serbia. We don't have that high college fees as they do in US, but it is still throwing money and TIME down the drain. And ultimately fooling yourself that you have achieved something worthy when you finish the college. I'm in pretty unique position to evaluate the situation, because I had to "return" to university after 20 years, because I needed to adjust my diploma. I had to take 3 more exams. I have no words how much things changed, for the worse. This college is now a total waste of time and money. You learn NOTHING. And all of this is a huge downside for a healthy society, instead of having people who do real jobs with good payment, you have armies of unemployed and unemployable youth, many of them over 30 years old, who after years of waiting for their job that they have degree for, end up doing something else, ultimately disappointed. And they loose typically 10 years of their life for all that, when they could have already started a business and family. These days a plumber in Serbia in 5 days earns more than an engineer in a month. Recently I had a few minor repairs on my plumbing, and I payed my 2.5 daily wages for that. The plumber said to me that his co-worker works only 5-10 days a month, and he is satisfied with the earning so he enjoys the rest of the month going fishing and basically doing nothing. The same goes for masons, truck drivers etc.. Anyway, in my time, 25 years ago, only about 30-40% of high school students would go to college/university, now it is more than 70%. Who needs that?

[@VictorNewman201]

On the internet, the solution to a corrupt and broken society is always "I know a very successful ditch digger, why do people need to go to kindergarten?"

[@helgagaines3598]

I read Hillsdale college and my first thought.. Where is . Mr. Hanson..and there you are.. wonderful 👍 👌😊 THANK YOU .SIR ...YOU EXUDE PEACE

[@garykcarpenter]

Well said❤💚Merry Christmas!

[@billiamc1969]

Worse yet...here in America, the sense of community has been lost on almost every level

[@kimobrien.]

That is one of the most important realizations.

[@michaelcarley7016]

I agree, hatred and jealousy is rampant in America and the liberals and their cohorts, media, schools and courts just fan the flames more and more with impunity.

[@alexfunk1810]

Conservatives and their hate spreading media (talk radio, Fox, Breitbart etc) are mostly responsible for that. Conservatives do not want people to think for themselves but instead raise children to obey. Obey your corporate masters, obey the imaginary friend we told you about (dog... ooops I mean 'god') and obey, obey, obey. Also, cons and their corrupt friends want you to work 80 hours a week for meagre wages so the rich can get richer.

[@AndySaenz]

This “pandemic” has destroyed our society. Adding to your point: People have no social skills these days. This global scam finished destroying what little social skills we still had.

[@bernibeckmann9753]

I was 10c short (price up went that day) for a coffee at a coffee chain I frequent every day. She wouldn't or couldn't wave the 10c. I needed to haul out my debit card. A mom and pop coffee shop would have waved it off feeling grateful that I spend all my coffee dollars there. That's a loss of community.

[@joannleichliter4308]

My first contact with Dr. Hanson was his seminal work, Carnage and Culture, shortly after 9/11. I have been reading his work ever since. He is consistently level-headed and logical, with that valuable historical perspective.

[@dadsonworldwide3238]

My grandfather loved Regan but was devastated and forced me a 9 year old to sit down before the TV to hear him place us on the global market. I was wanting to play but could see he was beat red almost crying and was like why make me I dont watch news or care . He said son I competed for a job and salary against my neighbor your about to make your living competing against 3 cent Asian slave labor that you cant live on when it cost you many dollars to survive and you can move back to Mexico live out cheap retirement . I lived this and watched the delicate balance of local family owning pharmacy be forced to sell . No longer do we own stores and shops that sell globalist products and services. Someone in NYC can monopolize rural towns. Bland dull everything everywhere we have lost rich uniqueness in our citys. Movies music art all dictated top down and no longer do we the people create culture or anything rich and vibrant.

[@AdamBechtol]

Mmmmm :(

[@schumi9xwdc]

Reagan was the King if the problem, I pissed on his grave.

[@dadsonworldwide3238]

@@AdamBechtol True Story from a kid born in 1974 . What's even worse is the very tactics played on me as I went into workforce as is now on my children . Borders are opened the drugs unleashed then the inflation eats up what companies pay to compete for good educated workers . It was Carters inflation ,Iran contras cocaine then Clinton mass migration open border. . Obama doctors prescription oxytocin cutt off with streets full of afghan herion waiting on the sick with bidens inflation and mass immigration.. Rinse repeat tactics on each generation

[@rebsarge]

Your Gramps was a prophet.

[@dadsonworldwide3238]

@@rebsarge just a commoner. I can assure he wasn't alone in knowing this . You dont get anything back once it's taken

[@kathleenhensley5951]

Fascinating! I never went to college. I've lived a wonderful middle class life and I'm now a widow with enough savings to live out the rest of my life. I've never wanted to be rich and I've been poor and never want to return to that kind of need.

