Darrell Issa’s thought process fails the middle-class and he fails to see it.
This snippet from a longer interview between CNN and Darrell Issa explains the dichotomy between the American poor and middle-class reality and that of our politicians. Darrell Issa was asked as one of the wealthiest congresspeople whether he feels a personal responsibility to address income inequality in the United States. The only correct part of the answer was his first response, “Absolutely,” Issa responded.
It went downhill from there. “America is the richest country in the world,” Darrell Issa said. “Because we have been able to put capital together and we have been able to make our poor somewhat the envy of the world.”
Our poor is the envy of the world? The capital America put together was human capital unacknowledged and uncompensated or poorly compensated for the benefit of the few. That is neither something to be proud of nor is it the envy of the world. Most of the world are unaware of the poor and struggling middle-class in the United States because it is not advertised. In fact it is shocking and makes headlines in foreign lands when we have our underclass rebel.
Darrell Issa had a serious face on when he actually lied about worldwide level of inequality. He claimed that there is greater inequality in many third world countries. The reality is most have less inequality than in the US. Aggregate wealth has nothing to do with inequality and he should know that.
Issa also claims there is less opportunity for the have nots to become the haves in other countries. The reality is that upward mobility is a myth for most in the US. Contrary to his implying that access to education is a redeeming factor in America, he should note that his party’s continued budget and tax cuts are making higher education fleeting and primary and secondary education substandard.
America is moving in the wrong direction. Darrell Issa and his ilk are the anchors dragging and keeping the poor and middle-class ‘in their places’.
(h/t RawStory [Arturo Garcia])