New Dems Third Way Think Tank says screw you you non-weathy people

[Robbien]

Third Way Report Explodes
the Myths of Populism.

Group Offers a New Path to Middle Class
Prosperity in the “New Rules Economy”

Washington, DC – Much of what you’ve been told about the middle class is wrong, according to a provocative new report released today by the center-left group Third Way. The middle class is far wealthier, more stable, and more optimistic than most progressives believe. The middle class does have economic anxiety, but it is based on the shifting sands of change and whether they’ll be able to navigate new economic rules.

. . .

“The defining challenge of our time is to help America and the middle class succeed in the 21st century world,” said Anne Kim, Director of Third Way’s Middle Class Project and one of the report’s authors. “People are anxious because they instinctively know that the rules for success have shifted, but they have been left to figure them out on their own. The role of government should be to help people understand, navigate, and play by the new rules so that they can achieve economic success.”

. . .

The authors go on to dissect the economic circumstances of the middle class and find that middle class income and wealth are far higher than most policymakers believe. For example, by looking at household incomes of only working age families, Third Way found that median income was around $70,000 per year, not the $45,000 that most progressive economists cite. The typical household also held no credit card debt, experienced relatively little income volatility, and was satisfied with its economic circumstances.

. . .

The paper then moves to what it identifies as the real cause for middle class anxiety and the challenge for government: adapting to the rapid and broad 21st century changes. It identifies five rule changes for individual success, two for family success, and two for business success. A few examples include:

* Under the old rules, a high school degree was enough to enter and stay in the middle class; under the new rules, a college degree is needed.

* Under the old rules, mothers expected to stay home; under the new rules, they expect – and often want – to work.

* Under the old rules, business had limited competition; under the new rules, competition is fierce.

Trib blog article
http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/news_theswamp/2007/02/middle_class_no.html#more

third way's site
http://third-way.com/products/71

The report is so full of bad assumptions based on bad data, but it gets New Dems where they want to go. How can the New Dems support big business lobbyists if they have to pay attention to the real middle class. So they redefine reality.

[derby378]

1. We need Third Way like a baby leopard shark needs a Moonie preacher

This one's just for my SanFran DU peeps... :hi:

[OHdem10]

2. Too bad, Alan Blinder, Former Fed Reserve Member

Robert Reubin, Former Treas. Secretary, Larry Sommers, Former
Treasury Secretary testified before Congress only a couple
of weeks ago in a Committee Hearing headed by C. SchumerD Ny.

Their comments are strongly in Disagreement. You should be
able to view this meeting at C-Span. Democratic Response
Regarding the State of the Economy.

The New Dems have and continue(it appears) to be out of touch.
They essentially support the Elitist Brand of Government
of GOP-- which produces small numbers of HAVE MUCHERS at the
top and an an ocean of HaveNOts. The very fact that
they are satisfied to ignore the half of the country
who does not vote, speaks volumes. They seek the identical
voters of the GOP.

[zbdent]

3. yet another Repuke "religion" ... they throw out all the data

that doesn't conform to their propaganda ...

[Rydz777]

4. And under the "new rules"

Under the "new rules" if your two-person income family becomes a one-person income family, you are no longer in the Middle Class.