let’s start here raise your hand if you consider yourself middle class that’s a
consider yourself middle class that’s a
consider yourself middle class that’s a lot of people now I’m guessing that some
lot of people now I’m guessing that some
lot of people now I’m guessing that some of you who raised your hands live in
of you who raised your hands live in
of you who raised your hands live in households that earn two hundred
households that earn two hundred
households that earn two hundred thousand dollars or more a year
thousand dollars or more a year
thousand dollars or more a year that’s actually not middle-class that’s
that’s actually not middle-class that’s
that’s actually not middle-class that’s the top six percent but you know as
the top six percent but you know as
the top six percent but you know as Americans we use the term middle class
Americans we use the term middle class
Americans we use the term middle class almost indiscriminately so in a recent
almost indiscriminately so in a recent
almost indiscriminately so in a recent Bloomberg story an amusement-park worker
Bloomberg story an amusement-park worker
Bloomberg story an amusement-park worker earning twenty two thousand dollars a
earning twenty two thousand dollars a
earning twenty two thousand dollars a year and a lawyer earning 200 volt
year and a lawyer earning 200 volt
year and a lawyer earning 200 volt described themselves as middle-class
described themselves as middle-class
described themselves as middle-class what happens if we look at Americans who
what happens if we look at Americans who
what happens if we look at Americans who were just actually in the middle here’s
were just actually in the middle here’s
were just actually in the middle here’s what we see the bottom 30 percent of
what we see the bottom 30 percent of
what we see the bottom 30 percent of Americans are poor their median
Americans are poor their median
Americans are poor their median household income is around 22,000 then
household income is around 22,000 then
household income is around 22,000 then the middle 53% have a median household
the middle 53% have a median household
the middle 53% have a median household income of around 75,000 typically they
income of around 75,000 typically they
income of around 75,000 typically they have blue and pink collar jobs and then
have blue and pink collar jobs and then
have blue and pink collar jobs and then the top 17% are the professional
the top 17% are the professional
the top 17% are the professional managerial elite or PME they have a
managerial elite or PME they have a
managerial elite or PME they have a median household income of about a
median household income of about a
median household income of about a hundred and seventy three thousand so as
hundred and seventy three thousand so as
hundred and seventy three thousand so as Americans we’re a little clueless about
Americans we’re a little clueless about
Americans we’re a little clueless about class why does it even matter well we’ve
class why does it even matter well we’ve
class why does it even matter well we’ve heard a lot about the top one percent
heard a lot about the top one percent
heard a lot about the top one percent and the bottom ninety nine but the
and the bottom ninety nine but the
and the bottom ninety nine but the conflict that’s driving American
conflict that’s driving American
conflict that’s driving American politics today is between the PME that
politics today is between the PME that
politics today is between the PME that top 17% and Americans in the middle so
top 17% and Americans in the middle so
top 17% and Americans in the middle so we need to learn more about that here’s
we need to learn more about that here’s
we need to learn more about that here’s where it started the PME lost connection
where it started the PME lost connection
where it started the PME lost connection with a group whom prior generations
with a group whom prior generations
with a group whom prior generations given a place of honor so this is
given a place of honor so this is
given a place of honor so this is actually right here in Denver it’s the
actually right here in Denver it’s the
actually right here in Denver it’s the mountain state’s telephone company
mountain state’s telephone company
mountain state’s telephone company headquarters over on 14th Street and
headquarters over on 14th Street and
headquarters over on 14th Street and it’s a mural painted in 1929 look at how
it’s a mural painted in 1929 look at how
it’s a mural painted in 1929 look at how it celebrates the nobility of
it celebrates the nobility of
it celebrates the nobility of blue-collar work similar things all over
blue-collar work similar things all over
blue-collar work similar things all over the country but that was on the wane by
the country but that was on the wane by
the country but that was on the wane by around 1970 when the famous TV show all
around 1970 when the famous TV show all
around 1970 when the famous TV show all in the family
in the family
in the family featured Archie Bunker a blue-collar guy
featured Archie Bunker a blue-collar guy
featured Archie Bunker a blue-collar guy who was depicted as racist sexist stupid
who was depicted as racist sexist stupid
who was depicted as racist sexist stupid and fat and then in the 1990s came Homer
and fat and then in the 1990s came Homer
and fat and then in the 1990s came Homer Simpson amiable but ignorant also fat
Simpson amiable but ignorant also fat
Simpson amiable but ignorant also fat closer to our day in orange is the new
closer to our day in orange is the new
closer to our day in orange is the new black the character of pennsatucky is a
black the character of pennsatucky is a
black the character of pennsatucky is a white working-class woman she’s depicted
white working-class woman she’s depicted
white working-class woman she’s depicted as coarse ugly ignorant check out the
as coarse ugly ignorant check out the
as coarse ugly ignorant check out the teeth class consciousness has given way
teeth class consciousness has given way
teeth class consciousness has given way to class callousness and at exactly the
to class callousness and at exactly the
to class callousness and at exactly the same period when you had this shift from
same period when you had this shift from
same period when you had this shift from celebration to shame the economic future
celebration to shame the economic future
celebration to shame the economic future of the American middle-class just tanked
of the American middle-class just tanked
of the American middle-class just tanked so for example virtually all Americans
so for example virtually all Americans
so for example virtually all Americans who were born in the 1940s did better
who were born in the 1940s did better
who were born in the 1940s did better than their parents but today it’s about
than their parents but today it’s about
than their parents but today it’s about half and wages used to rise when
half and wages used to rise when
half and wages used to rise when productivity rose until the 70s that
productivity rose until the 70s that
productivity rose until the 70s that stopped if it had continued wages would
stopped if it had continued wages would
stopped if it had continued wages would be about double what they are today and
be about double what they are today and
be about double what they are today and so blue-collar America heard the
so blue-collar America heard the
so blue-collar America heard the cultural disrespect and they deeply
cultural disrespect and they deeply
cultural disrespect and they deeply mourn the passing of the American dream
mourn the passing of the American dream
mourn the passing of the American dream the result is a politics ruled by fury
the result is a politics ruled by fury
the result is a politics ruled by fury we voted with our middle finger said one
we voted with our middle finger said one
we voted with our middle finger said one Trump South Carolina voter
Trump South Carolina voter
Trump South Carolina voter said another voter my fellow liberals
said another voter my fellow liberals
said another voter my fellow liberals should have listened to those of us they
should have listened to those of us they
should have listened to those of us they call Hicks hillbillies toothless idiots
call Hicks hillbillies toothless idiots
call Hicks hillbillies toothless idiots they should have understood that we
they should have understood that we
they should have understood that we don’t live in a flyover state we live in
don’t live in a flyover state we live in
don’t live in a flyover state we live in our home you know I don’t like what this
our home you know I don’t like what this
our home you know I don’t like what this dynamic is doing to American politics
dynamic is doing to American politics
dynamic is doing to American politics for two reasons the first is ethical I’m
for two reasons the first is ethical I’m
for two reasons the first is ethical I’m committed to social equality for all
committed to social equality for all
committed to social equality for all groups not just for some groups and the
groups not just for some groups and the
groups not just for some groups and the second is strategic the hidden injuries
second is strategic the hidden injuries
second is strategic the hidden injuries of class are fueling a politics so
of class are fueling a politics so
of class are fueling a politics so polarized that our democracy is
polarized that our democracy is
polarized that our democracy is threatened now in order to begin to turn
threatened now in order to begin to turn
threatened now in order to begin to turn this around we have to understand more
this around we have to understand more
this around we have to understand more about what I call the class culture gap
about what I call the class culture gap
about what I call the class culture gap because class isn’t just about money
because class isn’t just about money
because class isn’t just about money it’s also a set of cultural traditions
it’s also a set of cultural traditions
it’s also a set of cultural traditions that we riff off of to shape our
that we riff off of to shape our
that we riff off of to shape our everyday behavior and make sense of our
everyday behavior and make sense of our
everyday behavior and make sense of our lives class affects everything we do
lives class affects everything we do
lives class affects everything we do from that first cup of coffee we have in
from that first cup of coffee we have in
from that first cup of coffee we have in the morning till whether we prefer the
the morning till whether we prefer the
the morning till whether we prefer the edgy or the tried-and-true let’s first
edgy or the tried-and-true let’s first
edgy or the tried-and-true let’s first look at the professional managerial
look at the professional managerial
look at the professional managerial elite their central ethic is
elite their central ethic is
elite their central ethic is self-development that’s why as parents
self-development that’s why as parents
self-development that’s why as parents we spend so much time trying to discover
we spend so much time trying to discover
we spend so much time trying to discover our children’s every little micro talent
our children’s every little micro talent
our children’s every little micro talent and develop it posthaste
and develop it posthaste
and develop it posthaste these jobs require independent thinking
these jobs require independent thinking
these jobs require independent thinking and so we display we we focus on
and so we display we we focus on
and so we display we we focus on individual achievement and work devotion
individual achievement and work devotion
individual achievement and work devotion and we display our originality
and we display our originality
and we display our originality everything is artisanal from ice cream
everything is artisanal from ice cream
everything is artisanal from ice cream to spiritualities and edgy because being
to spiritualities and edgy because being
to spiritualities and edgy because being disruptive can yield a unicorn a Silicon
disruptive can yield a unicorn a Silicon
disruptive can yield a unicorn a Silicon Valley company with a billion-dollar
Valley company with a billion-dollar
Valley company with a billion-dollar valuation but you know in blue and pink
valuation but you know in blue and pink
valuation but you know in blue and pink collar jobs being disruptive just gets
collar jobs being disruptive just gets
collar jobs being disruptive just gets you one thing and that’s fired well
you one thing and that’s fired well
you one thing and that’s fired well whereas the PME kind of takes stability
whereas the PME kind of takes stability
whereas the PME kind of takes stability for granted in blue-collar America
for granted in blue-collar America
for granted in blue-collar America stability is hard one and it’s much
stability is hard one and it’s much
stability is hard one and it’s much cherished and so the focus is on self
cherished and so the focus is on self
cherished and so the focus is on self discipline the kind that gets you to
discipline the kind that gets you to
discipline the kind that gets you to work every day on time without an
work every day on time without an
work every day on time without an attitude to an often not very fulfilling
attitude to an often not very fulfilling
attitude to an often not very fulfilling job this is why the middle-class so
job this is why the middle-class so
job this is why the middle-class so deeply deeply values institutions that
deeply deeply values institutions that
deeply deeply values institutions that aid self discipline the military
aid self discipline the military
aid self discipline the military traditional religion traditional family
traditional religion traditional family
traditional religion traditional family life and why the taste is for the tried
life and why the taste is for the tried
life and why the taste is for the tried and true think ample portions of comfort
and true think ample portions of comfort
and true think ample portions of comfort food Olive Garden rather than smidgens
food Olive Garden rather than smidgens
food Olive Garden rather than smidgens of sophistication think tasting menu so
of sophistication think tasting menu so
of sophistication think tasting menu so what does all this have to do with
what does all this have to do with
what does all this have to do with politics it turns out it has a lot let’s
politics it turns out it has a lot let’s
politics it turns out it has a lot let’s examine that by looking at two of the
examine that by looking at two of the
examine that by looking at two of the most divisive issues in the United
most divisive issues in the United
most divisive issues in the United States today guns and abortion let’s
States today guns and abortion let’s
States today guns and abortion let’s start first with abortion and with me my
start first with abortion and with me my
start first with abortion and with me my grandmother was one of the first women
grandmother was one of the first women
grandmother was one of the first women ever admitted to Johns Hopkins Medical
ever admitted to Johns Hopkins Medical
ever admitted to Johns Hopkins Medical School she eloped with her handsome
School she eloped with her handsome
School she eloped with her handsome rabbi my grandfather just a few weeks or
rabbi my grandfather just a few weeks or
rabbi my grandfather just a few weeks or months before completing her degree
months before completing her degree
months before completing her degree again and again she tried to get
again and again she tried to get
again and again she tried to get readmitted no-go finally the family
readmitted no-go finally the family
readmitted no-go finally the family moved to New Haven Connecticut where a
moved to New Haven Connecticut where a
moved to New Haven Connecticut where a former classmate was by then Dean of the
former classmate was by then Dean of the
former classmate was by then Dean of the Yale Medical School so she went and she
Yale Medical School so she went and she
Yale Medical School so she went and she basically begged he said
basically begged he said
basically begged he said Erma you should be ashamed of yourself
Erma you should be ashamed of yourself
Erma you should be ashamed of yourself you already have a job a husband and
you already have a job a husband and
you already have a job a husband and children
children
children and so she gave up my mother gave up
and so she gave up my mother gave up
and so she gave up my mother gave up about 20 years later when she was fired
about 20 years later when she was fired
about 20 years later when she was fired from the only job she ever truly loved
from the only job she ever truly loved
from the only job she ever truly loved as a reporter with a Brooklyn Eagle
as a reporter with a Brooklyn Eagle
as a reporter with a Brooklyn Eagle newspaper when the men came back from
newspaper when the men came back from
newspaper when the men came back from World War two and so coming up I carried
World War two and so coming up I carried
World War two and so coming up I carried two generations of pain and I wanted to
two generations of pain and I wanted to
two generations of pain and I wanted to make sure that pain didn’t define my
make sure that pain didn’t define my
make sure that pain didn’t define my life too
life too
life too that’s why abortion rights have always
that’s why abortion rights have always
that’s why abortion rights have always seemed so important to me I knew I
seemed so important to me I knew I
seemed so important to me I knew I needed to graduate from college and then
needed to graduate from college and then
needed to graduate from college and then from law school and then I needed to get
from law school and then I needed to get
from law school and then I needed to get tenure and ill-timed pregnancy it could
tenure and ill-timed pregnancy it could
tenure and ill-timed pregnancy it could jeopardize everything and that’s why
jeopardize everything and that’s why
jeopardize everything and that’s why two-thirds of college grads in the
two-thirds of college grads in the
two-thirds of college grads in the United States support abortion rights
United States support abortion rights
United States support abortion rights but only about half of those with high
but only about half of those with high
but only about half of those with high school or less do the logic of their
school or less do the logic of their
school or less do the logic of their lives is often different they fault
lives is often different they fault
lives is often different they fault the PME for unhealthy work worship and a
the PME for unhealthy work worship and a
the PME for unhealthy work worship and a failure to understand that family comes
failure to understand that family comes
failure to understand that family comes first and their daily lives also look
first and their daily lives also look
first and their daily lives also look really different the demise of
really different the demise of
really different the demise of blue-collar jobs means that these
blue-collar jobs means that these
blue-collar jobs means that these families face a daily scramble with mom
families face a daily scramble with mom
families face a daily scramble with mom working one shift and dad working a
working one shift and dad working a
working one shift and dad working a different shift sometimes literally
different shift sometimes literally
different shift sometimes literally handing over the baby in the parking lot
handing over the baby in the parking lot
handing over the baby in the parking lot in between and these tag-team families
in between and these tag-team families
in between and these tag-team families they’re under such stress that they have
they’re under such stress that they have
they’re under such stress that they have three to six times the national divorce
three to six times the national divorce
three to six times the national divorce rate and so they look back on the
rate and so they look back on the
rate and so they look back on the breadwinner homemaker family with
breadwinner homemaker family with
breadwinner homemaker family with nostalgia and they still hold it up as a
nostalgia and they still hold it up as a
nostalgia and they still hold it up as a an ideal you know these fights over
an ideal you know these fights over
an ideal you know these fights over abortion their fights over what it means
abortion their fights over what it means
abortion their fights over what it means to be a good woman identities are at
to be a good woman identities are at
to be a good woman identities are at risk which is why they get so ugly so
risk which is why they get so ugly so
risk which is why they get so ugly so fast
fast
fast because when you have one side calling
because when you have one side calling
because when you have one side calling the other mindless misogynists to me met
the other mindless misogynists to me met
the other mindless misogynists to me met with a response you’re selfish
with a response you’re selfish
with a response you’re selfish careerists class conflict becomes acute
careerists class conflict becomes acute
careerists class conflict becomes acute you know debates over guns are similarly
you know debates over guns are similarly
you know debates over guns are similarly visceral to me the ready availability of
visceral to me the ready availability of
visceral to me the ready availability of guns
guns
guns it means Las Vegas Sandy Hook
it means Las Vegas Sandy Hook
it means Las Vegas Sandy Hook it means boys murdering their classmates
it means boys murdering their classmates
it means boys murdering their classmates it means men killing people in church
it means men killing people in church
it means men killing people in church but even as I understand I understand
but even as I understand I understand
but even as I understand I understand how people feel differently because if
how people feel differently because if
how people feel differently because if abortion involves ideals of womanhood
abortion involves ideals of womanhood
abortion involves ideals of womanhood guns involve ideals of manhood and
guns involve ideals of manhood and
guns involve ideals of manhood and that’s why two-thirds of women but only
that’s why two-thirds of women but only
that’s why two-thirds of women but only 43% of men support stricter gun laws and
43% of men support stricter gun laws and
43% of men support stricter gun laws and there’s also a strong class dynamic so
there’s also a strong class dynamic so
there’s also a strong class dynamic so 57% of Americans with postgraduate
57% of Americans with postgraduate
57% of Americans with postgraduate education but only about 35% of
education but only about 35% of
education but only about 35% of Americans who have high school or less
Americans who have high school or less
Americans who have high school or less feel that gun ownership in dangers
feel that gun ownership in dangers
feel that gun ownership in dangers safety where I come from said Democrat
safety where I come from said Democrat
safety where I come from said Democrat John Edwards of North Carolina he said
John Edwards of North Carolina he said
John Edwards of North Carolina he said you know guns they’re not just about
you know guns they’re not just about
you know guns they’re not just about guns there are also about independence
guns there are also about independence
guns there are also about independence and that enter independence intertwines
and that enter independence intertwines
and that enter independence intertwines with masculinity protecting one’s family
with masculinity protecting one’s family
with masculinity protecting one’s family is key to the identities of blue but not
is key to the identities of blue but not
is key to the identities of blue but not white collar men and in large areas of
white collar men and in large areas of
white collar men and in large areas of the country hunting is a key form of
the country hunting is a key form of
the country hunting is a key form of male bonding and male solidarity and
male bonding and male solidarity and
male bonding and male solidarity and Jennifer Sherman’s study of rural
Jennifer Sherman’s study of rural
Jennifer Sherman’s study of rural California found many men on disability
California found many men on disability
California found many men on disability due to lack of jobs who hunted to help
due to lack of jobs who hunted to help
due to lack of jobs who hunted to help support their families these rural men
support their families these rural men
support their families these rural men were using guns to claim a full measure
were using guns to claim a full measure
were using guns to claim a full measure of men
of men
of men skill indignity protecting providing
skill indignity protecting providing
skill indignity protecting providing pleasure power all key ingredients of
pleasure power all key ingredients of
pleasure power all key ingredients of the masculine role and look I wish
the masculine role and look I wish
the masculine role and look I wish masculinity worked differently but
masculinity worked differently but
masculinity worked differently but whether you’re poor privileged being a
whether you’re poor privileged being a
whether you’re poor privileged being a man is often seen as something that has
man is often seen as something that has
man is often seen as something that has to be earned over and over and over
to be earned over and over and over
to be earned over and over and over again after all pleasure power providing
again after all pleasure power providing
again after all pleasure power providing they pervade Hollywood and Silicon
they pervade Hollywood and Silicon
they pervade Hollywood and Silicon Valley to where works a masculinity
Valley to where works a masculinity
Valley to where works a masculinity contest and harassing woman’s just one
