One of the most interesting domestic issues in the fall mid-term elections may be the debate over minimum wage. The national minimum wage standard in the U.S. is drastically low; efforts to raise the minimum wage out-right will draw the wrath from small businesses and larger corporations. However, the American citizens may not tolerate the decline of the middle class from either party.
Both politics parties are in a bind—the democrats, who want to raise minimum wage, cannot raise it to a level where it will help people since, by doing so, the party of the donkey will risk their corporate sponsorship. On the other hand, Republicans cannot afford to keep minimum too low and risk even more separation between then and the lower class. Further, the party of the aristocracy must make some appeal to the lower class since its image alienates middle class Americans. The Republican bill that the party passed in the House went too far to protect the wealthy and the Democrats are correct to note that voters will see through this in November.
At what point in American politics will there be a return to class-based politics?
Thomas Frank addresses this in What’s the Matter with Kansas?. The “The Culture Wars” can lost for only so long. Some have even asked for an Armistice in the war, though others believe that The Cure Worse than the Disease.
Is it possible that there may be a return to class-based politics or does the ethos (read mythos) of american equality prevent this from happening?
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