Making Less, Working More

While a high rate of unemployment has cost American families income, there are other factors that have forced middle incomes to be unevenly affected. The American dream of working hard to obtain success isn't panning out. 

A recent study done by The Brookings Institute indicates that since 1975, two-parent families have been earning more, but not because they're being paid more. The study shows that they're just working longer hours. The typical two-parent income has risen to $70,000 in 2009 up from roughly $57,000 in 1975. To achieve this, those families worked 26 percent longer than the typical family in 1975. In the middle 10 percent of families, men’s earnings have actually dropped from $50,000 in 1975 to about $45,000 in 2009. Single-parent families, which now make up over one-third of American families with children, have it even worse. Single-parent families still earn less than one-fourth of a two-parent family. 

This recession has made things graver. There has been a decline in two-parent family incomes of 5 percent from 2007 to 2009. During this same time period, single-parent family incomes have dropped by 18 percent. Several factors have led to this decline: the weakening of organized labor, the decline in American manufacturing, and a globalized work force. While the recession may be officially over, the future still looks very bleak.  

We must hope that our President and Congress will start working together to solve the plight of our middle class. It is time to pull together and stop the partisan bickering. We are counting on them to right the ship of state.