( CNN ) Imagine an American billionaire who is so callous that he could fly into Davos , Switzerland , for the annual World Economic Conference and announce that `` America 's lifestyle expectations are far too high and need to be adjusted so we have less things and a smaller , better existence . '' Pretty outrageous , do n't you think ? It gets worse . The guy took a pounding , as some of the snarkier commentary noted that he had arrived in Switzerland via private aircraft with two nannies in tow . I would have joined the criticism -- how insensitive could that fellow be ? Except the quote was credited to me and I know that I never said it . Most public people have experienced interview mishaps , and typically it 's a matter of a mistake , or misinterpretation . The most generous thing I can say about the article that was published after that interview was that perhaps the reporter did n't hear half of what I said . I do talk fast , and the conditions were not ideal . But what bothered me most in all this was how this whole incident fed a narrative that the wealthy are detached , that they just do n't care . And , just as bad , they attend meetings like Davos simply to give the impression that they do . In fact , the people I spoke with while I was there were without exception concerned about the struggles of individuals and families affected by globalization , disruptive technologies , and most of all the long-term challenge of economic inequality . I can say these things from experience -- I have often talked about this issue , calling for policies to bolster the middle class and even expressing support for increasing taxes on the wealthy . As a guy who grew up in middle class Worcester , Massachusetts , I know how hard people work just to make ends meet and how years of stalled income growth can drain people of their hope and optimism . I saw it myself growing up when my father lost his business . As a result of what I have seen and experienced growing up and as a businessman I have continued to the problem of inequality many times and voiced support for education , investment in infrastructure , and economic policies to aid those who are middle class and those who aspire to be . The trouble is that too often , our elected leaders are n't listening -- and they are making decisions today that are undermining this country 's future . The reality is that in a global marketplace , people from Indianapolis to Indonesia are often competing for some of the same work with comparable skills . Meanwhile , new technologies are allowing companies to make the same goods , or provide the same services , with fewer people . The result is that our workers are being squeezed on both the supply and demand side , as the labor supply in many industries falls , prompting a decline in wages and overall employment . Here in the United States , we have traditionally counted on superior skills and a strong service economy to counter the effects of international competition . However , in recent years , workers in other countries have become better educated and more qualified , allowing them to compete more aggressively . Transportation offers a telling example as app-based services including Uber and Lyft instantly connect drivers in their own cars with customers who need a ride . Consumers get cheaper transport , and car owners get to earn some money with a vehicle that would otherwise be idle . But Uber will inevitably undermine established car services , and firms that directly pay wages and benefits to workers such as drivers , mechanics , managers and dispatchers . Yes , you may get a cheaper ride across town today , but the cabbie who is put out of work had his or her life turned upside down . Other big industries will be disrupted by 3-D printing , a near miraculous technology capable of creating a perfect prosthesis for someone who lost a leg , or printing an entire building in China . In the not-so-distant future , we may all have these machines in our homes or neighborhoods . The most important manufacturing companies may be those that make the machines and those that make the materials that go into the printers , something that again will most likely require few workers . These developments pose a profound challenge to the United States , and we 'll need a comprehensive strategy that draws on the best ideas available to ensure everyone has a chance to succeed . President Barack Obama 's recent proposal for free community college for all is a good first step . But what the U.S. economy really needs is an over-arching policy to promote lifelong learning , so that workers can continually adapt to new market opportunities . In addition , we also need a stronger safety net for the workers who are displaced , which would give more people time to adjust to a continually changing job market . Unfortunately , the policies we need will not emerge from a media-driven debate that starts with the premise that uncaring rich guys are n't concerned about others . Closing the gap is going to take innovative thinking and a willingness to believe that we are all in this together . We are going to have to trust each other , drop our assumptions , and make a commitment to open and accurate debate . I 'm willing to do so , even at the risk of being cast , unfairly , as the poster boy for the insensitive upper class .
Jeff Greene : People from Indianapolis to Indonesia competing for some of same work . Comment: