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JDPriestly

(57,936 posts)

54. A middle-class is the key to peace and prosperity.

Sat Jan 31, 2015, 07:54 PM

Jan 2015

It was the destruction of the middle class in Germany in Austria due to the debts the countries owed after WWI that drove them to madness.

That's my theory. I lived there. Germany and Austria always have a strong middle class. Even their conservatives are socialist. It's just their sense of identity within their society. They do, in my experience, really love order -- not in a sick way. (I was totally out of place there. I'm terribly messy. That's why I can say with authority that German society in which order and inclusion of other German-speaking people are values, revered values. Boy, was I out of place. I'm such a non-conformist.) But I can appreciate that they love the order and the social inclusion that makes their culture strong. It was tough being an outsider there, but their society is strong.

We could use a bit more of that stuff - not too much, but a bit more. So I agree with Bill Maher.

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Bill Maher Drops A Reality Bomb On Republicans: American middle-class was created though socialism [View all] kpete Jan 2015 OP

k&r ND-Dem Jan 2015 #1

It is looking that way more every day. Enthusiast Jan 2015 #15

A very famous capitalist Roy Rolling Jan 2015 #20

and right he was ND-Dem Jan 2015 #27

Who was that? former9thward Feb 2015 #65

Talking to a friend that works for a medical insurance company. Just where did your job come from? brewens Jan 2015 #2

Any kind of size-able middle class is impossible without government intervention stevenleser Jan 2015 #3

I dont think you are allowed to say the word socialism here... NoJusticeNoPeace Jan 2015 #4

say it loud and say it proud navarth Jan 2015 #47

The U.S. Military tecelote Feb 2015 #68

Summary of the Republican strategy: thesquanderer Jan 2015 #5

K&R. Thanks, Bill! nt valerief Jan 2015 #6

k&r Starry Messenger Jan 2015 #7

Well... yallerdawg Jan 2015 #8

I am an upper-case 'D' Democrat, but I'm really a lower-case 'd' democratic socialist. ColesCountyDem Jan 2015 #9

K&R! napkinz Jan 2015 #10

That was an excellent New Rule. Initech Jan 2015 #11

Not "petty" criminals. Grand larceny = *major* criminality. nt tblue37 Jan 2015 #37

True - it is grand larceny. Initech Jan 2015 #44

When people rob banks it's a felony... Padiddle Feb 2015 #73

Greatest economic growth EVER (1960-70's) under most socialized period. ErikJ Jan 2015 #12

Priceless! McCamy Taylor Jan 2015 #13

Bill is just being silly. But he is right. Enthusiast Jan 2015 #14

The middle class was created by unions AgingAmerican Jan 2015 #16

Even regionally in the USA underpants Jan 2015 #30

+100. n/t whathehell Feb 2015 #66

Strong unions AND high tax rate for most wealthy duhneece Feb 2015 #69

He's got this one dead right.. mountain grammy Jan 2015 #17

Apparently Bill has no idea what socialism is. former9thward Jan 2015 #18

socialism = socialized means of production and socialized distribution of benefits/wealth. so ND-Dem Jan 2015 #28

I am unaware of any socialized means of production in Germany. former9thward Jan 2015 #32

sorry, they *are* socialist; the cost and benefit is socialized. the opposite would be privately ND-Dem Jan 2015 #35

So when the Romans had Bears tear apart Christians former9thward Jan 2015 #36

if the government was paying for free entertainment for the masses -- yeah, it was at least ND-Dem Jan 2015 #41

I would love to see you link to a Socialist thinker former9thward Jan 2015 #42

marx was a communist thinker ND-Dem Jan 2015 #43

+10 appalachiablue Jan 2015 #48

That may be true JonLP24 Jan 2015 #40

Dictionary definitions JDPriestly Jan 2015 #61

Yes,it "isn't exactly socialism" former9thward Feb 2015 #64

former9thward Diclotican Feb 2015 #70

Yes, I agree with I think everything you say. former9thward Feb 2015 #71

former9thward Diclotican Feb 2015 #72

Let's Have A Plague! moondust Jan 2015 #19

We've already have the measles, what else do you want... lonestarnot Jan 2015 #25

Maher is right...... RationalMan Jan 2015 #21

The main reason was the existence of the soviet bloc and communism as the "threat of a ND-Dem Jan 2015 #29

The decline happened way before the collapse of the Soviet Union AZ Progressive Jan 2015 #34

no; the decline *started* before the collapse, but not "way before". There were rebellions ND-Dem Jan 2015 #39

Maher smacks it out of the park again. hifiguy Jan 2015 #22

Good on Bill. Joaquin Casto was great. Dems. should put him in a cabinet position or VP asap. appalachiablue Jan 2015 #23

After WW II The Wizard Jan 2015 #24

Before WW II JonLP24 Jan 2015 #33

I suspect Julian Castro will be the Dem VP nominee in 2016, or in 2020 at the latest. nt tblue37 Jan 2015 #38

Yes. I agree. And he will be elected. JDPriestly Jan 2015 #51

"Right Arm" Bill. nm rhett o rick Jan 2015 #26

Don't think he's had Warren on the show; he should. Naomi Klein was on last fall, Bernie too. appalachiablue Jan 2015 #46

Yes he's had Warren on the show navarth Jan 2015 #50

Thanks. A return would be good. appalachiablue Jan 2015 #52

John Maynard Keynes JonLP24 Jan 2015 #31

Bill Maher... sendero Jan 2015 #45

Confession: We bought our house with the GI Bill. Couldn't have done it without JDPriestly Jan 2015 #49

Socialized =/= socialism Matrosov Jan 2015 #53

We do have Socialsm in this country, it's called Privatize the profits - Socialize the losses Dont call me Shirley Jan 2015 #55

Not quite correct PowerToThePeople Jan 2015 #57

True, though some also consider that real communism... Matrosov Jan 2015 #60

A middle-class is the key to peace and prosperity. JDPriestly Jan 2015 #54

Republicans don't care n2doc Jan 2015 #56

This route was denied to blacks through discriminatory federal housing policy. kwassa Jan 2015 #58

Socialism!? davidn3600 Jan 2015 #59

K&R! DeSwiss Jan 2015 #62

Oh is that he says? What does Rush Limbaugh think? And how about Mitt Romney? closeupready Jan 2015 #63

K, R, Bookmarking. n/t BlancheSplanchnik Feb 2015 #67

kick napkinz Feb 2015 #74