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Saturday, January 31, 2009

A Middle Class Task Force?

A recent executive order from the new Obama administration has created a new Middle Class Task Force which will be headed by VP Joe Biden and is

a major initiative targeted at raising the living standards of middle-class, working families in America

Its goals are as follows

  • Expanding education and lifelong training opportunities
  • Improving work and family balance
  • Restoring labor standards, including workplace safety
  • Helping to protect middle-class and working-family incomes
  • Protecting retirement security

All of that sounds great – especially if you are in the middle class. Yippee! What they haven’t done, and I expect they won’t, is to actually define middle class.

This is a common political ploy and a pet peeve of mine. So who are these people? Can you define it by annual income? Not really. Is it a lifestyle? Is it me? or you? Is it Joe the Plummer? If I have a white collar office job can I not be a middle class paper pusher?

There are a lot of people who don’t consider themselves “rich” but will not be considered middle-class depending on the definition and therefore will not be considered by the program.

Mr. Biden, Please tell us who you are going to help. Specifically. I think a lot of people might be surprised.

And while you’re at it, explain why the focus is really on green jobs? Is installing solar panels for a living my only hope for a middle class family income with good work and family balance?

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