Op Ed: TWO BILLION Join World Middle Class, Changing ALL Economies Fundamental Forces of Demand Reshaped Everywhere

We should use each channel to good advantage for cooperative dialog vs competitive debate, for further sharing and learning leading us onwards.

(EUGENE, Ore.) - Few American “middle-class” participants are as yet aware of fundamental forces reshaping world economies in ways sure to either gratify or grate painfully on their once-comfortable growth-assured lifestyle.

The ECONOMIST Magazine reports that essentially shocking new information in epochal research in its current issue (2/14/09). The 22-page special section is presented in six separate, deeply detailed segments from authoritative sources worldwide.

Normal, natural “progress” within the worldwide capitalist system MUST rely on constant growth to maintain mastery of broad economic event and cycle. But now TWO BILLION formerly deep-poverty people within the developing nations are clearly seen to have moved --however precariously-- just over the daily consumption-line for their lifestyle into the middle-class.

They find themselves precariously poised just barely within that highly-desirable status in India, China, and the other developing nations. Everyone among them is dangerously threatened now by the devastating collapse of the capitalistic system everywhere.

That’s international news of great import to anyone in every other economy. As The ECONOMIST’s own Editorial poses precisely the prescient emerging question forced upon us all by these long-term, too-silent consequential situations: “The rise of a new middle class has changed the world. What if they sink back into poverty?”

We with our UN-informed millions in America had better now pay very close attention to these others.

What will they DO as they make out-and-up --OR if they are deprived by derailed/demand and dissolution while other nations continue submission to corporate control and economic manipulation via uncontrolled, very painful “business cycles”??

That’s the literally many-billion-dollar question, faced full-on in our America by a dauntless, dedicated, deeply-informed and strongly-mandated new President. His every action MUST now be directed first, fast --and even furiously-- to restarting a stalled and static U.S. economy, again to lead the world in every aspect, and to new high levels of prosperity and progress for all nations.

Given the past thirty years of neglectful neo-con conceptual and cogitational collapse, further arrogantly multiplied by some few still seeking its defense in the blistering light of a collapsing world economy, he may be forgiven the furious.

That is surely still felt by the many millions whose Constitutional obligation -- “the vote!” -- was cast indubitably and overwhelmingly for what he offers for all: new hope and a new beginning.

That translates into clear understandings, felt by most of those same millions even more now than when they voted --as continuing polls increasingly reflect-- with constant support for his comprehensive choices for continuing action.

Few informed Americans will oppose his designation of new energy, strongly-developed and broadened healthcare, and the first fundamental of all -- education-- as the key areas for rapid research, reform as NOW demanded, and decisive action via controlled federal funding.

Each of those pressing areas for pragmatic new development and realistic imposition of demanded, now unavoidable forward steps has already long been built from decades of deepening painful experience.

Today’s crisis simply culminates what we’ve been learning ever since the New Deal --and MUST now bring to bear in the new world order of our 21st Century. This tremendous transition is for sure underway with the multiplying demand-motivations now totalling-out from massive business, trade and new communications technologies now wrapping the whole world.

That can only bring on better and ultimately more stable growth --if we are wise enough and courageous enough to grasp its current nettles and crush them into their proper place. Finally --and furiously if fallacious, failed old-economy dogmas are allowed to interfere-- millions all around our world will be seeking what only democracy can bring to their lives.

If they find themselves thwarted by laissez-faire illusiveness, monstrously magnified by possible continued corporate-contrived manipulation of governmental management, their anger-unleashed will clear away all questions. But what will be left behind, in the deepening debris and demolishment of destroyed hopes and personal ambitions for children and family, worldwide?

Failed patterns and protocol for pragmatic economic management MUST be different and differently applied than ever before, simply because never before have all nations faced complexity and complicit consequence for their individual actions --in relation to the whole world. That is why most American now feel --or soon will, when fully informed-- that we ALL must now support, strengthen, participate, and continue full efforts to assist our national government in every way possible.

This IS a WAR, too --even if not so-seen by some who prefer past-time patterns primarily brought into practice over eighty years ago --and moldering deeper into depressive failures wherever maliciously allowed. American are already become far more fully informed, driven to participation in economic, cultural and social choice-and development.

That is inevitable given broad new technologies such as Internet and easy cell-phone image-and-content transmissions, teaching those who will learn whether intentionally or not. That is inevitable, too, given the increasingly serious image and open democratic intensities of the burgeoning blogs and alternative web-site publications, so deeply welcomed by millions of Americans that our essential instrument for democratic participation --the onetime daily newspaper-- finds itself withering on the vine.

