Members of the
middle class who hate the rich, blaming them for their own failures, mask their jealousy with concern for the
poor. They call the rich mean-spirited and evil, despite secretly wanting what they've got. They beseech the government to strip them of their wealth, no matter
if it was hard-earned. At the same time, they see the poor as generous and loving folk,
the salt of the earth, scraping their fingers to the bone to feed their families while the
heartless rich party til dawn at bacchanalian champagne soirees.
They do this without actually knowing any rich or any poor, but instead blindly accepting media reports and commentary by the likes of TV personalities Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert and Bill Maher, all three of them millionaires from selling that particular schtick.
I was born into America's lower middle class. Like all babies, I had nothing to do with my station in life at birth. I am fortunate enough, after college and years of working, to now occupy a higher rung of the middle class. That's where I met and married a smart and driven type-A workaholic who thrives on productivity and has been rewarded for his innate drive and ambition by generous employers who rightly regard him as a valuable asset.
Because of that, I get to drive a brand new Saab instead of a beater, and my husband drives an SUV that drinks gas like there's no tomorrow. Should we feel guilty for this? Should we do more than give to various charities and engage in occasional volunteerism? Perhaps my husband should do his job for less pay, or give all his earnings to those we label "poor," but that doesn't seem fair. Besides, he'd probably work less. Just what can we do that would assuage all the bleeding hearts? Oh, wait a minute, I know what. We could put up a lawn sign that says, “Tax the rich!” And get a couple of Obama bumper stickers for our cars.
They do this without actually knowing any rich or any poor, but instead blindly accepting media reports and commentary by the likes of TV personalities Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert and Bill Maher, all three of them millionaires from selling that particular schtick.
I was born into America's lower middle class. Like all babies, I had nothing to do with my station in life at birth. I am fortunate enough, after college and years of working, to now occupy a higher rung of the middle class. That's where I met and married a smart and driven type-A workaholic who thrives on productivity and has been rewarded for his innate drive and ambition by generous employers who rightly regard him as a valuable asset.
Because of that, I get to drive a brand new Saab instead of a beater, and my husband drives an SUV that drinks gas like there's no tomorrow. Should we feel guilty for this? Should we do more than give to various charities and engage in occasional volunteerism? Perhaps my husband should do his job for less pay, or give all his earnings to those we label "poor," but that doesn't seem fair. Besides, he'd probably work less. Just what can we do that would assuage all the bleeding hearts? Oh, wait a minute, I know what. We could put up a lawn sign that says, “Tax the rich!” And get a couple of Obama bumper stickers for our cars.
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