The 3 pillars of the middle class.

Written by: Roger Fox on May 12, 2008 3:31 PM EDT

Linked to groups: Jersey City DFA

1)Progressive taxes

2)Education Rights

3)Labor Rights

A Middle class is a rare thing, occurring only 3 times thru-out history. The first rising of a middle class occurred as a result of the Black Plague. The Black Plague killed about 30% of the worlds population, creating a labor shortage. This allowed that Trades & Craftsman to command a higher wage, which trickled down to the common yeoman, much as the unionization of US labor in the middle 1900's allowed non union labor to command wages akin to union labor. Some have written that the renaissance, without a middle class that had the leisure time to even consider art & music, let alone the time to paint, sculpt, write & perform music, would have never occurred.

The second rising of a middle class occurred in the US colonies in the middle 1700's. Once a few Indians were driven away from an area, there was free land available for farming. In an agrarian society this was a big deal in that you could own your own land, grow & sell your own crops & keep the profits, much as a family owned business does today.

The third rising of a middle class occurred during the Great Republican Depression of the early 1930's. FDR's New Deal brought forward tax progressivity, as well as labor rights earned thru the union movement, such as the Child Labor laws passed in 1937 & 1938, (Kids do belong in school after all). But I've gotten ahead of myself, let me backtrack a bit.

According to the <a href="http://www.treas.gov/education/fact-sheets/taxes/ustax.shtml">US Treasury</a>, "the entry of the United States into World War I greatly increased the need for revenue and Congress responded by passing the 1916 Revenue Act. The 1916 Act raised the lowest tax rate from 1 percent to 2 percent and raised the top rate to 15 percent. Another revenue act was passed in 1918, which hiked tax rates once again, this time raising the bottom rate to 6 percent and the top rate to 77 percent."

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Action Alert, stop creationism, support Paul LaClair @ Kearny BOE meeting March 19th

Written by: Roger Fox on Mar 9, 2007 11:56 PM EST

Linked to groups: Hudson DFA

From the ABC website:

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=local&id=4862889

Matthew LaClair is the student at the center of attention over the issue of church and state in public schools.

LaClair accuses his history teacher, David Paszkiewicz, of going overboard when it comes to teaching religion in class at Kearny High School.

"He seemed to get nastier and nastier," LaClair said. "So on the third day, I just started recording."

LaClair used a tape recorder in class to listen to the instruction discuss matters like the Big Bang Theory.

Paszkiewicz: The Big Bang Theory is, there was nothing out there, there was no matter. But yet, nothing exploded and created something. Let me give you a clue, guys. If there's nothing there, it can't explode.

Students say that LaClair and others engaged the teacher on religious topics. At the time, Paszkiewicz asked everyone if they were comfortable with the subject matter.

But the instructor did express his views on Noah's Ark.

Paszkiewicz: Moses wrote in 1440 B.C., not that the Earth was created then. You know where I'm going with this?

Student: Were there dinosaurs on Noah's Ark?

Paszkiewicz: Short answer, yes, and it was a problem.

LaClair seemed to lead the debate over heaven and hell.

Paszkiewicz: He did everything in his power to make sure that you could go to heaven, so much so that he put your sin in his own body, suffered your pains for you, and he's saying "Please accept me, believe!" You reject that, you belong in hell.

"I knew there was a line that you don't cross in a public school," Matthew's mother, Debra LaClair said. "And one of them is giving your personal view on religion and politics."

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Hagel, floats running W/ a DEM, Unity '08. Hagel knows DEM field is strong, then Insert Gore....

Written by: Roger Fox on Feb 26, 2007 9:24 PM EST

Linked to groups: NJ Draft Gore

I would offer that the Strongest Hagel and a DEM ticket would be Hagel/Gore. AL Gore is not likely to take another VP slot. SO Hagel would have to take the VP slot, & I don't think GOre would consider Hagel a VP. SO just what is Hagel talking up? I would offer this:

Hagel knows if Gore gets in the race, the nomination is Gores for the taking. Assuming Gore gets in... assuming Gore rolls up the nomination, how do you beat Gore? It is likely that no single republican can front a ticket that has a chance to beat Gore, unless Hagel tries the Unity approach. The problem with the Unity approach is that, lets assume Gore is the nominee..

Which Democratic politician would consider running as VP to Hagel? And I mean a DEM that has cred, good solid strong cred. Fiengold? Obama? Hillary, Edwards? Sanders, Conyers, Maxine Waters? I say the list of DEMs who would consider running as Hagels VP is quite small. Damn small. ANd of that list.... there is not a DEM who could help Hagel beat Gore. Or even Obama.

