Issues of the Day
Over at TPMCafe, Rep. Bernie Sanders of Vermont is guest-blogging, where he writes “The Decline of the American Middle Class Is THE Issue”.
The
reality today is that for the vast majority of Americans their standard
of living is in decline. Real wages for the bottom 80% of wage
earners are stagnating or falling. Our disastrous free trade
agreements are stripping this nation of the good paying manufacturing
jobs, and increasingly white collar hi tech jobs as well, that provided
the basis for an increasing standard of living for middle
America. The decline of the American middle class is not just one
of the issues out there. It is THE issue in the United States
today.
What
motivates me politically, and what being a progressive means to me is
fighting for the economic well-being of middle and low income Americans
— those people whose needs are too often ignored by a Congress
dominated by Big Money and a White House bent on further enriching the
very wealthy at the expense of everyone else.
This
issue is becoming more and more apparent in Iowa's cities and towns –
the vibrant middle class communities of my youth are slowly becoming
shells of what they once were.
Our downtowns used to have more than dollar stores and secondhand shops.
The Des Moines Sunday Register ran an editorial called “Hog Lot Threatens Gift”
– detailing the threat that is presented to public (and non-profit)
lands created by Iowa's refusal to allow counties and cities to decide
what is important to them.
Mary
Garst and her five daughters have given Iowans a stunning gift – 5,000
acres of timber, wetlands and pasture just an hour or so west of Des
Moines in the Middle Raccoon River valley.
The
land will be preserved forever for recreation, environmental education
and conservation by a nonprofit organization called White-rock
Conservancy. The family's vision includes local businesses thriving on
tourism, such as Earl Lee Phelps' blacksmith shop, where he can whip
out a dinner bell for a visitor in no time.
…
But
now the Garsts are worried that a large hog confinement might be built
nearby. That the stench could keep people away. That a manure spill
could pollute a fish pond, creeks and even the river.
We've
been writing here about the need that counties and communties have to
determine when and where large livestock facilities should be built –
our politicians need to do more than provide simple lip service to this
issue. If Minnesota can speak out – why can't we?
Finally – a personal note. Last week, Des Moines Cityview
ran a cover story about an “ex-gay” ministry being headed by someone
named “Chad Thompson,” which was pointed out by one of our regular
commenters.
We're
not the same person. It seems that my name (I was the only one I
knew growing up!) is more common that one would expect. I guess
I'll have to blame my parents for not being more creative…
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