No. of Recommendations: 2
David Brooks' description of the situation resonated with me,
It resonates with me as well, although I'm more inclined to describe it not as an "information" class but the "moneyed" class. It seems, to some extent, like capitalism run amok. Capital decided they could make more money by off-shoring jobs. So they did, with no regard to the folks who worked those jobs that were headed overseas. And government let them. After 40+ years of this approach, labor has had enough. This ties in quite well to the wealth divide that so many talk about but no one actually does anything to reduce.
From that point of view, I can't blame them for wanting something different. And Trump is definitely something different. Unfortunately, I doubt he has the skills to actually begin to fix the problem, but it will make some folks feel better for a time. And some a lot worse. Hopefully, it will bring the issue front and center.
Ultimately, the solution has to include some mutual respect. Brooks' information class (my capitalists) need to respect those working in skilled labor and find ways to improve their situation - mainly by providing the decent paying jobs they need. Skilled labor needs to respect the more highly educated and the improvements in community life that education can bring to the table. Both are needed for a well-functioning society.
--Peter
