“It’s the Depression, stupid.” I give the Republican Party maybe 3 more years

“The political influence wealthy Americans enjoy over the policymaking process is well documented: the more money you have, the more likely it is politicians are going to take your concerns seriously. 

Demos published a new report on this and a related issue - “Stacked Deck: How the Dominance of Politics by the Affluent & Business Undermines Economic Mobility in America” – and included a striking chart, breaking down voting participation by income. 

All forms of political participation matter, but voting is among the most concrete ways that citizens influence public policy – and the wealthier are far more likely to vote. According to the Census Bureau, 81.6 percent of Americans making over $150,000 reported that they voted in the 2008 presidential election.  In contrast, roughly half of citizens making under $30,000 reported voting.” 

FROM: 

Leaving political capital on thetable 

04/15/14 12:48 PM 

By Steve Benen

The Great Depression of the 1930s effected almost every demographic. Former middle class and upper middle class people became poor. The way to keep up something like pre-depression lifestyles was selling illegal alcohol.

We’ve had a heroin epidemic for about a century but now that (former) middle class white people are using and selling smack it’s suddenly a terrible killer.

“Breaking Bad” meth labs are the 2007-08 depression’s version of moonshine stills during the Great Depression.

Most drug sellers are entrepreneur addicts who need the money to support their habit. You read about those people in the news, sometimes in the obituaries. 

There is another large group of infrequent illegal drug sellers who need extra cash to get through something. Most of the people that sell drugs to make ends meet need money for basic needs. They know the risk they take. When that need ends they stop selling. You don't read articles in the news about most of those people.

But there are some drug sellers who were in the $150,000 class that are trying to maintain their former lifestyle. You do read articles about those people, they get caught.

There aren't many wealthy drug sellers. I think that if someone is crafty enough to make money by selling drugs cheating investors on the market is a much safer place to make a million a month.

Right now a large part of West Chester and Coatesville’s economies are dependent on drugs staying illegal.

If all drugs were suddenly legal there would be a local economic depression in Chester County.

I think the very high level of drug use and selling across all socio-demographic and economic levels is mostly a symptom of a lousy economy.

A lot of things affect politics but economic security is probably the most important.

In 2007-08 many people looked down and saw their rung on the economic ladder was gone. People slid down a rung or two.

The ladder is still very slippery. It could even fall down in another Wall St. crash.

I think voting is a habit. People that vote in every election, not just “for the president” will continue to vote in every election regardless of what happens to them. The “81.6 percent of Americans making over $150,000” that voted in the 2008 presidential election will continue to vote when they hit $30,000.

It’s hard to see changes when you’re in the middle of them, but I think we are witness to the end of the Republican Party. The middle and upper middle class are sinking into poverty and the Republican Party can’t swim among poor people.

It seems insane for once middle class now poor people to self-destruct by voting Republican. But maybe their poverty hasn’t sunk in yet. I’ll give them 3 more years.