Monday, February 26, 2007
Fear-monger, thy name is neopopulist.
Several 2008 Democratic candidates, campaigning vigorously at this absurdly early hour, have made a point of late of vilifying the growing wealth and earnings gap in this country. They shake their fists in conversations with Iowa farmers, heads shaking with affected empathy, lamenting the supposed decline of the American middle class and excoriating the Exxon executives whose high pay packages are allegedly responsible for the farmers’ woes.
Senator John Edwards, taking a break from basking in the glow of his own healthy bank account, is chief among these offenders. He of the coruscating smile and genteel accent travels the back roads of early primary states, telling middle class workers that the elites are to blame for their problems. The rich are getting richer, the storyline goes, while most of America gets left behind.
The candidates sound the alarms of protectionism and regulation, peal the bells of alarmism and fear, in an effort to convince the rural voter that a renewed class struggle is the only option.
But the myths of neopopulism are largely limited in scope, and are mostly designed to ignite voters’ passions in primary season. The median income of American households headed by people in their key working years is over $60,000, and rises to $72,000 for married couples in such households. Middle class Americans are living incredibly wealthy, healthy, and safe lives by the standards of history and current global society. Television and telephone penetration are near 100 percent, and household assets are rising faster than debts. But somehow, we are expected to believe that a cut in a CEO’s paycheck will lead to great windfalls for America’s middle class.
Neopopulism is not just poor policy — it is also bad electoral strategy. Candidates can spend months painting a picture of an egalitarian lotusland, a place where wealth inequality is a distant memory, but voters will always take a self-interested view of the future. We are consistently reluctant to impose penalties on the rich because we like to think that somehow, someday, we will join those ranks, and candidates must adjust to this solipsistic reality.
America has wealth equality problems. The exponential growth rate of executive pay compared to average worker pay is worrisome, and should be addressed in the future. But throwing up protectionist trade barriers and imposing windfall taxes and income regulation is not the answer. Voters should remember that the real solutions are found in broader education, modern job training, and expanded opportunities for all.
— McKay Stangler for the editorial board.
Editorial: Presidential candidates seem stale
It's just the same old stories from many of the same old ...
Editorial: Voting a responsibility
Student Senate candidates spend countless hours in session and campaigning. As hard ...
Editorial: Calling the race early
Coverage of the 2008 presidential race often looks at the noteriety of ...
Editorial: American dream is no reality
Our cash-obsessed culture pushes us to aim for a lifestyle of bigger, ...
Editorial: U.S. should analyze Russia
Americans can get a good sense of where our democracy is headed ...
Editorial: Positive war news overlooked
Iraq is bloody and violent, but there are positive advances being made. ...
Editorial: News an endless horse race
On and on they went, the Russerts and Schneiders of the world, ...
Editorial: Debates fail to fix problems
With most politicians bogged down in debates to see who can get ...
Editorial: Movies not a happy escape
You've heard it all before, but we swear it's true. Your relatively ...
Editorial: Trademarks probably not violated
The University has pending legal issues with Joe-College.com, which may be illegally ...
Brinker: Late Apple CEO's memory unrealistic
Steve Jobs embodied unrestrained capitalism, which makes his glorification seem odd.
Editorial: Votes need to count
Turnout in student elections remains low. Rather than ignoring the result, Student ...
Editorial: Afghanistan as important as ever
Pakistan, our nuclear-capable ally, is as precarious as ever, and a single ...
Stangler: Education policy needs revision
Bush's No Child Left Behind will be examined in the upcoming federal ...
Editorial: Abstinence failing as sex education tool
A study commissioned by Congress proved the abstinence approach to sexual education ...
Editorial: Campaign ideas disappoint
With student selections nearly upon us, this year's candidates have no new ...
Editorial: Will the real Slim Shady please ...
The Editorial Board faces bigger issues as the Eminem maritial dispute continues ...
Forum teaches students about American health coverage
Students talked about their experiences regarding insurance companies and what must be ...
Brinker: Lack of experience hurts Herman Cain
Herman Cain uses his lack of political history too often to be ...
Editorial: Bush’s ‘blind faith’ problematic
Bush’s veto of latest Democratic bill highlights the problems of the administration ...
Nygaard: Buffett Rule not all it is ...
Recent legislation brings up questions about future of economy and exposed how ...
Editorial: We must stand tall
In the wake of the Virginia Tech tragedy it is only a ...
Loving: International views of the presidential election
The US occupies a unique position in global politics giving foreign countries ...
Third party candidates shake things up
Obama or McCain not speaking for you? Look at Nader or Barr.
Voters may not turn out
Even the historical nature of this year's election may not be enough ...
Mangiaracina: We won’t be national champions in ...
McKay’s bat powers Kansas to 2-1 weekend ...
The freshman has three home runs in four games.
A winter classic reborn
Don't let your inner Ebenezer let you miss this one. "Scrooged" updates ...
City commission? What?
Within the last six years, the Lawrence city commission banned three unrelated ...
KU Black Student Union members comment on ...
Black students from the group spoke about concerns they have on race ...
Hawk Topics
Raine Reviews: News You Can Use
Stangler: ‘Responsibility’ in danger
If an official takes ‘full responsibility’ for something, there should be no ...
Stangler: Manufactured outrage dooms radio
Statements on the radio run rampant when commentators are pressed to fill ...
A new species on the loose at ...
Free: New Congress, same story for the ...
The middle and lower classes are being punished for the excesses and ...
Brinker: The root of the problem
The issue of class is once again at the forefront of the ...
Brinker: No grassroots here, more like an ...
What lurks behind the Tea Party isn't what one would expect from ...
Williams: Economy causes strife for students
Economic problems suck.
Notes from Election 2008
Kansan staff members attend a Barack Obama event in Kansas City on ...
From left: Kimberlee Hinkle, Libby Johnson and Hannah ...
1 comment
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID