Read a get post Class Warfare and Austerity Class Warfare and Austerity. Go read it. It has lots of the wonkish policy stuff and economics undergraduate like myself loves.
Left the comment below but felt like it was worth posting here...
I'm running for state senate done here in GA. And as I travel my district (5 counties--from metro ATL to rural middle GA) people are struggling just to get by.
They are angry. They are confused. And they are being fed a lot of misinformation in the press. The fact that I stand on a stage with 4 other people that are utterly clueless about the budget problems the state of GA faces--or the economic picture of the countries economy as a whole--expains how we got into this mess to begin with and send a shudder down my spine at the thought that all across this country Tea Party types are going to get elected via fear mongering and good old fashion lies.
Okay the lies part might be a little harsh as I really think these people are utterly clueless about basic facts. But stand on a stage next to someone saying the federal government is holding a gun to your head, or that we should throw economic refugee's (called illegal aliens) into train cars and "ship them away" does knock your confidence in the idea that cooler heads will prevail.
Class is the dirty word of American politics---the erosion of the middle class has truly scared a lot of people. They long for the way this country used to be---back when taxes on the wealthy were higher, unions were stronger, and the government was more proactive in regulation. But large numbers of people who want what they've lost are only puppeting policies that will further undermine the quality of life for working families.
It makes a person feel utterly powerless. But the only solution the working class has ever had is to organize organize organize.
"If you want a vision of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face - forever." George Orwell