FRACTURED SOCIETY 2

In the first "installment"  I tried to focus on today's economic society's two easiest  classes  to codify. Today , I hope to briefly and coherently cover  my remaining three groupings.

(3)The third and perhaps the largest group springs from those who are wage earners gained from self-employment and/or private enterprises. Most seldom have the luxury of accumulating a large retirement nest egg. The majority, where there was an employment pension plan may have had to co-contribute in the past or resort to savings and IRAs.In the 80s the 401K plan became more common and shifted  the funding over to the employee.  Others that were part of a full funded pension plan have seen their “money” disappear due to employer bankruptcy or management fiat. The few that were members of Unions where the employer absorbed all the Health Care Insurance costs have suffered from owner relocation, or changes forced by the threat of job loss. Very few have had compensatory income raises based on the increased cost of living.

This large majority of the population feels that they are bearing an excessive proportion of the Nation’s expenses as a percentage of their income when compared to the Obscene Rich. And they are right. They are ambivalent on the heath care issues as long as the availability and quantity is there. Most are less concerned about the quality then they are about the impact upon their wallet. This generation has become used to a regimented system where their options on doctors, facilities, treatments, medications, etc. will become even more limited then today.

This grouping is additionally divided between those that would sacrifice today to prepare for tomorrow, and those who live only for the moment financially and can not be prepared for retirement years.

(4) And then there is the jealous envy of the above masses.  Those workers in Government employment who have “civil service jobs”   almost never can be “fired”. The Teachers have “Tenure” as their “Civil Service Protection). They have the best Health Protection available, and Pension Plans that can be inflated by a final year’s shenanigans. Often they are eligible for full benefits after 20/25 years employment irrespective of their age.  Their contracts provide for annual increases not tied into increases in living costs.  Other perks such as fully paid health care and pension plan funding that those outside the envelope of Government worker cannot enjoy.  It is to be noted that 59% of the workers in the N.J. Public Sector are Union Members

If the "Letter to the Editors" is a guide, the adamant refusal by the majority of the “locals” with “state union” support to give any givebacks that might prevent some job losses has alienated much of the public.    Certainly the insistence of including in new contracts mandatory yearly raises not subject to merit or economic conditions causes hostility among over 60% of the population if the media polls are to be believed.

(5) The last of the present groupings are the elderly as a group they are in ways a mirror reflection of the first four.  Obviously, those that belong to the “Millionaires” classification should, barring a catastrophe, have no worries about becoming bagmen/ladies. Those who were former Government Employees have one or more pension plans and continued health care as provided in their union’s contracts. They can go to bed in the Islands or Florida laughing at us every night.

It is the large majority of the over  70s who are hurt most by the present economic climate. Those that were already receiving assistance as unemployed or below the poverty level, if funds stay available should continue to be wards of the State. They will not be impacted by increase Government debt until uncontrolled inflation happens.

The mass majority who are living on Social Security Payments ,  plus income from a pension plan whose numbers seemed astronomical at first, and some saved assets are in danger,  As the cost of living has risen  their pension income numbers have remained static. Social Security’s COLA has not risen proportionally,  so the elderly have to deplete their assets to meet every day needs. To compound the insult, those that have health insurance find that not only does the premium increase every year for basic policy but the costs of medication also increase.

As one grows older there is an increased need for medication so the health care cost demands on income. The money squeeze is extreme on the elderly and many are no longer able to retain their homes. Even those that can are hit by exponential annual tax increases. This is a bleak and dreadful picture why the elderly resent the annual salary and benefit increases granted to government workers.


This would lead us into the next subject; the conflict between State Governors and the large powerful public workers unions.  We are seeing in states like Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, New Jersey, New York a very public confrontation that may continue to                      grow.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
 We will continue the  state/union  issue