What will happen is a very fortunate transition, to new channels and new technologies to make them work; but the most valuable and absolutely essential element --the communications commensurate with real working democracy-- will continue, no matter what. It was not without deeply-felt absolute essentiality that the Founders Themselves chose to make theirs on freedom of speech the very First Amendment.

We who enjoy and profit from their prescience, in this and many other ways, need to keep clearly in mind, now and in the threatening future, that their gift was not bestowed to be wasted away in piddling political pandering prevalent in far too many channels as they continue to open. What’s presented to us is an astounding array of ways to take an active part in shaping our own destiny and that of our children and family-lines. We should never waste a single word in any channel on such perilous “perishing-stuff”.

We should use each channel to good advantage for cooperative dialog vs competitive debate, for further sharing and learning leading us onwards. While we do, those now emerging from whence we have already come will not only make up confounding differences now current, but will use our own invention of freedom and equality to run right on past our failing status.

Henry Clay Ruark is the one of, if not the most experienced, working reporter in the state of Oregon, and possibly the entire Northwest. Hank has been at it since the 1930's, working as a newspaper staff writer, reporter and photographer for organizations on the east coast like the Bangor Maine Daily News.
Today he writes Op-Ed's for Salem-News.com with words that deliver his message with much consideration for the youngest, underprivileged and otherwise unrepresented people.

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Henry Ruark March 2, 2009 8:01 am (Pacific time)

Cgill: You wrote: "...no evidence that the Stimulus Bill has created any sign of positive growth, nor will it," NO WAY it can work overnight or within first few months; future depends on support, with opponents determined to defy, deny, defeat at any cost to nation as political attack. Truth is simply that 21st Century economics operates at different levels, changed laws and greatly changed progress in other nations, via impacts of globalization.

Henry Ruark March 2, 2009 7:53 am (Pacific time)

Rich: You wrote:"...they totally ignore past economic history!" Au contraire, sir. YOU it is who are ignoring economic history. See The Age of Keynes; Robert Lekachman; Random House;paperback 1997; Chapters 5,6 tell story re New Deal use of Keynes late, of War II then proving his pattern. Reagan, Thatcher denial was start of current worldwide debacle; "supply-side" was the sand inserted into economic gears and bearings, with deep disastrous consequences. See also Robt. Reich's SUPERCAPITALISM, numerous articles by Krugman, Stiglitz, even Brooks. Note you cite no reference whatsoever except personal assessment. Do you have expert opinion informed by training and study to cite ? If so, please supply.

Rich M. March 1, 2009 10:04 am (Pacific time)

Keynesianism will never be "out of vogue" with the political class. Politicians are dynamic can-do individuals. With only a couple of exceptions, they believe that they can fix any problem with positive input even where positive input is poison. The exceptions that I know of were Reagan, Coolidge and Cleveland. They understood there is no positive thing that the government can do to fix an injured economy. Useful government actions re the economy are all negative; reducing taxes, removing taxes, eliminating regulations, etc. Keynes gives politicians the excuse to meddle in and tinker with and even strangle the economy or clop it between the eyes with a crowbar all in the name of "doing something." The arrogance of our current crop of leaders is no different than our past ones, except this time they totally ignore past economic history!

Cargill March 1, 2009 9:05 am (Pacific time)

There is no evidence that the Stimulus Bill has created any sign of positive growth, nor will it, for there has never been a time in history where a government has spent itself into economic recovery. They are spending wealth that has "not" even been created yet. This current administration is enjoying a honeymoon period, but this summer will be a reality check. Expect a hot one.

Vic February 27, 2009 7:44 pm (Pacific time)

The Durban II thing shows who runs things....sill

ChrisJones February 27, 2009 5:56 pm (Pacific time)

Soon it will be clearly apparent to all the extent to which we have just been rubed into being fleeced for everything that we hold dear, our means to producing prosperity and security, and eventually the last of our freedom.

stephen February 27, 2009 3:54 pm (Pacific time)

obama declines to attend Durban II. Something to think about.

Henry Ruark February 27, 2009 1:06 pm (Pacific time)

Mike: Cynicism in face of world economic debacle will gain nothing but more cynistic behavior by same types. Stimulus already having strong impact on national confidence, moretocome as states receive funds, start work on ready-to-go projects, avoid or lessen huge program slashes forced by fact they not allowed deficit funding, et al, et al, obvious to those who seek facts. Re "standard procedure" of confrontational politics, that should be first most painful lesson from Bush cabal years. But there are some who will never learn, nor change, nor seek solid information from standard rational sources.

