What is an average American? Is it a working middle-class person who spends more than one third of their work-week striving to help someone else's company turn a profit? Yes, I think it is, since that describes the majority of us. So how do we differentiate between average, lower-than-average and above-average when talking about Americans?
Although I'm an Obama supporter, I often wondered during his campaign what would happen to the lower-class Americans; those fighting just to feed their families or keep a roof over their heads, since the only reference to tax breaks or help for citizens was directed to the middle class. And then the promises by the conservatives to lower taxes always sounds good, but in reality, these ideas only benefit the very top earners in the country. For instance, the idea of Universal Health Care, which would make health care available to ALL Americans regardless of income, has conservatives screaming. They fear their own private health insurance will be affected and they will be left with less than they had before. In reality, they will be able to keep what they have: the plan simply offers coverage to those who can't afford to pay the current exorbitant prices of health care. This way we take care of ALL of our citizens.
When I worked in Human Resources I had a boss who appeared at times to be out of touch with us common folk. He had been raised very well-to-do and I used to tell him; if you really want to know how to reach the bulk of your employees, ask me. I'm the average middle-age woman living from pay-check to pay-check and I know what concerns most of us. For instance, I'd like to contribute the maximum amount possible to my 401(k) plan, which he often suggested, but if I did, I couldn't pay my rent. So I settled for as much as I could afford. He was a conservative who had never experienced day-to-day financial struggle.
Although some conservative politicians make claims that those who struggle financially have brought it on themselves, and don't deserve a hand out. The truth is, most of us struggling have given our life-blood to help make them rich, and they simply are out of touch with the Average American. They don't seem to recognize that every day we get up, leave our kids, put in eight or more hours at a job, come home in time for dinner, kiss our kids good-night, then start it all over again the next day just waiting for retirement and the fears associated with Social Security.
Liberals, on the other hand often overlook the deep seeded conservative values held so dear in the hearts of people of faith. It's difficult for me to see this side of the issue since I consider myself both a liberal and a person of faith. But in my conversations it's become apparent to me that many far right conservatives feel abandoned by liberals; especially since the election of President Obama. They fear that their power is being taken away and the future of their children and grandchildren is being laden with a wall of debt. They fear the health-care will be ripped out from under them, and their taxes will be raised. Even though most of these fears are unfounded, some people feel the threat and it makes them uncomfortable.
Conservatives and Liberals must find a common ground upon which they can allay the fears of the average American. They need to find the common ground upon which we all can agree. In my opinion that common ground is that we all want what's best for our nation and our posterity, so we must put our people first: help them feel pride for the United States once again. Give those with wealth the assurance that helping those who don't, won't undermine them so much that they will be left destitute and let those who can't even make ends meet believe that there is hope for them. For the rest of the average American citizens let us know that the years we have spent toiling with our blood is not in vain. Support our values as well as our pocket-books in a fair and equitable way.