The middle class...

is not going away. The previous post shows that there has been little or no change since 1983.

Now consider this from The McKinnsey Group: "Immigrants account for approximately 12 percent of the total population of the United States, the highest percentage in eight decades, and the vast majority of these newcomers have either limited or no credit history.

Could it be possible that there hasn't been a drop in the middle class, but an increase in the lower class? Yes, it is very likely since most of them don't come here with wealth. Now throw in the millions of uneducated blue collar workers from Mexico, Central America, and South America and you exasperate the situation.

So, get a grip on your emotions and study the data. The ultra rich are getting richer, but that doesn't mean the middle class is going away. It also doesn't mean that the lower class is increasing because our system is failing. It could be we have a huge influx of lower income people. In our system, they will have a chance (or thier kids will) to improve their status.

The middle class...

has about the same amount of wealth that it has had since 1983. This data came from economist Edward N. Wolff at New York University (2004).



Did you notice that the peak for the super rich (upper 1%) was under the Clinton administration... not under a Republican. Hmmm.

Did you notice that the shift of wealth was really from the lower end to the middle - the "rich".

According to a 2006 Met Life study the richest Americans (top 15%) have an average net worth of about $860,000.

So what do people mean when they say the "middle-class"? Get a grip. Things are about the same now as they were the second half to the 1900's (the so called glory years), except that now you don't have to be white to have money - though it still doesn't hurt...

The ACLU has an easy task...

since they have a single purpose to their mission. They only pursue "civil rights" and don't seem to balance that against anything else like the security of the nation or economic impact - the assumption being protection of civil rights insures economic success and national security. That is great, I'm sure the founding fathers would approve.

However, the ACLU doesn't seem to me to be protecting all of our civil rights with the same devotion. I'm trying to find some examples of the ACLU defending the right to bear arms. Also, while they are pressing hard on freedom of speech, they apparently require their employees to sign a non-disclosure agreement that prevents any employee from expressing critism of the ACLU. Last point on this topic - I see no evidence that the ACLU is protecting us against the IRS which takes real property from families and takes money right out of our bank accounts (with aide from the banks that don't want to be the target of IRS ire). Is the IRS found anywhere in the Constitution or the Bill of Rights? I don't think so...

So, if you are an ACLU supporter, GET A GRIP ON YOUR EMOTIONS, and recognize that they are playing some game, they have some secret agenda, and you are very unlikely to be the beneficiary of their efforts by any means other than luck.

Grumpy

Global Fattening...

From 1980 to 2000 the number of obese Americans doubled. Using the same techniques used by selected doomsday scientists to predict the impact of global warming we identify a catastrophic future:
1. By 2020 60% of Americans will be obsese
2. By 2040 120% of Americans will be obsese
3. By 2080 all humans will be obeses

This will increase the demand for cheese burgers which will drive up the demand for both cattle and charcoal. The result will be accelerated global warming even if we get rid of all other carbon based energy sources.

So, GET A GRIP ON YOUR EMOTIONS, and stop over-eating and start exercising.

General Robert T. Herres

I learned that Gen. Herres is very ill. I am proud and lucky to have worked for him. He is as fair, kind, honest, generous, and down to Earth as any man I have ever known. His leadership is impeccable. He did a lot for all Americans, the United Way, youth, San Antonio, many employees, his church, and many more.

God Speed to you Gen Herres.
God Bless you and your family Gen Herres.