Robert Reich: The Revolt of the Anxious Class

[jwirr]

9. I think that there is a difference between racism and anxiety

and fear. Racism is taught and has absolutely no grounds for it's existence. Anxiety and fear are based on both reality and what is taught us.

Much of the anxiety and fear that Reich is talking about is based on reality. It is people like Trump who are directing that fear toward certain targeted groups. The fear comes from lost status for the middle class. And it is not limited to just the middle class. I am poor and I am afraid of what this means for the poor and sick. That is economic.

I realize that we need to deal with the growth of racism in this country but we are faced with something that is not going to make it any better - fascism. If the Trump crowd which includes the Rs in Congress get their way that is where we are going to end up.

I am afraid that if we do not deal with the reality of our economy that is the basis of the anxiety and fear that we will never get a chance to deal with the racism.

After WWI the treaty we set up with Germany caused very real poverty in Germany and it did not get better. Hitler and his Nazis used the same fear and anxiety to take control of the nation and then proceeded to attack minority groups, which included the Jews but also included a lot of other groups. They blamed them for their economic troubles. The rest is history. WWII. Trump and his minions are following the same path. And Reich is correct - if it is not Trump it will be someone else.