Mike February 27, 2009 11:18 am (Pacific time)

For either party to go after whoever is in power is standard procedure. I really do not see anything sinister in this behavior, in fact I find it healthy for stimulating debate. At least something can get stimulated, because the Stimulus Bill will not be stimulating anything, anytime soon, except maybe our politicans to hopefully start listening to their constituents if they want to stay in power. Maybe they could go out and listen to us, here all sides, rather than cast either a aye or nay vote as per party line.

Henry Ruark February 27, 2009 10:37 am (Pacific time)

Nice to have Robert Parry "telling it like it really is" re GOP's ongoing noise machine and now-obvious purpose: To wreck Obama administration early and often. Here's "see with own eyes" from: consortiumnews.com Can You Trust the Republicans? By Robert Parry February 27, 2009 "If you watch the pundits on cable news or read the big-name newspaper columnists, you will find a general consensus that the national Republicans are returning to their core principles in their near-unanimous opposition to President Barack Obama’s stimulus bill and other proposals. "Republicans are taken at their word when they claim to be motivated by ideological consistency in opposing Obama’s “big government” solutions to America’s economic troubles, not by a political desire to strangle Obama’s presidency in the cradle. "Despite this Washington “conventional wisdom,” there is a growing sense across the United States that the Republicans are lying about their motivations, that their real reason for trying to obstruct Obama is not principle but political opportunism, that they want the President to fail so they can succeed at the polls. "One of the most telling responses to a recent New York Times/CBS News poll was what people said in answering Question 44: “Do you think [Republicans] opposed [the stimulus bill] mostly because they thought it would be bad for the economy or mostly for political reasons?” "Sixty-three percent of respondents cited “political reasons” and only 29 percent believed the “not good for the economy” explanation from the Republicans. This two-to-one margin suggests that the Republicans are suffering from a serious credibility gap. "Public incredulity also was a common reaction to Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal’s Republican response to President Obama’s Tuesday night speech to a joint session of Congress. Jindal didn’t seem to have much to offer that would address the severity of America’s economic crisis. "However, in a moment of candor, Jindal acknowledged that the Republicans of the George W. Bush era had failed to live up to their promises of fiscal restraint. “You elected Republicans to champion limited government, fiscal discipline and personal responsibility,” Jindal said. “Instead, Republicans went along with earmarks and big government spending in Washington. Republicans lost your trust, and rightly so.” "But something bigger may be afoot than Jindal’s notion that some well-meaning Republicans went to the big city of Washington and lost their ideological bearings." ---------------- BE SURE to see rest of Parry report from decades of strong GOP depravity reported in detail, depth and depressive impact.

Henry Ruark February 27, 2009 10:07 am (Pacific time)

To all: Still another national source, noted for sharp analysis, not always seen as "liberalized", but objective: Government’s Long Night May Be Ending http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20090225_dionne_obama_speech/ Posted on Feb 25, 2009 By E.J. Dionne "President Obama’s message to the nation Tuesday night was plain and unequivocal: The era of bashing government is over. So, too, is the folklore of a marketplace capable of producing abundance without regulation, government oversight or public intervention. Addressing the deepest crisis of confidence in the market system since the Great Depression, Obama argued that the economic downturn, far from being an excuse for backing away from his ambitious plans, makes his proposals in health care, energy and education imperative. “I reject the view that says our problems will simply take care of themselves, that says government has no role in laying the foundation for our common prosperity,” Obama declared, echoing generations of American progressives before him. “For history tells a different story. History reminds us that at every moment of economic upheaval and transformation, this nation has responded with bold action and big ideas." ---------------------- It must be clear to now for even the blindest that doing nothing can only result in deeper disaster, given fiscal freeze/debacle worldwide. SO SOMEbody has to DO what's needed; and only government now has resources, resolve and reserves to do so. Please note that desperate attacks from "the others" does not include ANY plan for real action, nor ANY resources to be tapped, nor ANY leadership to motivate and guide us all.

