Voices
the upper class was earning 46
percent and the middle class was
earning 45 percent. The middle
class was dramatically expanded
by the G.I. Bill, regarded by many
as one of the most important initiatives in U.S. history. We are
now seeing accelerating erosion of
those gains.
Ensuring a vibrant and growing middle class and working to
shrink the number of people living in poverty is crucial for ensuring the security of the national
economy. Members of both these
socioeconomic groups create and
operate small businesses, which
provide employment for millions.
They pay the bulk of all taxes.
They are not just our nurses and
teachers, but our classroom aides
and support staff. As the middle
class shrinks and poverty increases, who will do these jobs?
If these pragmatic examples were
not enough, we have a social responsibility to provide the educational tools necessary for all people
to be successful. Doing this only results in us having a better-educated
society, which helps make our nation more competitive overall.
Regardless of the fate of affirmative action at the hands of the
Supreme Court, we must commit
DEVORAH
LIEBERMAN
HUFFINGTON
10.28.12
to ensuring that all high school
graduates are prepared to enter
and graduate from college, if they
choose. And, if we accept students
into our institutions, it is our responsibility to help them meet
the academic standards we are
expecting of all. This applies to
success in the academic portion of
our institutions as well as the cocurricular. To achieve a campus
that models “inclusivity,” we must
offer and support the
needed knowledge,
appreciation, underWe have
standing and intera social
cultural communicaresponsibility
tion skills among all
to provide the
students, faculty and
educational
staff. In so doing, it
tools for all to
will help us to recbe successful.”
ognize and celebrate,
not only that which
distinguishes us individually, but
also that which binds us together
as human beings.
Broadening our perspectives
about acting affirmatively during
these times will lead us toward
achieving a more successful, global, inclusive and pluralistic society. In so doing, we achieve what
our nation needs to flourish—we
help ensure equal opportunity for all.