contest and harassing woman’s just one
contest and harassing woman’s just one way of keeping score so where does this
way of keeping score so where does this
way of keeping score so where does this leave us here’s where it is really
leave us here’s where it is really
leave us here’s where it is really really easy to see someone else’s truths
really easy to see someone else’s truths
really easy to see someone else’s truths as partial and parochial what’s hard is
as partial and parochial what’s hard is
as partial and parochial what’s hard is to see your own truths that way too we
to see your own truths that way too we
to see your own truths that way too we all spend so much time trying to
all spend so much time trying to
all spend so much time trying to convince the other side that we’re right
convince the other side that we’re right
convince the other side that we’re right and they’re wrong if only they would
and they’re wrong if only they would
and they’re wrong if only they would listen to us but here’s the reality our
listen to us but here’s the reality our
listen to us but here’s the reality our politics stem from our values and our
politics stem from our values and our
politics stem from our values and our values reflect our lives lives deeply
values reflect our lives lives deeply
values reflect our lives lives deeply shaped by social class the PME feels
shaped by social class the PME feels
shaped by social class the PME feels entitled to self development where
entitled to self development where
entitled to self development where whereas the middle-class seeks stability
whereas the middle-class seeks stability
whereas the middle-class seeks stability through self-discipline so what seems so
through self-discipline so what seems so
through self-discipline so what seems so obvious to one group may not seem
obvious to one group may not seem
obvious to one group may not seem obvious to the other obvious or even
obvious to the other obvious or even
obvious to the other obvious or even true how can we begin to compromise on
true how can we begin to compromise on
true how can we begin to compromise on these issues that go straight to the
these issues that go straight to the
these issues that go straight to the center of our identities three steps can
center of our identities three steps can
center of our identities three steps can help the first is we need to lower the
help the first is we need to lower the
help the first is we need to lower the level of ambient anger by lowering the
level of ambient anger by lowering the
level of ambient anger by lowering the level of open insult class slurs should
level of open insult class slurs should
level of open insult class slurs should be as stigmatized as racial slurs
the second step is that we need to
the second step is that we need to address the key engine of middle-class
address the key engine of middle-class
address the key engine of middle-class Fury the PME needs to care about the
Fury the PME needs to care about the
Fury the PME needs to care about the economic prospects of the two-thirds of
economic prospects of the two-thirds of
economic prospects of the two-thirds of Americans who lack college degrees you
Americans who lack college degrees you
Americans who lack college degrees you know these these proxy wars on guns and
know these these proxy wars on guns and
know these these proxy wars on guns and religion they reflect the raw pain of
religion they reflect the raw pain of
religion they reflect the raw pain of Americans unable to give their families
Americans unable to give their families
Americans unable to give their families of future and the last is the most
of future and the last is the most
of future and the last is the most important we all on both sides need to
important we all on both sides need to
important we all on both sides need to change the way we think about each other
change the way we think about each other
change the way we think about each other you know too often advocates on both
you know too often advocates on both
you know too often advocates on both sides there absolutists convinced of
sides there absolutists convinced of
sides there absolutists convinced of their own moral purity but I think we’re
their own moral purity but I think we’re
their own moral purity but I think we’re better off if we leave politics and
better off if we leave politics and
better off if we leave politics and purity separate politics is about the
purity separate politics is about the
purity separate politics is about the messy business of living peaceably with
messy business of living peaceably with
messy business of living peaceably with decent people whose lives give them a
decent people whose lives give them a
decent people whose lives give them a different truth lens the sooner we begin
different truth lens the sooner we begin
different truth lens the sooner we begin to bridge this class culture gap the
to bridge this class culture gap the
to bridge this class culture gap the sooner American politics will step back
sooner American politics will step back
sooner American politics will step back from the brink let’s start now
”
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