Comments on: Losing Grasp On The American Dream

The Other America: How One Family Went From Middle Class To Collecting Tin Cans

[brianbwb-2009]

"I''''m not a Bush fan, however it was Bill Clinton who signed NAFTA and sent those jobs to China." Posted by monet103

Correction, the job drain started before NAFTA. When the "Big 4" automakers in Detroit relocated their factories to then slave labor Asian states, way back in the mid 70s and early 80s, the ripple effect killed the steel, coal, rubber, and glass industries, which killed ancillary services, and even bars, pubs, and nightclubs closed, killing the grassroots entertainment industry.

NAFTA was just icing on an already ruined cake.

[brianbwb-2009]

What incredibly poor journalism. I suppose you''''ll now find somebody who owns a Hummer and can''''t afford to put gas in the tank so we can feel sorry for them too." Posted by monet103

Such a story would belong in the humor section. I, for one would read that while ROFLMAO.

It does my heart good for those who have the "let them eat cake" attitude, who think the economy is ok only because their own position is ok, get a taste of the "cake" they tell others to eat.

Would only that most of the "let them eat cake" crowd experience the same, and be forced to find a new job where none exist, or compete with slave labor from Mexico, sweatshop labor from India, and the like.

This would be an effective attitude adjuster.

[kansas1946]

The Republicans brought you the Savings and Loan collapse in the late 80s through deregulation and now they have brought you the mortgage mess through no regulation at all. Posted by sjc_1 at 11:49 PM :

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You hit the proverbial nail on the head, sjc. Those sub-prime loans should have been illegal. Anyone with half a brain could see that mess coming. Of course, as long as the big boys were getting rich, the politicians just looked away. I thought there were pretty tight controls on banking, but I guess not. Now, since they have gotten themselves backed into a corner, we are supposed to bail out these banks to protect the economy. You know, I think this last eight years has been worse for America than anything in history. The damage done by this administration''s actions and lack of actions is beyond comprehension.

[kansas1946]

We are losing the American middle class, and that is, and always has been, the strength of America. When decent paying manufacturing jobs started going over-seas, then you took away the ability of hard working people to make a living. Those millions of people spending that money is what fueled our huge economy and made living in American one of the best deals in the world. We are seeing more very rich people, and more very poor people here, and that is an ugly thing to contemplate. Most third world countries have exactly that kind of economic picture. It is greed that caused it in those countries, and it is greed that is causing it here. I am glad that I am old enough to have lived through one of the most prosperous periods for average people in the history of the world. I think it is coming to an end though, that that is sad for future Americans.

[sjc_1]

We have been losing good paying jobs for more than 30 years and then this so called administration wants to crow about home ownership percentages by rigging up an unregulated mortgage industry that make sub prime home loans to those that can not really afford them...some dream, more like a nightmare. The Real Estate people need first time buyers at the bottom so people can sell their homes and the agents and brokers can take their commissions and load officers can take their points.

The Republicans brought you the Savings and Loan collapse in the late 80s through deregulation and now they have brought you the mortgage mess through no regulation at all.

Remember the Saving and Loans were chartered to make home loans. Then the Republicans changed all that to allow them to make risky loans, which led to the failure of the whole industry.

There must be profits in this destruction for all of them and their friends, because they will keep on doing it if you let them.

[godzilla-boy]

Geez, how heartless can you people be? Give this family a break! You don''t know their circumstances. Yes, they have a few kids and yes, the husband lost his business. But some people somehow know that they don''t have any education or didn''t put in the required effort. But you''ve got yours so anyone who doesn''t is either stupid or lazy, right?

I hope that if any of you ever fall on hard times, you get as much sympathy as you''re giving this family.

[tomgle103]

I''m not a Bush fan, however it was Bill Clinton who signed NAFTA and sent those jobs to China. If you remember, Ross Perot said we will hear the whooshing sound of jobs leaving the country if NAFTA is signed.

