Reply #30: Excuse me. But we are constantly being sold the myth of the

[JDPriestly]

"American Dream." Since when does a professional person work for minimum wage in the U.S.? Since when does an American's lifestyle drop so drastically? Since the Reagan era set off the great American decline. That's since when. Since Bush stole our money and oversaw the devaluation of our economy. That's since when. Since our politicians got bought by big business and instituted free trade, i.e., sold the U.S. workers down the river. That's since when.

This woman has my sympathy. If Reagan and every subsequent president had not sold the American dream, the American people and the American military power to the highest corporate bidder, we would still be able to live not in luxury, but in a decent, middle class style. Here in California, an income of $80,000 per year is not wealth. It is a little better than making ends meet. You can buy an inexpensive house in a lower middle class area, a used car and save a little for retirement. You can educate your children -- provided they either qualify for scholarships or financial aid somehow or get into a state school and live at home.
$80k per year is not all that much money.