I am a Grenade

"When even the free-marked-oriented magazine The Economist argues--as it did in a special feature in October--that the magnitude and nature of the country's inequality represent a serious threat to America, we should know that something has gone horribly wrong"

I always thought it was funny when "rich people" magazines write about this--as if anyone would care about poor people (unless its for donations which are tax deductible).  It almost makes me wonder if it is to create an image for those who are not rich (who probably buy these magazines too in the hopes of finding some secret to class mobility) that people on top are aware of their situation and are working on some kind of solution (which would "never" happen).  I am not really sure how else these magazines could benefit from writing on that kind of topic.  Unless it was painted in a "in other countries" light--and not talking about the US (or wherever these magazines are coming from).

"Children in other rich countries like Canada, France, Germany and Sweden have a better chance of doing better that their parents did than American kids have.  More than a fifth of our children live in poverty--the second worst of all the advanced economies, putting us behind countries like Bulgaria, Latvia and Greece"

Well, there goes our American Dream.  And yet the ideology is still alive in the minds of the masses.  I talk to people who have come here to make a better life for themselves, to listen to them talk starry-eyed about the opportunities that America has.  It's hard not to say "hey, you should've gone a little north more because it really isn't that great here" but I'm sure it's comparatively better then wherever they came from.  Yet our nationalism still boasts that we are The Best country.  It's really a sad case of denial.

"Student loan debt can almost never be wiped out, even in bankruptcy.  A parent who co-signs a loan can't necessarily have the debt discharged even if his child dies.  The debt can't be discharged even if the school--operated for profit and owned by exploitative financiers--provided an inadequate education, enticed the student with misleading promises, and failed to get her a decent job"

Really, student loan debt is enough to drive some students to suicide.  And that is not something that should be happening.  Education is about learning--freedom from ignorance--not in exchange for the shackles of debt.  While Student Loan Debt isn't necessarily wiped out by bankruptcy, we have corporate welfare and big bank bail-outs.  It's almost like saying "okay, you can pursue an education, but don't expect to have the energy to change the world because we're going to tie you down with Student Loan Debt."  Nothing is going to change because the very places change should be coming from (youth) is too discouraged by debt and an unlivable minimum wage and no prospects for a better future.