Willie Pep
Willie Pep's JournalDownward mobility among the white-collar middle class
I thought this was an interesting article on the issue of downward mobility and increasing precariousness among white-collar Americans.
https://www.ineteconomics.org/perspectives/blog/americas-white-collar-middle-class-takes-a-terrifying-slide-down-the-mobility-ladder
One thing I have to say, though, is that a lot of middle-class Americans were fine throwing poor and working-class Americans under the bus in the past when times were better for the white-collar middle class. I recall many of my white-collar friends and family members complaining about unions and saying that factory workers should have gotten an education in response to plant closings. There was little sympathy for poor and blue-collar Americans. Now that many of the same problems are starting to hurt more affluent Americans some of them are changing their tune although I still hear a lot of nasty comments whenever fast food workers or other low-wage workers try to organize or get a raise in the minimum wage.
I am all in favor of solidarity between all American workers but this should be a good political lesson. Never, ever punch down and never assume that you are untouchable because you will be next on the chopping block. After the powerful demolish those at the bottom the middle and upper-middle will be next.
9th Circuit rules that the 2nd Amendment protects open carry.
Interesting ruling today.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 that Hawaiian officials had violated George Young's rights when he was denied a permit to openly carry a loaded gun in public to protect himself.
Full article: http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-gun-carry-ruling-20180724-story.html#
"'People Are Literally Being Poisoned": How Sewage Problems in Alabama Got So Bad
This is pretty depressing coming from a wealthy country like the United States. Apparently sewage problems are not just confined to Alabama but exist in other states as well.
Most residents of this rural county, who are predominantly poor and black, live too far from cities to attach their homes to sewer systems. So they rely on septic tanks. But installing and maintaining those septic systems is difficult -- not only because they're so expensive but also because they have to be specially designed to work in the region's clay-rich soil.
As a result, many people who live in Lowndes County have open pits of human waste in their yards or raw sewage backing up into their homes after heavy rains. Neither the county nor the state seems to be in any position to help, and at times, they’ve arguably made things worse.
Full article: http://www.governing.com/topics/transportation-infrastructure/gov-alabama-hookworm-sewage.html
Critique of the Prosperity Gospel
La Civiltà Cattolica has published an interesting critique of the Prosperity Gospel.The risk of this form of religious anthropocentrism, which puts humans and their well-being at the center, is that it transforms God into a power at our service, the Church into a supermarket of faith, and religion into a utilitarian phenomenon that is eminently sensationalist and pragmatic.
The article focuses on the history of the Prosperity Gospel movement, its origins in the United States, its spread around the world and its relationship to a certain interpretation of the American Dream. Highly recommended reading in my opinion.
https://laciviltacattolica.com/the-prosperity-gospel-dangerous-and-different/
Why did Ronald Reagan switch from a Democrat to a Republican?
I have been reading a bit about Ronald Reagan and I was surprised to find out that he was a Democrat in his younger years. Reagan was a big supporter of FDR and the New Deal and was very pro-union. Regan was even president of the Screen Actors Guild. But Reagan would eventually become a Republican in 1962 and supported Barry Goldwater in 1964.
I have read all sorts of reasons for Reagan changing parties, everything from making more money and getting hit with higher marginal tax rates to his stint working as a spokesman for General Electric.
Why do you think Reagan changed parties and ideology?
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