Don't Forget the Middle Class

Two recent pieces signal a warning to the administration to protect middle- and lower-wage earners, especially as it looks to reform Social Security. The GOP is no longer simply the party of the rich; in fact, its strongest support comes from those in the middle class for whom protection against terrorism and social order resonate most deeply. But economic issues for the middle-class such as skyrocketing healthcare costs can't be dismissed or ignored indefinitely. Reihan Salam of the American Scene argues that the GOP ignors lower-middle-class strivers at its peril, and David Brooks proposes KidSave accounts to help distribute capital more broadly, ameliorate the tensions between rich and poor, and encourage the "ownership society".