[@bettywhite8407]

Same here. Never had an so called credit card either. I did banking/ borrowed $$$× $$ to build houses. Used checking acct; Thats all. Sold house/ paid off loan. Good credit. As l shopped in the mall/ whenever l payed/ the clerks asked/ using your credit card??? NO. They 'd give me a stink eye... Why did l want to pay interest too???

[@mikeoglen6848]

OK Boomer...

[@bettywhite8407]

@@mikeoglen6848 independently ,very much so. ! Whatever your claim to independence? A keyboard

[@mikeoglen6848]

@@bettywhite8407 I just made a little reply to your unbearably smug little post...

[@billybeemus3929]

@@mikeoglen6848 - And this is why you, and most of those that are presumably your generation/age group, will never have what Betty has. You belittle and denigrate her instead of learning from her.

[@wsurfs]

VDH is the absolute BEST...One of my very favorites....!! i love his teaching..so full of solid information based on fact as well as full of his own personal wisdom..!! THANK YOU..!!

[@altaylor293]

Outstanding. A good example of how studying history can help us expand our successes and avoid repeating our mistakes. VDH is very insightful. Thanks for sharing.

[@mkr4922]

Mr.Hanson never disappoints me..what a wealth of knowledge

[@kimobrien.]

Why is the middle class in decline? Just when did he answer that question?

[@mkr4922]

@@kimobrien. if listen closely you will hear the answer…only if you have been or in the middle class or poor…opportunities, upward mobility.

[@ik1408]

And yet, he chose not to say that the democratic middle-class ancient Greeks were slave owners.

[@mkr4922]

@@ik1408 I guess you know nothing about history or the society that was then..hate to tell ya but there are slave owners in today’s world.

[@johnl9361]

@@ik1408 Yes, exactly. Those "independent Greek citizens" often times owned several slaves per household who performed most of their farm work and domestic chores. Plus, he never answered the question of the disappearing middle class, other than to blame bad college majors who are unable to pay off their student debt. I honestly feel bad for Americans who think this kind of regressive propaganda is insightful or intelligent.

[@skwarubwa7083]

If the middle class is disappearing, it's because the middle class, more so than any other segment of society, has bought into malicious fallacies, the most damaging of which is that a college degree will guarantee a high standard of living. Most people who graduate college with a liberal-arts bachelors degree soon discover that their vaunted degree is worth little more than a high-school diploma. What this country needs is more people educated in trades than in obscure intellectual specialities. We have too many lawyers and not enough nurse and lab techs. Another damaging fallacy is that material wealth is a sign of a high standard of living, and so Americans save little and spend a lot on stuff that turns out to be useless junk. They neglect their health and spend money on damaging foods and drugs. Our high schools prepare students for mostly useless college degrees but teach little about how the world really operates. Our roads and bridges are falling apart because maintaining them properly is not glamorous, while we build ridiculous luxury apartment buildings and office buildings to show off how much money we have. Americans seem unable to distinguish what we need to have from what is nice to have.

[@hongo3870]

America is basically dubai. A glamorous facade of ignorance.

[@ckl5590]

So true. Just look at what people spent their tax credits on…cars, TVs, vacations.

[@TexasRiverRat31254]

Absolutely true! I spent 40+ years as a skilled welder,(manufacturing and construction), transitioned to an inspector,(CWI), and when I tired of the required travel decided to teach young people in a rural town skills that would provide a decent wage with benefits so they could rise out of the pervasive poverty in the area. Half my classes were from average to poor families, the other half from the "entitled class". Those that were there to learn were a joy to teach, the others treated me as if my only purpose was to serve their needs since that's probably the way their parents achieved substantial wealth. Worse was the push by administrators that wouldn't allow me to hold students to a standard which would prepare them to survive in the real world. Just pass them through with no accountability for bad behavior, everyone gets a trophy just for enrolling to support the outrageous salaries at the top while pushing for adjunct instructors,(part time, no benefits), that needed a "real" job to survive. We have a society that worships what used to be the seven deadly sins. The majority of young can't do anything without an app, stayed glued to their device and don't even pick their head up to realize the person they're texting is in the same room 40 feet away. Whoever controls the media is controlling the population, a science fiction novel come true. So glad I'm old!

[@romancewiththepast7979]

@@TexasRiverRat31254 Unfortunately the voices of reason are coming from older American's. In a another couple of decades?

[@jmad627]

@@TexasRiverRat31254 I just turned 60 and I couldn’t agree more.

[@russianguy1341]

Hillsdale - Thank you for more Victor D. Hanson. He lives it out. I know some of his friends, but not him, and they say as much.

[@exdemocrat9038]

You have a tremendous way of putting things. Thank you VDH.

[@jords9781]

Thank you John Malkovich, you are not only a great actor but also a fantastic historian

[@marikevandenend4709]

haha

[@IceBreaker1127]

I went through the college dance and would do it again. I paid down my loans as quickly as financially possible because interest rates were insane and still are. I felt bad for my friends who tried college and left with decent amounts of debt. No one advised us in high school 10 years ago about real options. Just "if you don't go to college you'll be looked down on". College should absolutely be available to everyone, but please stop pushing everyone to go. I couldn't believe how many Psychology major students there were. Did they know what they would actually need to do if they ever wanted to make money with that degree? No one along the way was like "Hey, are you sure? Because you really can't do anything with that except more school."

[@matthewpeterson1784]

The university should be required to gauge for example how many psychology majors there will be, make it more competitive if there is an excess of applicants. But I agree, most universities treat the degree as totally self-directed, not as a potential worker in a particular indistry/field. If there's only enough room for 100 psychologists, the university will still teach 300 psychology majors if they can because they need money to build more and more campus buildings. But yet I don't see anything wrong with someone studying a major in a competitive or tight field as long as they are made to understand that reality by the university.

[@mikee2923]

The colleges would if they actually supported the United States of America. But they don’t. The colleges were infiltrated by communists in the 60s when the counterculture was in full swing and it just continued on and on from there. Joe McCarthy was half right when he was ridiculed for looking for communists. He thought they were in government. At that time they were in the halls of higher education. I graduated high school in 1987 and lived in the rust belt. We were told (rightly so) that the steel mills won’t be there and that unless we went to college or enlisted in the military that we would end up flipping burgers at McDonalds for the rest of our life. We did have shop classes to gauge interest in the trades but they were eliminated just a few years later. The worst part was they were trying to get even the students that struggled through high school to go to college. This re enforces my communist takeover in higher education theory.

[@richardalvarado-ik9br]

How many people in Latin America have college degrees?

[@walterfechter8080]

Thank you, Victor Davis Hanson. This nation needs more such as you within academia.

[@dannyfubar3099]

I can’t express enough how much I value the content of your channel. VDH’ helps reinforce my own sanity in the age of Legacy Media disinformation.

[@bagsjr1]

This is fantastic. I have a place for this video in my lectures. Thanks

[@Random-rt5ec]

30 years ago southwest New Hampshire - As a salesperson I watched a long time successful machine tool builder fire all it's employees as China stole their designs & built the same machines for 1/2 the cost. 100's of great American jobs gone forever.

[@mikeoglen6848]

And can you tell me who made the profit on this?

[@sycamore2789]

Yes, have seen this many times. Even my old employer that had been in business for over 100 years sold out to cheap labor overseas leaving thousands in the community without jobs.

[@Random-rt5ec]

@@mikeoglen6848 Blackrock, Vanguard, State Street Bank, & Berkshire Hathaway own the world so I assume the 12 families hiding behind these entities profited.

[@kimobrien.]

@@Random-rt5ec That is the way capitalism works. The purpose of patents and copyrights was never to create massive riches for a few like Bill Gate or long term monopoly but to encourage the development of the arts and science and secure a living for the producers. Capitalist production ends not when needs are fulfilled but when the rate of profits drop. If Chinese labor becomes too expensive than their factories will close and production will move elsewhere.

[@spirittammyk]

Europe doesn't have this problem because they make sure that imports are taxed so high, it balances out the production already in the country. If the USA adopted this, we wouldn't have to worry about China, but our politicians are corrupt and in China's pockets.

[@Akasnacker]

The problem of the declining wealth for the middle class is a corporatized government that we have!

[@Carlos-sd6cz]

Do not try to bend the government, that’s impossible. Instead….only try to realize the truth; There is no government….only corporations.

[@thehmc]

@@Carlos-sd6cz Wrong. If there were no government, then there would be no unnecessary regulations that benefit corporations and prevent competition. Corporations only become megacorps through government interference in the market.

[@smithsmith6402]

@@thehmc This is nonsense. The government interference in the market is corporate interference in the market. Nobody working for minimum wage at McDonalds is lobbying their senator to change market regulations to suppress competitors and unions. It's corporate money being fed into the government to make these regulations, and if there were no government, it'd be corporate money fed into mercenaries to do the same thing. Which is what you saw historically in the US and still see today in libertarian paradises ruled by warlords training child soldiers. If a company like amazon had no government over their head, they'd form a private army and create their own. They've got more than enough money to do that.

[@shanesawyer5103]

@@smithsmith6402 Exactly. And some people think that as their valuations move into the trillions of dollars, you’ll see the mega corporations (Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Google, Facebook) essentially become nation states. Why not? They can bribe governments, they can afford private security forces, they’re moving into space exploration, they have technology superior to most countries. And they have an extremely outsized role in propping up the stock market; think of how many trillions of dollars in retirement funds are invested in the Big 5. How many nations are as powerful as Apple? How many world leaders are as powerful as Jeff Bezos or as influential as Elon Musk? Politicians are becoming a sideshow.

[@shanesawyer5103]

@@thehmc That’s one of the dumber opinions I’ve heard in my life.

[@pjvpl4334]

This type of video makes me Appreciate a studied and wise historian. Sees past, and helps relate to present and future.

[@timothysmith4343]

Even trade schools should of small business courses, finance/budgeting and investing, and/or management, and sales if there is sole proprietor possibilities. Air traffic controllers and air line mechanics don't have a sole proprietor option, but the can learn finance/budgeting and investing. Likely, community college would offer all of these.

[@FloydMaxwell]

Fabulous. Like everything Victor Davis Hanson puts out there.

[@ChiappettaShoeStoreKenosha]

Thank you for voicing the importance of independent and small business.

[@SG_88]

Invaluable wisdom consistent through the ages. A pity no one sees where we are.

[@iforget6940]

I had no idea more history for me please.

[@DarkHeartofBlackmoor]

We need politicians that recognize this and support the building of the middle class. The class that builds everything for them.

[@shashijain5084]

Mr Hanson is remarkably clear minded and a bank of knowledge !!!!

[@tkirkwood3366]

Thank you, you are a great teacher. God Bless!!!

[@gregj831]

As per usual, incredible insight and wisdom from a man who should be our Leader.

[@Tracy77751]

No kidding...!

[@hughmac13]

How do you figure?

[@dustbowlhammer7119]

I would take anyone from Hillsdale for a leader, but as we all know, our leaders are not the best and brightest among us, they are the ones that know best how to manipulate the masses.

[@shanesawyer5103]

Oh yeah, the guy who loved Reaganomics & thought the Iraq War was a great idea. He should definitely be our leader. He’s never been completely wrong before. 😂

[@shanesawyer5103]

Ironically, policies VDH supported went so horribly that eventually conservatives turned on Reaganism & neoconservatism & Trump was able to come along & easily take over the GOP by criticizing those things. Then VDH deftly became a vociferous Trump supporter while hoping people wouldn’t notice he was just what Trump was successfully lambasting. What a hack…

[@helgagaines3598]

Thank you Mr. Hanson, you did it again... WORDS of wisdom..must be played in every place of learning.I'm not smart.. common sense yes..but I totally understand..

[@poweraccountabilityleague6877]

VDH is right of course. And it was the uniparty which lead us here. It's also the fault of the citizenry for not creating a strong 3rd political party that could keep the other two parties honest and patriotic. The fault lies not in the stars, but in our selves.

[@peterharris4386]

@@poweraccountabilityleague6877 The "fault" lies within capitalism itself. VDH wilfully ignores that fact.

[@poweraccountabilityleague6877]

@@peterharris4386 How's your arm feeling?

[@peterharris4386]

@@poweraccountabilityleague6877 Huh? Have you anything intelligent to say?

[@jackj5368]

Chill,@@peterharris4386. Find a communist country to your liking and move there.

[@donnawaters4923]

Wonderful presentation! Very interesting, thank you.

[@salzee]

This was eye opening. Thank you.

[@ronaldguerrieri3993]

Thank you to Hillsdale and Mr. Handson for passing on the truths of living.

[@hughmac13]

Which truths?

[@JasonCarmichael]

The last statement explains it all. Now I see why the middle class is shrinking. The code of Ur-Nammu and even clearer the Code of Hammurabi showed the three classes, Elite, Middle, and slaves. Modern slaves are slaves to debt.

[@gregorylashley4985]

Hillsdale College is the greatest educators in US History. Thank you for all you do.

[@charlesparker6985]

ROFL@U

[@mikelee6936]

Thank you V.D.H. I did not go to college myself. It took me some time working less paying jobs but got a good one that payed decent money. I'm retired now 10 years (I am 72 now) and have never regretted not goin to college and going into tremendous debt. And yes I left with a retirement and money in the bank from my job that did not require a college education..

[@maxwillson]

Our education system went in the wrong direction during the 90s. My father only finished middle school in the 70s and has better math skills than most college students today. He never had to go to college to earn a middle class wage, he just simply learned new skills on the job and earned more money.

[@craig4fsu]

Victor is a very intelligent man. When he's talking, shut up and listen.

[@PLaTerra]

There in lies one of the biggest problem…people need to take responsibility. Enjoyed your vid - thanks.

[@donovanwint1277]

Prof.Victor Davis Hanson is truly a Giant of our Country in many ways, and we all need to acknowledge that before he is lost to us. A truly great and unique American treasure. GOD bless you Sir.

[@MrZola1234]

The reason the middle class is disappearing is because large corporations and the super-wealthy have waged a 4 decade war against the middle and working class since 1980 using supply side economics. A recent Ivy League study showed that since the mid 70s supply side economic policies have grafted $75 trillion from the middle class and redistributed that wealth to corporations and the richest 1-10%. Additionally, that if the average income today in America kept pace with inflation and the rise in American worker productivity since 1975, the average income would be $125,000. The video made one very important point about past societies, that the power of the middle class was not interfered with by the poor or the rich. In America, large corporations dominate the political scene. With the Citizens United case, the wealthiest latterly dump unlimited money into politics and buy the result they want. They literally, write most laws at the state and federal level and hand them to the legislature to introduce.

[@firebirdlover4460]

I hate to disagree with a fellow Rams fan, but you didn't make the case at all for your claim that supply side economics is killing the middle class. Supply side economics is simply free trade, low taxes and reduced regulation. It is responsible for most of the economic growth the US has had over the past 40 years. The high taxes, over-regulation and restricted trade that existed before had caused the economy to stall, stagflation, lowering living standards and a general consensus that America was in decline. If you want to see what has caused wages to stagnate, you need to look no further than the annual regulatory increases and burden the government has placed on American citizens. Every year there are new requirements for health insurance, new taxes, new regulations that drive up the cost of doing business, restrictions on housing in states like California while also requiring new things like solar panels that, again, drive up the cost. Businesses have to compete in a free market. If you are constantly driving up the cost of doing business the money to pay for that has to come from somewhere. Health insurance for a family of 4 today is the same as a mortgage payment. 75% of that additional cost has been administrative as hospitals and insurers have had to comply with federal regulations. Guess what that means? Less money for wages. The list goes on and on. About the only failure you lay on supply side is using it as an argument to open trade with China, a Communist country that is more interested in undermining free nations than trade. It's lazy to place the blame at the feet of corporations.

[@MrZola1234]

@@firebirdlover4460 i make factual statements supported by economics and recent studies the quatified the impact. Also, there is plenty of documentation of guys like Dr. Laugher admitting that the laugher curve was a fruad...check the book written by folks on the right called the triumph of politics. It is also basic economics 101, supply economics was the cause of the great depression, even radical right econimists teach that in their macro economics 101classes. As for health care, the rest of the first world has moved away from private health care to a public option not based on profit. As the first world made this change over the last 2 decades, the USA has fallen comared to other nations in relationship to other 1st world nations..we pay the most of any country and we rank lower than 40th in results. The medicare system costs .05 cents on the dollar to administrate vs .31cents on the dollar in the private sector. The private sector would steal even more, but in Bush jrs admin when the Republicans had control of the senate they even got so upset with the insurance companies stealing so much of every health care dollar, they passed a law to limited private insurance to 31% of all health care costs. The hayday of America society was post ww2 -70s...if corporations and the wealthy paid the same share of taxes as they did then and employees, the people who build all the wealth in our society, got the same percentage of the pie as then....our society would be doing well with a thriving middle class. The wealthy and corporations have ued the tax code to shift taxes off them and on the middle class. We don't have crippling red tape or taxes on the private sector. Factually, corporations and wealthy pay less than in all other western economies. In the 50s corporations paid 50% of all income tax, today 2/3s of all corporations pay 0 income tax. If you made 50k as an employee in 2019 and took just the standard deductions ..1k of your taxes went for welfare programs 4k of your taxes went to large corporations like Amazon and exon.

[@rotorheadv8]

The Democrats are the ones waging wars in the Middle Class. Your view is no doubt the result of a Socialist indoctrination via government schools or some chick with purple hair and a ring in her nose.

[@MrZola1234]

@@rotorheadv8 I understand why republicans hate democrats on the basis of social policies, but as far as economics, the Republicans are pretty open about trying destroy the middle class and working class. Democrats do support the policies that favor the middle class economics wise. Literally, the right would end SS and Medicare, and any other program that favors the middle class. These are the facts indispensable.

[@bobmopar2587]

What kills the middle class? VDH never touched on it but it’s very simple. It is the tax of EARNED INCOME by the federal government and the Federal Reserve, which is neither. That’s what kills the middle class and makes the ruling class filthy rich. If anyone who EARNED their money didn’t pay taxes on it (as the founders established) and IF Congress actually did its job of coining money we would have a middle class that would be unrivaled in world history. That’s why there is no middle class. And it was all planned. Your flimsy case against “supply side economics“ was established by the same fine folks who brought you the graduated income tax and the federal reserve. The financial rape and enslavement of this once great Republic moves on apace, entirely because the mass population is wholly ignorant of the facts. That was planned too.

[@learninghowtodothis8062]

Victor is amazing at relaying history to us and young people need more of that. Remember: " those who forget history are condemned to repeat it".

[@JD-ir2sb]

That’s why wokeism is tearing the statues down…they don’t want you to remember history.

[@learninghowtodothis8062]

@@JD-ir2sb Absolutely correct.

[@kimobrien.]

@@learninghowtodothis8062 History never repeats itself. Rather humanity has been on a course of acquiring a greater and greater surplus of production.

[@learninghowtodothis8062]

@@kimobrien. Apparently you aren't a student of history, because it absolutely will repeat itself. By "antifa" (the true rioters)tearing down civil war statues, people will eventually forget that our country sacrificed hundreds of thousands of young white men in an effort to "right the wrong" of slavery. That is just one example.

[@kimobrien.]

@@learninghowtodothis8062 First that is NOT an example of history repeating itself since what you claim hasn't happened yet. Second the statues torn down honor thousands of white men fighting to PRESERVE slavery. I think you need to go back to history class now

[@jackkitchen737]

These clips are wonderful to watch. Very informative.

[@samuelmcgarvey9530]

So well done. Thank you.

[@gerjose1884]

I remember the history of debtor’s prison. Student loans are a new version of this.

[@jimmock1155]

Only if you allow it. You don’t have to take on that debt, and if you do you had better make sure it’s in a field that will repay your investment. I’ve got kids that came out of college with $150k of debt, but can make $2-300k/yr.

[@Eyesayah]

@@jimmock1155 Perhaps your children had the benefit of your wisdom. Sad to think of the large numbers who took on all that debt in part to make their parents proud. Hanson highlighted 'therapeutic degrees'; certainly would not expect them to be scarfing up big cash. Back in the day people would think it fine to go into teaching despite relatively low pay for the chance to do some direct good. Part of the common course of going along with the program.

[@mikeoglen6848]

@@jimmock1155 How can you make $2-300k/yr? Working in a bank?

[@NotitiaRecolligo]

Talmudic usury / Bing: "Talmud + Rense"

[@hughmac13]

There are literal debtors prisons all over the United States right now. It's no "history."

[@nickbeaucage1645]

Saw a guy once said, "The best thing I've ever done in my life is to be born in the same time as Victor Davis Hanson." I feel that.

[@shanesawyer5103]

Idolatry… 🙄

[@AnthonyWoodrichPMP]

Wow....Insightful, with a great lesson in History.

[@Christopher_Bachm]

This is useful in confirming... The situation is not by accident.

[@markothwriter]

I paid $356 / quarter for my college tuition. Books, and fees were additional. ($100) Then, room and board was separate. ($900) Same school today, is $10,000 per semester. It's a state school. THe school President is paid $400,000 / year.

[@kinnish5267]

EVERY COLLEGE SHOULD BE LIKE HILLSDALE

[@hughmac13]

No, they shouldn't.

[@robertdages5392]

God bless this professor.

[@nigeldeforrest-pearce8084]

Excellent and Outstanding!!!

[@nmr6988]

I'm being taxed into poverty by local, state, and federal taxes.

[@Gnofg]

Reagan economic policies started the destruction with this Trickle down nonsense and the tax policies of the 90's was the final blow to the middle class. We used policy to offshore manufacturing and the MBA was the driving force. Finally Milton Friedman"s shareholder theory also contributed to our decline. Finally, executive compensation being tied to the price of the stock is counterproductive as laying off people increase the share stock price

[@vladimirofsvalbard9477]

@@Gnofg Unfortunately, as much as I liked Reagan. I'd have to agree, at least to a certain extent. From what I've seen statistically, wealth (as far as assets and cash value) has been declining for the bottom 60% of earners in the US since the 80s.

[@Gnofg]

@@vladimirofsvalbard9477He was a terrible President and he let the racism come back in by starting his campaign in Phila, MS shouting states rights and telling welfare queen jokes while he was in office

[@shanesawyer5103]

They deified Reagan on the right, & now ironically, 40 years later, conservatives who aren’t wealthy have been demolished by his policies.

[@Gnofg]

@@shanesawyer5103 pretty much. tis true.

[@sscalercourtney5486]

I was born to a family no richer than most blacks at the time. Dad dropped out of school in the 6th grade and mom at age 16. I was dead broke at 46. Yet, when I retired I was at the bottom of the top 10%. I learn to pay little attention to these political type information sources and followed serious studies in personal finance. I never learned a single valuable thing from the political media left or right that actually helped me in life. Each to their own. The more time you spend learning about how this old world really works, and less time you spend learning how this ld world isn't fair the better off you are, imho. But most appear to disagree. I'm retired now and have more time on my hands. The first corporations I was aware of where the East Indies of British and Dutch fame. Since that time, corporations have grown steadily despite protests and complains for centuries. That might not be the world as it should be. But it's the world as it really is. People have complained about the advance of the big corporations for around 500 years now. And yet for all the whining, the Corporations just grow larger. Perhaps it's better to deal with reality than deal with how the world should be?

