subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite map
Thu, Nov 26 2009 

Published September 26, 2008 10:16 am - Let me get all this straight.
A portion of the tax money paid in by those who fall in the middle-income salary range is used to help the poor. Some of that is a responsibility I can live with. I repeat, some of it.


Carol Stark: Middle class gets second-class treatment



Let me get all this straight.

A portion of the tax money paid in by those who fall in the middle-income salary range is used to help the poor.

Some of that is a responsibility I can live with. I repeat, some of it.

Now, we’re looking at bailing out the rich, too? We’re actually going to reward corporate greed with $700 billion of our tax money? We’re taking care of crooked executives by offering them “golden parachutes” ? We’re considering all of this, when, despite a number of pleas, our federal government couldn’t find the money to help the city and county governments in Newton County rebuild after the May 10 tornadoes? Or make good on its promise to Miami, Okla., after the 2007 floods?

Those questions, in that order, have plagued me all week as I’ve watched the national news, waiting to see how someone else is planning to spend my next paycheck.

And, I’ve had to ask: “Does my government even still care about me and all my middle-income friends?”

Surely folks, the distinction of being what some refer to as “middle class” is quickly going the way of the dinosaur, meaning that soon we won’t have the strength or the desire to pull ourselves out of the mire because we’re carrying too many others on our backs.

“Middle income” describes a lot of the people I know. You know, people who work for a living, and who put their limited savings into a federally insured account. If they went out and lost a big chunk of their Friday paycheck on a risky venture, they know better than to expect much help.

About half (53 percent) of all Americans place themselves in the middle-income category according to the results of a Pew Research Poll released earlier this year. And, according to the poll, fewer Americans now than at any time in the past half century believe they’re moving forward in life.

Our kids are the ones who have to take out student loans because we make just enough so they don’t qualify for grants. And, we don’t make enough to pay the whole load for college.

We’re the ones who have to decide if a family vacation is out of the question when gas shoots up.

We take our lunches with us to work. We carpool with our neighbors. And, we have to make payments on our hospital bills because of the gap between what insurance covers and what the medical industry demands.

All because we are the responsible middle income.

So, pardon me if I don’t buy into this bailout. I don’t think it makes me any less of a patriot just because I’m in no rush to fork over $700 billion that won’t just come out of my pockets, but those of my children and my grandchildren.

I know, simply by reading letters from readers, that this past week you have felt much the same way I do.



print this story    email this story    comment on this story   

Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.


Add a comment on this story







autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide

Announcements


Click here to VOTE!!

Click here!!

: Special Offer For New Subscribers : 32 buy 1 get 1 free offers

Click Here!


Featured Transportation

1989 CHEVROLET STEPSIDE
350, V8, custom flames, runs great, $2500. 417-208-6717...>MORE

1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM
2 door, spoiler, sharp, loaded, automatic, air, CD, extra nice, $2600. 1317 Schifferdecker, Joplin....>MORE

1997 OLDSMOBILE 88
runs good, $1900. 417-850-0731....>MORE

1993 CHEVROLET LONG BED
runs good, 4.3 V6, new transmission, needs body parts, $400. (417)438-2508...>MORE

1999 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED
4x4, leather loaded, $3500. 417-850-0731....>MORE

TOYOTA 2004 TACOMA PRERUNNER
Toyota, 2004 Tacoma Prerunner, TRD off road, double cab, V6, new tires, CD, bed liner, lid cover, 100,000 miles, excelle...>MORE

HONDA, 2007 FIT SPORT,
customized interior package, automatic, air, AM/FM/CD, cruise, great mpg, low miles, excellent condition, $11,800. (417)...>MORE

2002 KIA OPTIMA EX
4 door, sharp, loaded, leather, CD, sunroof, extra nice, $3200. 1317 Schifferdecker, Joplin....>MORE

1998 CHEVROLET TRACKER
removable hard tops, automatic, air, CD, sharp, $2500. 1317 Schifferdecker, Joplin....>MORE

2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS
4 door, luxury leather trim, loaded, CD, sunroof, beautiful rig, extra nice, $4500. 1317 Schifferdecker...>MORE

See all ads

Featured Homes

Deerfield Estates
in Carl Junction, prime building sites, reduced $10,000 each. 417-825-0052...>MORE

NEWER 3 BR/2 BA
Lots of upgrades and great location. $149,000 but all offers considered. 903 Katlin, Carl Junction. Pictures www.fsboloc...>MORE

See all ads

Other Cool Stuff

ENGLISH BULLDOG PUPPY
male, AKC, fawn/white, champion bloodlines, $900 or best offer. (417)396-3340...>MORE

MALTESE PUPPIES ADORABLE!!

6 weeks old Thanksgiving. 2 boys and 2 girls. Shots, wormed, and vet checked. Healthy, active, and loved! Great Ch
...>MORE

NEW IN BOX
New in box, Lucchese cowboy boots, black, size 9D, $200. (620)231-9256...>MORE

POODLE, FULL BLOODED
POODLE, full blooded, $75 or best offer. (417)385-8710 after 4:30 p.m....>MORE

INDIAN HEAD PENNIES
INDIAN HEAD PENNIES, 35% Civil War II nickels, V nickels, Buffalo nickels, lots of other coins. Garage full of antiques ...>MORE

DIAMOND SOLITAIRE
Pear-shaped, one carat, diamond solitaire in gold setting. $2,000. Please call 417-825-3238...>MORE

REWARD $50,000 REWARD

Offered for any information leading to conviction of any person or persons known to have been involved in alleged
...>MORE

(2) TEACUP CHIHUAHUA
APRI puppies. (417)673-1997....>MORE

YORKIES
12 weeks old, 2 males, AKC, 1st shots, $175. 417-291-6590, Webb City...>MORE

5TH WHEEL
5TH WHEEL, 2004 Prowler Regal, 26’, 2 slides, loaded, nice. (620)674-2127....>MORE

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index

 

 

The Joplin Globe Electronic Edition