Arianna Discusses The Middle Class On MSNBC's 'The Last Word With Lawrence O'Donnell' (VIDEO)

Arianna appeared Tuesday on MSNBC's 'The Last Word With Lawrence O'Donnell' to discuss the jobs crisis among America's middle class.

After running through some discouraging jobs statistics, Arianna explained:

"Beyond the numbers is the fact that this has been a wasted year when it comes to saving the middle class. Not only have we done almost nothing, we've taken measures that are going to make it much harder to turn things around. And we've done things like extending the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans that are detrimental. And above all, the whole conversation has changed, so instead of focusing on jobs, over the last two years we've actually seen a decrease in the amount of time we spend discussing the jobs crisis, and a skyrocketing increase in the amount of time we spent discussing the deficit crisis."

In terms of Washington addressing the jobs crisis, Arianna stated that "what is staggering is that this is an area where what is right for the country intersects with what is good for the politicians' self-interests, what is good for their reelection prospects."

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Comments

[Stan1026]

02:52 PM on 09/03/2011

I'm middle class - forget about me... please forget about me... go bother someone else...

[Mischief]

11:42 AM on 09/03/2011

The "middle class" is NOT forgotten. In fact, there has been a concerted effort over the last several decades to eliminate the middle class so that the world operates on only two levels: rich & poor. No, I am NOT a conspiracy theorist. Just an individual who has watched for some time now how borders have melted, multiple flags fly over corporate headquarters (in Aruba), and terms like global equity appear whenever a company is arguing for tax relief. These and other signs are not arbitrary or by accident..............they can't be. Laws are brokered to favor business in all aspects, ie, taxes, environmental responsibilities (huh, what's that?) even taxes for certain employees (Mr. CEO). The laws are even slanted in favor of businesses in OTHER COUNTRIES! God forbid we actually do something that protects the USA.

Notice, you never hear a politician, regardless of party (they're ALL guilty), argue for GOOD paying jobs, just jobs. Good paying jobs only go to the elite, super smart (sometimes) and politically connected. When was the last time a resume got you a job? If you don't know somebody, you don't work. NOBODY looks at resumes anymore. All the trade deals that have been enacted over the past 20 years...............deals that were supposed to enrich our country and stimulate our economy...............WHERE'S THE BEEF?

CORPORATIONS, INC., run the show.

[RedDogOne]

02:15 PM on 09/03/2011

Sept 1, show describes corporate tax fraud: http://ewheel.democracynow.org/

[Nic the wonder puppy]

02:58 PM on 08/31/2011

I maybe only a dog, but there is still a middle class?

[The political pulse]

02:38 PM on 08/31/2011

Our problem is a lot bigger systemic problem with our demographics. Our boomers are retiring and the generation behind them is much smaller. When boomers were having families they needed stuff increasing demand. The following generation is as much as 30% smaller and now they are having families and needing less stuff and services, less demand. We are in this demographic anomaly for the next 20 years whether people want to agree with it our not. It is anomaly that will hamper our economy until the 20's or even 30's.

[Stan1026]

02:51 PM on 09/03/2011

...by which time an out of control hispanic population will have turned the entire country into another dysfunctional Latin American junta.