And in the Beginning--

The idea of this blog came from a old friend from high school, over 30 years ago, when I commented on a article as to the middle class taking a huge hit in their financial worth in an e-mail he sent. He's been sharing them with friends, and they've asked the same question--what did I see that nobody else wanted to see and why?

Some of it was seeing what society was doing to each other, rather than for each other. Once you see beyond that, you see that there is a growing segment of mercantile commerce doing things to you, rather than for you. And it came to be for only one reason: we allowed them to do it to us. Decades ago, the comic strip Pogo summed it up in one sentence, "We have met the enemy, and he is us."

I'm now just a tad over 50, and have seen and understood the gradual but accelerating erosion of the middle class to the point where folks who never thought they'd have problems are out on the street, living with their adult kids, or the other extreme, parents with their adult kids moving back in with their parents, having found out their college degree isn't worth the paper it's printed on.

I remember all too well, the classes in high school, call them social studies, call them civics class, when what we needed was a good semester of Contract Law 101, what the elements are of a valid and binding contract, how one is drawn up, and if it ends up in court due to gray areas in the pages of words lawyers call "boilerplate", in who's favor the court will decide (It's NEVER supposed to be in the contract originator's favor!)and why.

We needed a decent education in the legal system, how to appear in court, how to enter a plea in things like traffic court, pre-trial hearings and the like, and how to handle these things by mail, not by paying a lawyer to appear for you (unless your time is worth more than the lawyer!). Some of us learned from out parent's occupation, some through their degree, but far too many of us learned by being dragged through the process. Some of us have gone through the legal system in divorce court or bankruptcy proceedings and the like, completely confused and bewildered and coming out the end gutted like a fresh fish. The lucky among us came out beaten but not broken, much wiser for out battle scars.

We all have done our youth a great disservice in their education. And we need to do better now. And every day.