tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265637264058465024.post3964017627453530269..comments2024-03-18T10:16:55.888-07:00Comments on <b>Everything Else</b>: Back to BasicsMikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00776670666673938282noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265637264058465024.post-45941325496825356692016-01-22T07:34:32.567-07:002016-01-22T07:34:32.567-07:00Thanks for that clarification. One of the irritat...Thanks for that clarification. One of the irritating aspects of the Blogger interface is that it does not allow editing of comments after posting. Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00776670666673938282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265637264058465024.post-26052116888777611682016-01-22T04:53:22.931-07:002016-01-22T04:53:22.931-07:00Sorry Mike, I left out a pesky "not." I ...Sorry Mike, I left out a pesky "not." I think it is *not* hard (i.e., it is easy) to argue that the lower and middle classes have lost economic opportunity. I am deliberately using "economic opportunity" vaguely.Jim Greyhttp://blog.jimgrey.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265637264058465024.post-32059758812033734122016-01-21T09:13:40.252-07:002016-01-21T09:13:40.252-07:00I am having a hard time reconciling your first and...I am having a hard time reconciling your first and last sentences. I guess I may not fully understand what you mean by "economic opportunity". Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00776670666673938282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265637264058465024.post-91513419682731740062016-01-21T07:16:02.220-07:002016-01-21T07:16:02.220-07:00Even though I lean conservative, I agree with you ...Even though I lean conservative, I agree with you that having so much wealth concentrated in so few people is a problem. I'm not sure whether any of my fellow conservatives will agree with me; I haven't talked to any of them about it. But it seems clear to me that this condition results in a weakened, shrinking middle class, and in a huge gulf between haves and have-nots. Even my cursory understanding of history tells me that this is a genuine Bad Thing, that creates seeds for discontent and even revolution.<br /><br />But the minute you talk about "income inequality" to a conservative, s/he will react negatively and start thinking "socialism! no!" <br /><br />I would like to see this discussion reframed in terms of restoring fair and equitable economic opportunity for all. That word opportunity is key, as from where I sit a core unspoken value of conservatism is that anyone should have equal opportunity. One could argue all day long whether conservatives actually play that out in their actions, but I believe it to be a value nonetheless. I think it is hard to argue that the lower and middle classes have lost economic opportunity since the Reagan years.Jim Greyhttp://blog.jimgrey.netnoreply@blogger.com