A Pledge To 1% of America

[marmar]

from AlterNet:



Posted by Terrance Heath at 1:46 pm
October 8, 2010

A Pledge To 1% of America
Posted by Terrance Heath on @ 1:46 pm


It’s almost a shame that Americans are paying very little attention to the GOP’s "Pledge To America." But maybe that’s because most of it has nothing to do with them. What is not mentioned in the document makes it clear that it doesn’t speak to the urgent challenges Americans are facing. It doesn’t "pledge" to address the mass suffering inflicted on millions of America by the current crisis, or what failing to do so will mean for generations of Americans, because it’s not a pledge to most Americans. It’s a pledge to 1 percent (or even less) of America.

Much has been made of the homogeneous, colorless America depicted in the presentation of the pledge itself.

The point is a valid one that needs to be made. But the real color the "pledge" is concerned with is green, and those who have the most of it are its primary beneficiaries.

Recent statistics tell the story of what the rest of America is facing right now:

* 14.9 million Americans are unemployed.
* 6.2 million Americans are now counted as long-term unemployed.
* There are currently 5 job seekers per job opening.
* 3.8 million Americans joined the ranks of the poor last year for a total of 43.6 Americans living in poverty.
* 1.9 million Americans will face foreclosure this year.
* The gap between the richest and poorest is wider than ever, with the top earning 20% receiving more than 49% of the income generated last year.

This leaves out older, even more depressing statistics. It’s just a snapshot of the reality millions of Americans are facing today. Not only does the "pledge" not address that reality, it fails to solve the problems behind those statistics. In fact, it barely mentions them. .........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://blogs.alternet.org/speakeasy/2010/10/08/a-pledge-to-1-of-america/

[inna]

1. Must read. KR