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NJ Draft Gore

Written by: Roger Fox on Feb 22, 2007 12:25 AM EST

Whether on Saturday Night Live, or giving that fire & brimstone laden speech on the illegal NSA spy program, what you see is what you get. The new Gore is funny, passionate & most important he is genuine.

Some say Al isn't running  he said so, I say, Pfft... he's been running for a year. So after his Oscar appearance buzz dies down, and the Nobel prize nomination buzz dies down, and the concert series is over. The American public will overwhelmingly demand he run. An unsatiated urge for Gore will build to fever pitch.

Al Gore will yeild to public demand, and run.

The rest of the Democratic field will have heart palpatations or trip over their DLC ball and chains.

 Al Gore will raise 50 million dollars in the  blink of an eye. And before you can say "Gore raised 50 million ?", it will be 100 million, and the nomination will be his. Then its on to the White House.

http://www.dfalink.com/group.php?id=2157

Kids First BOE ticket & Cunningham for Council in Hoboken

Written by: Roger Fox on Feb 14, 2007 3:50 PM EST

Linked to groups: Hoboken Progressives

I'd like to introduce myself, my name is Roger Fox I am managing the campaigns of 5 Hoboken'ers, 1 who is running for City Council and 4 who are running for the Board of Education as the Kids First ticket.

 Kids First is represented on the BOE by Incumbant Theresa Minutillo, she will introducing the full Kids First slate in just a few days. Theresa needs some like minded reformers on the BOE to help fix what's broken.

Feel free to contact me

 rdanafox at yahoo dot com

One reason why the Iraqi occupation has gone so wrong.

Written by: Roger Fox on Feb 5, 2007 4:24 PM EST

Linked to groups: Essex County, NJ, DFA

http://www.youtube.com/v/efv9-vQ2jpA

3 pillars of the Middle class, Progressive Taxes, Labor Rights & Education

Written by: Roger Fox on Jan 14, 2007 3:14 PM EST

Linked to groups: DFA New Jersey

At a recent meeting of progressives in NJ, a fellow progressive professed astonishment when I told him the top tax rate used to be 92%, in fact he did not believe me. This incident motivated me to get my ducks in a row and the result is what you see below.

A Middle class is a rare thing, occurring only 3 times thru-out history. The first rising of a middle class occurred as a result of the Black Plague. The Black Plague killed about 30% of the worlds population, creating a labor shortage. This allowed that Trades & Craftsman to command a higher wage, which trickled down to the common yeoman, much as the unionization of US labor in the middle 1900's allowed non union labor to command wages akin to union labor. Some have written that the renaissance, without a middle class that had the liesure time to even consider art &amp; music, let alone the time to paint, sculpt, write & perform music, would have never occurred.

The second rising of a middle class occurred in the US colonies in the middle 1700's. Once a few Indians were driven away from an area, there was free land available for farming. In an agrarian society this was a big deal in that you could own your own land, grow &amp; sell your own crops & keep the profits, much as a family owned business does today.

The third rising of a middle class occurred during the Great Republican Depression of the early 1930's. FDR's New Deal brought forward tax progressivity, as well as labor rights earned thru the union movement, such as the Child Labor laws passed in 1937 &amp; 1938, (Kids do belong in school afterall). But I've gotten ahead of myself, let me backtrack a bit.

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Attend Canvass fo Tom Wyka, Livingston on September 16!

Written by: Roger Fox on Sep 12, 2006 3:59 PM EDT

Linked to groups: Essex County, NJ, DFA

Dear Member,

Please attend Canvass fo Tom Wyka, Livingston on Saturday, September 16, 2006 at 9:30 AM. You can RSVP at:

www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=128...

What: Canvass fo Tom Wyka, Livingston
When: Saturday, September 16, 2006,

Morning canvass @ 9:30 AM
Afternoon anvass @ 4:00pm

Where: Canvass for Tom Wyka,
7-11 @ S. Livingston Ave & Belmont DR.
Livingston NJ 07039

If you need a ride: rdanafox@yahoo.com

Attend Livingston Canvass for Tom Wyka: NJ11, July 29th on July 29!

Written by: Roger Fox on Jul 28, 2006 11:16 AM EDT

Linked to groups: Essex County, NJ, DFA

Dear Member,

Please attend Livingston Canvass for Tom Wyka: NJ11, July 29th on Saturday, July 29, 2006 at 10:00 AM. You can RSVP at:

www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=107...

Or go directly to:

www.democrats.org/page/event/det...

What: Livingston Canvass for Tom Wyka: NJ11, July 29th
When: Saturday, July 29, 2006, 10:00 AM
Where: Livingston 7-11
Cnr S. Livingston Ave. & Belmont Dr.
Livingston NJ 07039