The point here is not to blame Bush or Clinton or this fmaily but instead to blame CBS for shoddy reporting. The American Dream is alive and well but effort and education is required. Quit showing these welfare cases. Yes, you have to have pity for this family but for CBS to declare the American Dream dead is slipshod journalism. I agree with a previous post, fire this reporter.

[cattlekate]

Posted by mace19662000 at 08:13 PM : Apr 28, 2008

Curious....who are you supporting to take over the Bush Administration?

[idnnsg]

To the people who like to blame the victims: Just wait ''til it happens to you!

"Outsourcing jobs overseas is good", said Bush.

"Getting cheap junk from China is good", said Bush.

"This war will be a piece of cake and it will pay for itself with the oil we steal from the Iraqis", said Bush.

"I''ve got a job, what''s a matter wit'' you?" says the uncompassionate fools who keep voting for the repugs who are doing everything they can to destroy the middle class.

[dowjones20k]

Seth Doane the reporter on this story should be FIRED.

What a pitiful piece.

I cant help but wonder if this guy inherited a successful auto body repair business .. what the heck kind of body/business man was he? Why didnt he go to work for someone else? A good body man can make more than $40,000 a year.

I live in Ma and can tell you that there are tens of thousands drivers here who need repair work because the folks here are crazy drivers ... but I digress ...

Glouster is NOT some cheap little town, it is expensive .. heck everywhere in MA is expensive ...

SO not sure where these two went off the road .. but it sounds like this reporter and this couple need some education ... and some common sense ..

I feel for anyone who is struggling life is tough right now .. but with a little help, perseverance and thought, it can be overcome .

[tomgle103]

What incredibly poor journalism. I suppose you''ll now find somebody who owns a Hummer and can''t afford to put gas in the tank so we can feel sorry for them too.

This family has no education and seems to have no marketable skills. They mismanaged an inheritance because of the lack of education and lack of management skills but they do know how to make babies - lots of them. Come on CBS!!!!

Our country is not falling apart!!! Opportunities exist for those wishing to work to make things happen. Being handed a business on a silver platter and then losing it is an inevitably for someone like this. Now they want someone to hand them a job even though they don''t seem to have a skill in th world. Making babies is not a skill, it''s irresponsible.

[mace19662000]

I sincerely feel for the family you focused on in the broadcast; but, the reality is that not every family makes the income they are making right now.
My wife and I have a family of 5 kids (3 mine and 2 hers) ages 4, 8, 9, 14, and 19. All 5 are here at home. My annual income has been about $30,000 until just 2 weeks ago. As of then, I am now unemployed.
Unless the condition of this countries economy turns around soon, everyone will be in even worse financial position then they have ever thought of before. Instead of focusing on some well-to-do family who have found themselves in hard times, maybe you should focus on those of us who have struggled for years.

[mace19662000]

I sincerely feel for the family you focused on in the broadcast; but, the reality is that not every family makes the income they are making right now.
My wife and I have a family of 5 kids (3 mine and 2 hers) ages 4, 8, 9, 14, and 19. All 5 are here at home. My annual income has been about $30,000 until just 2 weeks ago. As of then, I am now unemployed.
Unless the condition of this countries economy turns around soon, everyone will be in even worse financial position then they have every thought of before. Instead of focusing on some well-to-do family who have found themselves in hard times, maybe you should focus on those of us who have struggled for years.

[mace19662000]

I sincerely feel for the family you focused on in the broadcast; but, the reality is that not every family makes the income they are making right now.
My wife and I have a family of 5 kids (3 mine and 2 hers) ages 4, 8, 9, 14, and 19. All 5 are here at home. My annual income has been about $30,000 until just 2 weeks ago. As of then, I am now unemployed.
Unless the condition of this countries economy turns around soon, everyone will be in even worse financial position then they have every thought of before. Instead of focusing on some well-to-do family who have found themselves in hard times, maybe you should focus on those of us who have struggled for years.