Getting Rich? Unlikely, Democrats Need to Fight for the Journey
Generally speaking, our problem is the "wealth disparity." Republicans want it to expand more, make the rich richer, and put more in the poor-house. Basically, Republicans are advocating bringing back a depression, full-bore. They've got no allegiance to America, at least if you mean all Americans when you say America.
My idea has always been to shave off the top, and add it to the bottom, to make everyone's journey a little more tolerable. We all need to face the fact that yea, we might win the lottery, or make our fortune on American Idolatry, but the massive likelihood is we'll all be poor or middle class until we die. If you're over 30 and haven't made it to a millionaire yet, your chances are slim. Over 40? Non-existent. Over 50? You can just about forget about any chance of it ever happening. Facing the facts helps people understand who they need to be fighting for economically.
Don't whine for the rich, or their "massive tax burdens," instead focus on how much they've got left. See if you think that is fair, compared to your situation. Work toward making our journeys better, for our families and ourselves. Help push the idea of single-payer health care. Let's push the idea of a free college education for all, if we can maintain a C average. These things will help us much more than crying a tear for the tax burdens of the moneyed. No matter what job we end up having, being smarter will help us to not be deceived by politicians, and rhetoric over substance.
Maintaining the rags-to-riches meme, the Horatio Alger story is mission-one for our media. There are a rift of reality shows put on to make folks think they'll have a chance, they regularly interview rich and influential people, they talk of Steve Jobs and Bill Gates. There is pro-football, or some other sport, or actors and actresses. All of them are real, but chances are less than slim any one of us will make our fortunes in these ways. Working your way up in a plant left pretty much with the exported plants. Service industries will end up mostly being a long drudge to make a tad more than working a job somewhere else. Capitalism depends on the many thinking they're going to get rich someday. But let's face it, it is very unlikely. Worse, it has become even more unlikely in these republican times of the last few decades.
Sure, keep on working toward it. Just don't lose sight of the reality of things along the way, and while you are on your journey, vote for the people who are making it a bit more possible for you. Vote for the party that has given you Pell Grants, or loans to go to school. Vote for the party that maintains a wage floor. Vote for the party that gives you unemployment insurance, in case you fall by the wayside for a bit. Stop voting for your "imagined future," and focus on the now. We'll all be a lot happier if you do.
