America's greatest asset, the middle class, is under attack.

America is blessed with organizations and individuals involved in “causes” that appeal to donors who have the option of supporting those causes, or not.  Philanthropy is a major industry. Donors are exceedingly generous to thousands of “causes” both domestically and internationally.  In-kind and cash donations are voluntary. Donors and philanthropists decide where to direct their gifts.

In contrast, City, County, State and Federal governments impose substantial non-voluntary financial burdens on taxpayers: Fees, sales and income taxes, gas taxes, taxes to pay off special purpose bonds whose interest and principal payments are spread over many years. Also, the Federal government  has supported social programs (whose advocates are effective in gaining government support) for years, sometimes for decades, by increasing Federal borrowing.  Which means current taxes also cover the costs of past government-funded social programs, not just current ones.

The middle class included 52 percent of adult Americans in 2016, down from 61 percent in 1971, according to the Pew Research Center. It shoulders a large share of the burden of past and current government spending on social programs. At all levels of government politicians allocate large sums to private sector causes. Yet the majority of middle class consumers/taxpayers have no say whatsoever in where funds are allocated.

Take any social issue—homelessness, affordable housing, hospitals for children, abused animals or any of a thousand other groups society supports voluntarily with time, treasure and talent. Each is a “cause” funded voluntarily through philanthropy and involuntarily through government-imposed taxes and other extractions from taxpayers. Their attributes appeal to supporters both inside and outside government. In particular, four attributes contribute greatly to success in funding private sector “causes”:

…..Stories that evoke empathy, stir emotions, are warm and fuzzy

…..Homogeneity among target groups being aided, such that they can be labeled/identified as a group

…..Positive media coverage, which reinforces the message of the group seeking support

…..Strong advocates/champions, inside/outside government, volunteers/paid executives/politicians\

Do these attributes exist to protect, support and/or promote the middle class as a "cause" unto itself? Not that I can see. Occasionally a candidate for public office includes support for the middle class in his or her platform.  Once in office, however, all mention of the middle class as a group evaporates in favor of constituents—individuals, firms and other organizations— especially those who have provided financial support during the candidate’s campaign for office. Moreover, today’s political environment is polarized, with the extremes in both parties demanding attention to their “causes”. The middle class as a “cause” is not on their radar screens, other than as the taxpaying group to be hit up yet again for the newest “cause du jour” while paying for yesterday’s needs too.

In this country the Federal government passes major legislation only in response to a crisis, which also means only after the crisis has occurred. How widespread and deep a crisis does the middle class have to suffer before the Congress and the Administration truly understand the limits of its ability to fund ever-expanding government programs?  The middle class is America’s greatest asset, and it is under attack. But it has no story, elicits no empathy, has no label, garners virtually no positive media coverage and does not have an advocate or champion. It is scary to think of the middle class as defender-less, but isn't it?