Contrast that with the mostly righty rant of "populist" Sherrod Brown.

Maybe somebody will put a bug in Webb's ear about the flow of money from the bottom to the top in order to "save Social Security" and, not so coincidentally, disproportionately favor the upper income class at the expense of the lower half.

Better not I suppose.  Don't need our most liberal senator further marginalized more than he will be by even the Socialist senator.

Best,  Terry

Jim Webb's Class Struggle piece is fantastic. This has been such an invisible issue because our leadership is so much in the upper part of the class hierarchy. I truly hope that the netroots will support Jim Webb in his efforts to do something about reducing the awful inequality of income in our country.

In india this was called the caste system, and it simply kept things stiff and basically unworkable.  as the caste system slowly fades away india comes out from under the weight of it.

others have written that the class system evolves here because of opportunities and technology

I think webb's article is a strong one because it focusses on the economic and governmental aspects - that is, many who support free markets often think of the stock market as transacting working class as well as corporate dollars. so the health of the markets is often thought of as an indicator of the health of the eoconomy.

check out this ..

"More troubling is this: If it remains unchecked, this bifurcation of opportunities and advantages along class lines has the potential to bring a period of political unrest. Up to now, most American workers have simply been worried about their job prospects. Once they understand that there are (and were) clear alternatives to the policies that have dislocated careers and altered futures, they will demand more accountability from the leaders who have failed to protect their interests. The "Wal-Marting" of cheap consumer products brought in from places like China, and the easy money from low-interest home mortgage refinancing, have softened the blows in recent years. But the balance point is tipping in both cases, away from the consumer and away from our national interest.

The politics of the Karl Rove era were designed to distract and divide the very people who would ordinarily be rebelling against the deterioration of their way of life. Working Americans have been repeatedly seduced at the polls by emotional issues such as the predictable mantra of "God, guns, gays, abortion and the flag" while their way of life shifted ineluctably beneath their feet. But this election cycle showed an electorate that intends to hold government leaders accountable for allowing every American a fair opportunity to succeed.
With this new Congress, and heading into an important presidential election in 2008, American workers have a chance to be heard in ways that have eluded them for more than a decade. Nothing is more important for the health of our society than to grant them the validity of their concerns. And our government leaders have no greater duty than to confront the growing unfairness in this age of globalization.

"

wow!

Democracy and kleptocracy cannot possibly coexist!!!

Thanks for the great article. Makes me wish I still lived in NO VA and could count him as my Senator!

Webb is going to be a pleasant surprise to many in the progressive movement. He understands and speaks out for those who are not privileged, for those who must struggle in a country that has turned its back on them. He will be a powerful voice for opposition to entrenched economic and political power.

John, Thanks for posting this great article.  I appreciate the theme, but being working class myself I don't spend a lot of time reading the Wall Street Journal.  I'm glad Jim Webb does, though, and hope he keeps speaking truth to power.  I was amazed throughout the election that the Republicans kept getting away with their meme that the economy is great.  Maybe for people with big stock portfolios, but for those of us whose life savings is tied up in real estate, we see a leak in the boat that's getting bigger by the day.

And an aside to you, I have to admit your blog entry caught my eye first because my name, too, is J.L. McCreery (even spelled the same as yours, rather than "ea").  For a minute I thought, "Did I write something about Jim Webb that I forgot I submitted?"  I hope things are going well for you in Japan.  I've been to Tokyo and beautiful Kyoto, but never Yokohama.  

Cheer,  Jane Louise