Where are the advocates for America's middle class?

As I was reading yet another article proposing additional taxpayer funding of affordable housing, it got me to thinking about why it is that this cause gets such great exposure and has such tremendous momentum as a funding engine.  In contrast, the next thought that came to mind was why there is so little public discourse about America's middle class other than as a funding mechanism for causes other than preservation of the middle class. As a trained economist I also thought about the critically important role America's middle class has played historically as a major source of socio-political and economic stability in this country.  Those roles for the middle class are under attack, in my view.  In terms of anyone supporting and defending the middle class I was reminded of lines from the Broadway play, 1776: “Is anybody there?  Does anybody care?

My last stint of 14 years working in Washington, D.C. involved 11 years during which I was chief executive of two national trade associations for mortgage lenders. In both organizations, we published valuable industry research, offered professional education programs and networking opportunities, and employed large staffs of lawyers and other professionals to represent (i.e., lobby on behalf of) our industry members before the U.S. Congress and Federal regulatory agencies. Lobbying or advocacy of lending industry positions, whether advancing issues or blocking them, was and still is the bread and butter of major trade associations. Much of what I learned about "what works and what doesn't work" with respect to lobbying/advocacy in Washington, D.C. I continue to observe happening in San Diego (and no doubt in every other major urban environment in America) today. 

In particular, what I observe in San Diego are successful efforts to generate ever more funding to address the issues of homelessness and the inadequate supply of affordable housing.  What I do not see in San Diego, or in Washington, D.C., for that matter, are successful focused efforts to preserve, protect and promote America's vast middle class.  It is not simply a matter of neglect or ineffective advocacy for middle class issues. Rather, there is no champion of the middle class.  Worse yet, the middle class seems to be perceived as a trough from which politicians and everyone else who has a "cause" can drink, without replenishing the liquid in the trough. The consequences of this behavior are negative, at best, for the future of this country.  More on these topics in the next post.