My critics in Chicago are pathetic cowards. Deleted entry #8.

Not one critic responded to my challenge regarding the LPR. (Nationwide.)

As expected, not one of my critics had the courage to respond to my challenge regarding the 'labor participation rate'. I predicted this in advance. It was easy. After all, my critics are morons. Baron Von Porta Potty is a well spoken moron but still a moron. Just another partisan puppet. He had absolutely no idea what factors contribute to the 'labor participation rate' because his partisan puppet masters haven't told him. They simply blame Obama as they do on every issue.

The following is what the partisan puppet masters like Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck, Andy Dean, Mark Levin, and Monica Crowley don't want their idiot fans to know about the LPR.

In 1976, the richest 1% reaped about 9% of all private income in the United States. This was less than 1/2 of their previous high in 1929, the first year of the Great Depression. in 1976, the richest 1% held less than 20% of all private wealth in the United States. This also was less than 1/2 of their previous high in 1929, the first year of the Great Depression.

In 1976, the strength of the middle class was much greater than it is today. In fact, the majority of middle class households in 1976 were able to keep their home equity high and their total debt low with the income of a single provider. Very high and very low by comparison with today's middle class. Because so many households were able to make ends meet with a single provider, the 'labor participation rate' was relatively low.

The 'labor participation rate' grew along with the cost of living under the Reagan Administration. At the same time, the home equity of the middle class shrank and total consumer debt began to skyrocket. In other words, middle class Americans were working more hours but had less to show for it.

Aside from a fluctuation here and there, this would become the new normal for the American middle class. The trend would continue until the Great Recession of 2008 when unemployment rates rose significantly. As a direct result, the 'labor participation rate' declined. But this time, unlike in 1976, the middle class had far less home equity than they did 30 years prior and far more debt. Bankruptcy and foreclosure rates also rose significantly. Over the same period of time, the richest 1% had increased their share of private US income to 24% and their share of privately held US wealth to over 40%.

It is a direct correlation. The 'labor participation rate' remains low to this day. But the circumstances today are entirely different than they were in 1976.

De-industrialization, incarceration, automation, and a growing but aging population also contribute to the relatively low rates of 'labor participation' in America today. But make no mistake, if the American middle class hope to regain their strength of days gone by, they better wise up and stop giving so much of their money to the rich. They should also campaign for higher taxes on the rich in order to slow down the relentless concentration of income and bottom line wealth. Otherwise, they will never recover regardless of their levels of 'participation'. They will continue to spin their wheels and have even less to show for it.

There you go. Like I said, it's not that complicated. Still, it was quite easy, as usual, to prove how dumb the Hannity freaks and ditto-heads really are. Not one of them had the courage to respond. Not even my latest critic, Baron Von Porta Potty himself.