[@lexingtonconcord8751]

Strange and confused take, pal. You don't sound very wise, even though that's what you're clearly going for. You sound more like you're saying, "Take what you can get while you can get it, and don't worry about mortality on your way, because money." And oh by the way, "let corporations dominate and pillage your society and world." The founders could have easily taken everything for themselves and just accepted the world as it was (leave the bureaucrats in London in charge of the colonies). Thankfully they were not gutless cowards.

[@BrianBourgeois-]

The world only makes sense if you force it too.

[@BrianBourgeois-]

@@lexingtonconcord8751 you’re name is the science of slavery. Just say you read Marx and Lenin in your spare time. Twerp.

[@sscalercourtney5486]

@@lexingtonconcord8751 Thank you for the personal insult. You want the world to be the way you want it to be. So do 9 billion others. You want to enforce your morality on others. They want to enforce their morality on you. But your morality is superior to others. Certainly that's the way most people think. Listening to these videos telling you what you want to hear, that you are the good guy and this bad world is entirely the fault of others keeps you in-line to the elite who support these videos. Good luck with you and others like you being able to enforce your viewpoint on the rest of the world. But listening to these videos and feeling like you are part of the great and good warriors really accomplishes what in adding to your net worth? I'm not fussing at you. I just learned that studying reality helped me rise from the top of the bottom 10% to the bottom of the top 10%. Listening to people entertaining me with what I want to hear, that nothing is my fault but it's all the fault of evil others, never put a dime in my pocket. I'm not really fussing at you. I was merely trying to warn and others that listening to those telling you always what you want to hear isn't giving you the reality of life. Merry Christmas to you and stay safe.

[@sscalercourtney5486]

@@BrianBourgeois- Most of the wars and killings in history come from one group trying to force others to their way of thinking. This posts are short, can't cover every aspect, but effort and on occasion accepting reality can give you in a small way, the better world you desire. The vast majority of people do not live in reality but within their emotions of how they want the world to be. I'm guilty often myself. But general speaking, the Elites follow reality far more than the non-Elites. And keep the non-Elite in line by thinking listening to those telling them they are the good guy and nothing is their fault, it's always the evil others fault is actually changing the world. Only in people's minds. Not the world's reality. Merry Christmas to you.

[@randywoodruff9989]

Love this Dude big time !!! Bravo !!!

[@ashelyapples]

Incredible explanation.

[@Chancey464]

Take a search in college & university classes & you will find alot of non-productive lessons being taught, remove those classes & debt would go down for parents & students.

[@ken12117]

You should focus on the role of NIMBYs. By limiting housing quantity in an area, land use regulations prevent people from being able to live where the market is pushing people to in the quantities they would. Leading to taking lower pay elsewhere & altering downward wages elsewhere by how land use regulations impact supply & demand. Land use regulations have especially impacted those without a Bachelor's Degree. This diminishing of the middle class is mostly coming down on people without student loan debt, but on people either priced out of high productivity metros or competing with workers who would otherwise be taking the higher pay available there.

[@VictorNewman201]

Land use regulations are the only reason the entire US isn't a literal hellscape...as bad as much of it is, there are still nice places to live within it, even close to the major crime and pollution hubs ("cities").

[@learning_with_irving4266]

This video has summarized what my observations of Americans as I have traveled throughout the USA...

[@midwestfarmerleduc9256]

Thank you.

[@siddrajput1029]

Great words of wisdom Dr. VDH!

[@benitofernandez5461]

EXCELLENT EXPLANATION.VERY TRUTHFUL REALITY.

[@2ndamendment176]

Almost finished with the course, great depth and detail. I love his take on alot of the history courses. I feel this course was one of his many great courses.

[@lennytheleopard]

Fascinating

[@mikedat276]

I elevated myself from lower to upper class. What's amazing is that the lower classes have to pay the same sales tax, food tax, fees, etc. as the upper class. Yet, I also believe it's not fair to punish me with more taxes since I worked hard to get where I am at. In the end, I think the solution lies in proper management of money. Government constantly wastes our taxes with no accountability. The more they waste the more they want. It will never end and has always gotten worse.

[@luckyrockmore2796]

Tyrants aka government has an agenda, you and me aren't in their best interests

[@jns6320]

tell me, just because you worked hard to become wealthy, why shouldn't you pay more in taxes? especially if it is a progressive tax, that only affects your wealth after a certain point.

[@vonrock6862]

In high school in the 60’s we learned about civics, the plans of the communist party, American history Most knew the importance of the 10 commandments, respect for elders and each other

[@OpalBerries]

It's not a loss of values, but how the rich and elite extort and capitalize on a lack of values in ethos, thus making the forsaking of values profitable.

[@carbidegrd1]

So you were lied to?

[@kimobrien.]

Did some one from the Communist Party come in and explain their plans?

