Class War rages on

This quote comes from AP Economics Writer Martin Crutsinger, and I don't quite understand it.

The Labor Department reported that its closely watched Consumer Price Index was up 3.4 percent for the 12 months ending in December, the biggest jump since a similar 3.4 percent rise in 1990, another year when global oil prices were soaring because of Middle East turmoil. But outside of the volatile sectors of food and energy, core inflation posted a 2.2 percent rise for all of 2005, unchanged from the 2004 gain.

Followed immediately by:

And in other good news, inflation ended the year on a tame note with overall prices dropping by 0.1 percent in December following an even bigger 0.6 percent decline in December. It marked the first back-to-back monthly declines in consumer prices since late 2003.

The entire column is here.

This is good news? Outside of DVD players and laptops made in China (aka: shit you don't need), the price of stuff we need to keep WARM and FED is rising by outlandish rates.

All this while the minimum wage has not been raised in 7 years.

So while the CPI, which tracks everything we buy, is in the stratosphere, the income that matters to most of us, a wage, is declining. And every retard on the right continues to spout the good news, that car stereos are cheap.

This is a class war. They are winning. HOW can we turn this around?

•  Yes it's a class war

  But no one told the poor and middle class.  I think the 0.6% decline was in Nov. not Dec.  I assume the two declines were due to reductions in energy prices from their previous highs.  The higher energy prices will eventually feed through to higher general inflation.  It will cost more to ship DVD players from China.

  With respect to your general question, the Bush administration (i.e. Rove, Cheney et al.)  is fundamentally about transferral of money from poor and middle class people to themselves and their wealthy chronies.  Abortion, gay marriage, etc., although important issues to many of us, are mainly distractions to keep their base from focusing on the facts that their jobs are going offshore, that their real incomes are stagnant, that their job security is gone, that their pensions are not reliable, etc., etc.

  Although the Democratic party under FDR, and for some years afterward, was, to some extent, friendly to the working class, the current Democratic party is different.  Their message seems to be, "We will ship your jobs overseas, but not as fast as the Republicans."  "We will kiss corprate A--, but not linger as long."  In many ways the Democratic party has become the Republican Lite party.  Working class voters are left with two parties that are not clearly different except on social issues.

  How to fix the problem?  Would that I were granted the wisdom to know!!  We can begin, however, by demanding medical care reform, pension reform, corporate accountability for environmental damage, etc. etc.  At least we can begin to fight back.

  by Eric Blair on Wed Jan 18, 2006 at 07:51:24 AM PDT

•  And The Bad News Is?

  Seriously - unemployment is 4.9%  GDP is up and jobs are growing steadily.  Inflation is in check.  There's bigger targets if you just want to bash the Administration.

  Who works for minimum wage?  Do you? It's an entry level wage .  My kids started at minimum and soon made better.

  This is not class war - and your "facts" don't support your assertion.

  by elephant on Wed Jan 18, 2006 at 08:36:19 AM PDT

  •  It is nice to know

    that some Republicans visit dailykos. Who says the minimum wage is an entry level wage?   A lot of people try to live on the minimum wage.  GDP is up about 4% but we have to borrow 8% of GDP from abroad to achieve 4% growth--a remarkable achievement.  A greater and greater fraction of income and wealth is being shifted to the very wealthy.  Median income has been static in real terms since the mid 1970's (median meaning half earn more and half earn less.  Average is a poor measure of income because a few people becoming very wealthy can increase average income while most people have no income increase.

    by Eric Blair on Wed Jan 18, 2006 at 09:01:50 AM PDT

    •  Economics

      First, thanks for actually addressing the issues and not digressing into profanity and personal attacks.

      Second, the minimum wage - which varies from state to state, BTW - is a protection established by the Fair Labor Standards Act.  Too many people think it should be a living wage, which (I don't think) it was ever intended to be.  If you can find some historical documentation to counter this I'd like to see it.  There are tons of opportunities to educate and improve oneself to get past minimum wage.  One of my kids is in college, and one just finished an automotive trade school.  Both are carrying students loans for their education.

      I'm certainly not thrilled about goverment spending and our reliance on China to buy our debt.  I am glad that some congressmen, like Mike Pence, are starting to get vocal about this.  Earmarks and set asides must go.

      I don't know what the numbers are on median income to debate that.  I do know what has happened to me, my family, and my friends over the past decade - and it has all been good.  (I'm the lone conservative in my family, BTW)

      I do know that an incredible number (well over 50%) of American poor have cars, air conditioning, and color TVs.  I've travelled all over the world and seen true poverty - I do not wish it on anyone.  I do know that America offers more opportunity to her citizens than the vast majority of countries in the world.  And that is regardless of whether there is a Republican or Democrat in the White House.

      by elephant on Wed Jan 18, 2006 at 09:20:30 AM PDT

    •  FSLA

      I just read through the Fair Labor Standard Act section on minimum wage.  All it does is establish that an employer must pay the minimum wage; it does not give any reasoning why it was enacted or equate it to a living wage.

      I respect your opinion - I just may not agree with you

      by elephant on Wed Jan 18, 2006 at 10:26:03 AM PDT

  •  Point noted

    But there is one issue:  

    "...just want to bash the Administration"

    The words "Administration", "Bush", or "Republicans" do not appear in my post.  The term "every retard on the right" does, so if you've included them in that category, that is your issue.

    To your point, this is more about the upper classes waging war on the lower, and I will note that it didn't begin in 2001.  It has definitely expanded into an all out battle since then, and this battle is being lost every day by people like me.  If you expect me to like it, think again.

    The first step is to raise the minimum wage to $7.25 by 2009.  That's the rising tide, not corporate health.  As all economic data make clear, the corporate profits are not trickling down.

    For the record, I am a Socialist, not a Democrat.

    by socialist butterfly on Mon Jan 23, 2006 at 10:39:04 AM PDT

•  A higher GDP doesn't help me a damned bit

  When my heating bill doubled from last month (up to $355) and the cost of food, gasoline, and other necessities continues to go up. As for the unemployment rate, I'd like some indication that the job market is not skewed toward low-wage, below-subsistence jobs before I get too excited about that.

  by gravie on Wed Jan 18, 2006 at 09:02:21 AM PDT

•  Socialist Butterfly

  From now on, all caterpillars must register with the Party.  Only those deemed Progressive enough by the Party leadership will be allowed to become Socialist Butterflies.

  Sorry - couldn't help myself!

  I respect your opinion - I just may not agree with you

  by elephant on Wed Jan 18, 2006 at 11:41:19 AM PDT