WHAT'S HIDING IN A STATISTIC?

Statisticians are grinding out new survey numbers every day. In the Middle Ages they counted the number of angels on the head of a pin. Today they count the number of anything they think is publishable. Many times the results are pretty useless, but here's one that's not. The number of Americans who said they "like being recognized as wealthy" dropped from 35% to 29%.

Surveys are like the Delphic Oracle -- you make of them whatever you want. So here's what I make of this. America's enduring split-personality about wealth is surfacing again in today's recession. On one hand we've always admired the rich-and-famous; at the same time, we can't help resenting them. In a democracy everyone's supposed to be equal, only everyone knows some people are more equal than others. That un-democratic status is OK, but only if it happens to us.

In some countries, this tension creates distinct rich;poor class structures (AKA,old Europe and new Middle East). In our country, this tension has always been eased by the assumption anyone can become wealthy (AKA, The American Dream). But in the current recession, the wealthy class is sticking out like a very sore and annoying thumb. Bankers, Wall Street hustlers, hedge fund gamblers, Berny Madoff, Paris Hilton -- when you're out of a job, what's to like about this class!

Maybe this is why more of them are more self-conscious about their BMW's and off-shore accounts. Then again, maybe not. One of the best known ways in history of distracting the plebeians or peasants from the luxury of the patricians or the lords is to find a common enemy. The wealthy today have found a classic example: Big Government. After all, who likes the guy who imposes taxes on you, and tells you how to behave?

Trouble is, using the government as your common enemy (AKA, "the problem") only works so far. Easy to condemn its graft and corruption, but not quite as easy to turn your back when you need it to guard your shores, patrol your streets, inspect your meats, protect your health, and build your schools and colleges.

Whether ot not the government is "the solution" is open to rigorous debate. In the end the consensus may be what it's always been in this country. Each side of the democratic equation needs the other. The people need concerned government in order to maintain the general welfare; the government needs concerned citizens in order to maintain its commitment to that general welfare.

Sounds like a strong marriage...? Exactly. And everyone knows how hard, but how rewarding that can be.