Henry Ruark February 27, 2009 8:50 am (Pacific time)

To all: Here's "see with own eyes" reliable report from national source, showing real progress in President Obama's heavily mandated actions to meet the current worldwide criss forced upon us all by Reagan-cabal neoconities: www.nytimes.com A Bold Plan Sweeps Away Reagan Ideas By DAVID LEONHARDT "The budget that President Obama proposed on Thursday is nothing less than an attempt to end a three-decade era of economic policy dominated by the ideas of Ronald Reagan and his supporters. "The Obama budget — a bold, even radical departure from recent history, wrapped in bureaucratic formality and statistical tables — would sharply raise taxes on the rich, beyond where Bill Clinton had raised them. It would reduce taxes for everyone else, to a lower point than they were under either Mr. Clinton or George W. Bush. And it would lay the groundwork for sweeping changes in health care and education, among other areas. "More than anything else, the proposals seek to reverse the rapid increase in economic inequality over the last 30 years. They do so first by rewriting the tax code and, over the longer term, by trying to solve some big causes of the middle-class income slowdown, like high medical costs and slowing educational gains. "After Mr. Obama spent much of his first five weeks in office responding to the financial crisis, his budget effectively tried to reclaim momentum for the priorities on which he campaigned." ------------------- Not bad for just over first month as President...he doth not walk on water but surely doth know how to go to work, for us all, vs cabal deeply dedicated to the few, the privileged, the wealthy, and neocon policy proven fantasy and foolishness.

stephen February 26, 2009 8:18 pm (Pacific time)

I sent Tim my personal information.

stephen February 26, 2009 8:14 pm (Pacific time)

of course bush admin was a catastrophe. beyond belief. but in my opinion, obama is just taking the baton. If you want to continue believing the lies from 4 years after 4 years for the last 5 decades, thats up to you. But not me. I will question. Been lied to, too many times. And as I see obama following thru on the agenda of the elite, I will continue to voice my opinion.

stephen February 26, 2009 6:01 pm (Pacific time)

Seems I am a schill because I disagree. Interesting. Obama said himself, we will have a civilian force as strong as the military. You may disagree with me speaking in terms of brownshirts, but tens of millions think the same, at it DID happen in the 1940's. My opinions are just as valid as your opinions. I do research too. I tried to change the way I blogged and thought I was doing well, but now it is ME that is getting attacked. I will be writing Tim afer this post and giving him my personal information. But I wil not stop speaking what I believe to be the truth. And I will be respectful if you will.

stephen February 26, 2009 5:47 pm (Pacific time)

Tim: I am who I say. Along with the video. I will send you an email after this post. Maybe we can get a cup of coffee. I Have two great kids in college, and not into politics, into the truth. People get too upset if their candidate gets put down. Tim, Obama himself said "to have a civilian force as strong as the military".. That I take this as brownshirts, is not a stretch. You can disagree, but my opinions are just as valid as your opinions. I do research also. I will send my info thru email.

Henry Ruark February 26, 2009 1:08 pm (Pacific time)

Stephen et a: For answers to contrived purported pseudo-questions in your latest, see George Lakoff link given early-on. Yrs fits characteristics of paid shill; you may be only volunteer, but serving same diffusing confrontational bad purposes here. For me, you wore out welcome long ago by known deceptive, distorted, deny/defy/defeat stuff clumsily wrapped to resemble common Comment by concerned participant. Easy answer if you are as you protest, simply confused and seeking solidity, ID to Editor Tim for direct and we can prove up pudding rapidly while you still dishing it up as if acceptable... This is at least 10th invite for that session;nothing ever from you.

stephen February 26, 2009 12:22 pm (Pacific time)

Instead of arguing if the bailout will or wont work, I have a serious question, and I am not being sarcastic. I truly would appreciate an answer. Obama has already gotten trillions of dollars from the tax people and has iven it to his banker buddies. He has tens of millions that think he is Jesus. He can wiretap the Amerian citizens. Thru bush legislation that he is not changing, we can be arrested for putting down the government, without representation, indefinately, and possibly tortured. (he seems to have advocated that already). All the democrats bow down before him, along with maybe a dozen republicans. We will soon have a million obamanites combing the streets in brown shirts. Holder is taking our firearms away so we cant defend ourselves. You have your dictator with dictatorial powers.
My question is, what is it that you want? More? How much until this stops? legislation: PDD51 Patriot Act HR1955 among many other unconstitutional bills passed.

