The Gilded Age

The Economist has a piece that critically examines the rags-to-riches myth of American social mobility. It was the article’s comparison of present-day America to the America of the late 19th century that really caught my attention. Are we living in the second age of the robber barons? In the early twentieth century, populism swept across the country in a response to the huge disparities in wealth between rich and poor. I’m not terribly confident that history will repeat itself. Republicans have been quite effective at cowing Democrats who dare raise the issue of the pervasive economic inequalities in our great nation. Any rabble-rousers are immediately branded as class warriors. And we all know that class warfare simply isn’t done in America anymore. For the left to recapture the goodwill of the public, they need to find ways to fling those accusations back in the faces of Republicans. I’m not preaching revolution (yet), but we need to talk sensibly about how opportunity is distributed in this country. Notice how I say “opportunity,” not “wealth.” I’m not a communist (yet). People should be fairly rewarded for their work. But we also need to start playing the semantics games that the right have played so well for thirty years.
I found some pretty good Vegas deals. It’s cheaper if I go during the week. As far as a hotel, I have it narrowed down to the Paris, the Bellagio, and Mandalay Bay. I’m not sure I meet the Minimum Hipster Quotient for Mandalay Bay. I’m afraid the cute desk clerk (because they usually are cute) will look at me, sniff, and politely inform me they’ve double-booked my room. Maybe I can put on some sunglasses and fake it. Oh, and I totally want to check this out while I’m there. Yes, I am a tool.