The "client class"

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Friday, February 13. 2009

I recently noticed somebody at Samizdata refer to the "client class," but I cannot find the link right now. It is a useful phrase. It refers to those directly or indirectly employed or supported by government (ie their neighbor).

From my perspective, we will watch this client class grow, while those who feed that class diminishes. I am not convinced that this is a good long-term plan, because most of us gave up on Santa a while ago. Last Christmas, for example. I am still waiting and hoping for my pretty pony.

Who will be productive and produce the wealth to pay these bills? The Tooth Fairy?

Our sense of entitlement to an easy life - decadence - will be death to us and to the American can-do spirit. We currently seem to have a "You Can't Do" government and a growing "Can't Do" population. Not good. Weak. Can I say "flaccid"? Not the American "Yankee Doodle, keep it up".

Who the heck do people expect to take care of them? Me? My shoulders are not broad enough to carry that load, but I do carry my own. Plus I pay my taxes (unlike many Dems, apparently. And I give generously to my charities).

Posted by The Barrister in Our Essays, Politics at 12:50 | Comments (6) | Trackbacks (0)

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We've been duped. It's not he economy. It's the Nation, and the Constitution that are at stake. The economy is just a side show, a distraction.
They (Congress) won't tell us whats in the stimulus bill.
They have just nationalized health care right before our eyes, and God knows what else.
These people aren't legislators their con artists.
Notice how quickly Clinton came out to speak on the fairness doctrine. That's next on the agenda.
That Dago bitch Pelosi is on the first plane out of D.C.
Hell the ink on the stimulus bill isn't even dry yet.
These people don't love this Country
I hope they all die a violent slow death.
I believe in UFOs, and alien life forms now. They all live in The U.S. Congress, and their going to kill us all if we let them.

Mr B, sorry about ranting on your post. You'll have to get in line to get that pony, because I asked first. Besides it's a one trick pony, just like our esteemed representation we have in D.C.

#1 jappy on 2009-02-13 17:06 (Reply)

Hmm, I never thought of my husband as "client class." He gave up a successful woodworking business to become a 4th grade teacher in a charter school in a rough urban neighborhood. This week one boy in last year's class made it a point to tell my husband that he got all A's and B's on his last report card, instead of D's and F's. Another boy, who was a whisker away from expulsion last year, told my husband that he received a character reward this quarter. My husband is changing lives and enriching society, but is paid at poverty level (for a family of four). And we thought our investments would fill the gap! I basically agree with you and hope I don't sound defensive.

#2 Earth Girl (Link) on 2009-02-13 23:21 (Reply)

Your jusband is a treasure. Thank you for your family's commitment. Personally, I hope he is continuing to practice his woodworking craft as we need those people as well.

#2.1 JMA on 2009-02-14 02:54 (Reply)

Another thing I believe we are seeing, is the abuse of long term employess, salaried w/benefits being purged under the deceptive covering of the economy crisis. Then their companies are rehiring at minimal or minimum wages thereby exploiting a hard working class of citizens. When in actuality, their businesses aren't really being affected such as others.
I'm also not buying the fact that everyone standing in line at the unemployment office or at the Job Fairs are out of work due to this crisis. Some have been not working for longer than before the crisis showed up.

#3 Lora on 2009-02-14 02:10 (Reply)

The key element of the client class is not what you get paid, or who pays you but that you have an expectation that you are owed not only the pay , but more.

This could be job security, expansive benefits, freedom from supervision, social applause and more. The great pleasure (and hardest part) of free enterprise is the consenting agreement between parties. If you cannot see the pleasure of being treated with respect (and consequently the value of freedom not to enter into the agreement if it is not respectful), you will gravitate to the client side. However most clients do not appreciate the great deal they have but are among the most prolific whiners you will meet.

#4 DirtyJobsGuy on 2009-02-14 09:25 (Reply)

I am an employee of the State of NH. I nonetheless believe that those who work for the government should have their franchise suspended. It is an enormous conflict of interest.

#5 Assistant Village Idiot (Link) on 2009-02-14 22:03 (Reply)

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Friday, February 13. 2009

The "client class"