Editor: Stephen, did you see the news today? You complain if we don't publish your extremely negative and paranoid comments but I have to tell you that I think I am close to not approving this one. After eight years of Bush, the most horrible years in America, we have a guy changing things back the other way as fast as he can. I don't think you are seeing the bigger picture, and I wonder why anyone would write this stuff. Brown shirts? GEEZ! I mean where have you been? Are you even who you say you are? Are you really a guitar strumming hippy or a total and complete plant who is only here to help the GOP by going on and on about how bad Omaba is. It is not the message we agree with and so don't be disappointed in the future if this stuff doesn't make the cut. I am being as patient and nice as I can about this. I think you are totally wrong about Obama in many ways. In fact, you force me to move into a support position that I shouldn't even assume, by talking about crazy stuff like people in brown shirts. I really have to wonder.

Henry Ruark February 26, 2009 11:53 am (Pacific time)

Matt: Yrs appreciated; ONLY report what is testable, checkable, from authentic reliable sources,many worldwide, missed by millions needing to know. That is WHY resent with honest intensity attempts to sabotage and abuse honest impacts of content here, among first of unique new-breed 21st Century digital-delivery now arriving --well worth defense vs political/pander attack by those whose dollar-driven interests overcome any sense of human obligation to support demanded needs of nation now. Keep tuned --we just getting started for long-run impacts.

Henry Ruark February 26, 2009 11:46 am (Pacific time)

UnselfishC: THAT is truth-denied false label; see below. Yrs perfect example of abuse here since does NOT touch on single point in Op Ed. Every issue you advance has heavy other-side and NONE has any credence vis a vis The ECONOMIST. Each is simply strawman set up for distraction from immutable, tested, proven, documented, checkable and testable fact. Did you READ the report, for which link is given ? Did you READ next-issue Edit further amplifying unavoidable impacts on manufacturing worldwide ? Yrs mirrors precisely what JKF stated:"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable". If you think these new TWO BILLION are gonna wait for a failing capitalist system to catch up, and for self-serving neocon impacts, you defy and deny realities. Only status worse than being Un-informed is Mis-informed; and very worst of all NOW, in 21st Century easy-access/life, is distortion/ perversion driven solely by self-interest whether realized or denied. That builds new test of real patriotism when nation now confronted with 21st Century systematic debacle, deeply documented in ECONOMIST report. When did you run $350,000 worldwide reporting effort as in this one ? What testable, checkable, documenting sources do you offer for abusive, distorting UNinformed feelings here ? Time has come for honest, open, checkable/testable and democratic dialog, as Founders intended, vs many malignities magnified, multiplied to fit personal-only "feelings".

Matt Johnson February 26, 2009 9:55 am (Pacific time)

Hank, this is a fascinating article! I can't believe how things are going, your stories keep me in tune, thanks!

Henry Ruark February 26, 2009 9:20 am (Pacific time)

To all: Here's "see with own eyes" link to The Economist homepage website. Go to 2/14 issue, click on article title to read report and "evaluate with own mind". economist.com/opinion/displays tory.cfm?story_id=13109687 IF you wish to comment, do us the courtesy demanded here to check the site AND READ. Otherwise you are reacting ONLY from past experience, unavoidable bias, built-in prejudice,(inevitable with everyone) rather than solid new knowledge to guide YOUR "informed opinion". LMA pattern: Read completely first-time, for comprehensive coverage, full,authoritative sources, rational assumptions, and checkable conclusions. Read second/time for each of sub-sections, noting further questions,any points to check, copying striking quotes, etc. Read third/time to check written analysis from all preceding, as completed. That is invariable demanded professional protocl for any consultant who is to continue billing knowledgeable clients for fee earned by actions.

Unselfish Conservative February 26, 2009 8:36 am (Pacific time)

Cut military (during hostilities), fund acorn (under criminal investigation in many states), cut domestic energy (Interior Sec. just cancelled oil shale leases!), fund wetlands for a rodent(Pelosi's pork earmark for Bay area). Anybody wanna predict the future? Google critics of the Economist. Educate yourselves.

Henry Ruark February 25, 2009 5:53 pm (Pacific time)

My eMac adds sig-ines via remote control. I'm amazed at ironic tone conveyed on many occasions, as now: "The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy: that is the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness." --- John Kenneth Galbraith

Henry Ruark February 25, 2009 5:50 pm (Pacific time)

To all: While this Op Ed was in progress, President Obama appeared on network channels to discuss his stimulus plan, with strong details. Almost simultaneously George Lakoff, famed cognitive scientist, published his analysis of Obama's Code, well worth detailed examination: www.commondreams.org/print/38685

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