In the fourth category, pensions have eroded, spreading understandable anxieties among the middle class. Thirty years ago, 50 percent of workers held permanent pensions. Today, a mere 20 percent enjoy them, while another 40 percent have only 401k provisions for retirement and another 40 percent have no provisions at all.
In the fifth category, the senator praised the Affordable Health Care legislation recently passed [and soon to be challenged by the Supreme Court], regretting the moniker "sandwich generation" attached to those required to work two and three jobs at a time to support their families. He proposed block grants to prepare preschool children for subsequent educational experiences and family leaves from work in the evident of sickness or other difficulties.
A sixth category then surfaced: how will all the above be financed? Through separate legislation, the senator answered his own question, taxing Wall Street trading at a rate charged until 1996, three cents on every hundred million dollars [hard to believe]. FDR doubled this rate. The senator also recommended enforcement of the "Buffett rule," that employers be prevented from paying income at the same rate or lower rate than do their employees [presuming the employer earns more than his/her employee].
Back to generalities, the senator noted how trickle-down economics has failed to "percolate up"--one cannot fertilize a tree at the top, but only at the roots, he said. Congress and the government must have the backbone to rebuild the middle class.
Harkin said that he was eager for feedback and "mild" criticism from the public.
In answer to an audience question, the senator said that he's investigating for-profit educational institutions, which are "ripping off the poor," "run by hedge funds," and in these ways building up a massive debt--college graduate debts are higher than those accrued through credit cards. Harkin would like to see improvement in the oversight of Pell grants and student loans.
Banks must also write off the huge fortune of mortgage debt crippling the country. In the nineteen eighties Congress rescheduled farmers' debts that were so overwhelming the industry was crumbling. More support is needed for rentals and other housing of the poor and near-poor, and what better time is there than now, when the federal government is borrowing at zero percent interest?!
Answering another question, Harkin said that partnerships should be formed between industry and community colleges, funded by the federal government, to train workers to transition to the newly computer-driven economy.
For-profit universities and colleges aren't all bad, said the senator, qualifying his earlier tirade.
The hands raised were many and the audience question time limited. I would have asked how he imagined he could get such legislation through Congress; Harkin had mentioned that executive-branch support for his projects was about fifty-fifty. I would have asked whether President Obama might be persuaded to issue an executive order to activate all of the senator's far-reaching and excellent objectives. After a glance at the definition of the rubric "executive order," I quickly found that such orders have in the past "resulted in legal proceedings." (from Wikipedia)
Why am I not surprised if not discouraged?
*****
After the CAP event, I visited the Occupation at McPherson Square in downtown DC. The tents are still there, though all of the daily living accoutrements have been ordered removed. The People's Library and Information Tent are still there, and a huge, blue and decorated "dream" tarp covers the statue of Major General McPherson on horseback.
I spoke to a homeless man dressed very warmly, who said that he sleeps in his tent without bedding and will exit the tent if warned to. I spoke to a homeless artist. I took many pictures of witty signs that included "Help, police! My job is missing and has been stolen!" "Unemployed and with a 'Made in America' birth certificate," "I'm dreaming of my First Amendment rights," "Evicted from home by the banks; evicted from [here] by the police; the 99% has no safe place to rest," and "This is a workspace."
Where are the photos? Somewhere in cyberspace between my cell phone and my computer. I'll put up a photographic essay or add to this story when they materialize.
Thank you for your patience.
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