[@vonrock6862]

@@kimobrien. funny. No there were plenty of books, it’s never been a secret, only now it’s more visual than ever, And it’s teaching or should I say it’s Not teaching is accomplishing its desire. You maybe a shining example

[@vonrock6862]

@@carbidegrd1 no, in your ignorance you’ve become the person they want, do some serious study

[@lakshyabhardwaj9541]

Very very insightful stuff.

[@flamencoprof]

It is gratifying to find USA internal debate of this quality on KZbin. (Not that I have previously looked for it.). I have always found the quality of USA intellectual debate far above my own abilities and equal to any anywhere. I am a New Zealander educated in the British tradition, which I value, and which also descends from the Greek values mentioned here. Poverty and ignorance are not synonymous, nor education and income. Thoughtfulness and experience are a nice combination.

[@richbattaglia5350]

An increase in wages for the middle class and a way to manage debt for college students. I believe education of these subjects and preventing more mistakes in the future will save this country.

[@VintageCardinal]

College students can eliminate their own debts by not getting useless degrees and actually paying back their loans. Not everyone has to go to college, either. That's a lie.

[@richbattaglia5350]

Show me and I will show others.

[@maplenook]

We need huge reduction in people going to college

[@steelshepherd6843]

The government takes over 1/3 of my income...before property tax, sales tax, and other fees such as car registration, etc...

[@hongo3870]

And then they give it to taliban on pallets, wrapped in plastic, in 100 bill stacks

[@myleshagar9722]

They give it hand over fist to the US military. No audit. No limit. This is what Americans tolerate and even celebrate, so increasing poverty is no surprise.

[@zehrajafri9252]

Knowledge light's the way. Give control to knowledge instead of money.

[@MrBlackbutang]

He is absolutely correct!

[@glennrubel4326]

I wonder how the breakdown of the family unit has accelerated the breakdown of the middle class. I believe the work ethic is fundamentally rooted in a stable family unit and the erosion of this work ethic has led to a dependency class that continues to grow.

[@kimobrien.]

Work ethic was nothing more than capitalist propaganda. You work and they sit in a chair counting their profits. Capitalism is a system that promises something for nothing where the rich pretend that the are both smart and work hard. They are neither.

[@greygrump]

Glenn I see this in my daughter as a single parent. She survives because her stable parents emotionally and financially enable her survival.

[@williamhutcheson6511]

VDH makes more sense than most people. Excellent teacher. Superb citizen.

[@doreekaplan2589]

Working 20 hours a week I was able to put myself through UC Berkeley supporting myself 100% graduating in 1971. Not possible for my son who worked full time to then put himself through college today. Other countries offer free college for all but the "richest" does not. Why not?

[@1966johnnywayne]

Love this man.

[@hazelwray4184]

He's explained why the middle class is important/necessary but not why it's disappearing.

[@ColonelMarcellus]

It's disappearing because a huge segment of government is waging war on it.

[@dongoldberg5976]

It's because of tax cuts for the rich and corporations, lower unionization rates, slower expansion of the welfare state relative to other developed nations (e.g., the unique absence of universal healthcare). The US was an early adopter of neoliberalism, whose focus on growth over equality spread to other countries over time. Other causes include automation, college premiums, immigration of less-educated workers, financialization, superstars, skill-biased technological change, globalization, corporatism and corporatocracy.

[@coopsnz1]

You own home " business or shares your in middle class

[@davidcase1286]

Interesting. One of the great hallmarks of stability in Japan is that 80% of the people are or perceive themselves to be in the middle class. But that is eroding in Japan too

[@santiagoperaza967]

How do you know this ?

[@davidcase1286]

@@santiagoperaza967 based on countless articles in Japan while I lived there for 20+ years

[@maximusorbis2548]

@@davidcase1286 articles and evidence matter more. Show proof

[@aceofspades5786]

Same here in UK, large student debt, 91% private car sales on credit, deferred state pension, house prices at over 9X average wage, low rate of personal savings

[@JohnyReb43]

This is a unique, very important idea....

[@davyboy9397]

Victor , you are a national treasure ! Merry Christmas to the Hillsdale family !

[@marcpadilla1094]

For power. Middle class has always been nothing more than a resource for the wealthy, political system, and welfare system. The family being the Nucleus of the working Middle class gradually became more of a threat to politicians and elites in terms of power. That's why single parent households are more common amd why the working class is more dependent on government and corporations for wealth that is not theirs.

[@RaybosPassion]

Outstanding highlight reel... I'll be looking for the unabridged version 😉

[@RaybosPassion]

Reparations? Equity? Reality ✔️... We're all debt slaves... And God only cares for the Color of your heart... And Jesus purchased your debts that matter on the cross... Be Thankful...

[@jeffjeffries3469]

Excellent explanation.

[@aussiehardwood6196]

Brilliant, I always am better off after watching one of Hillsdale's video's