The Rich keep Getting Richer, the poor poorer

[BrntOrngStmpeDe]

No one is advocating socialism. for an equivalent hyperbole I could argue that drug dealers are the ultimate capitalist. They do whatever the heck is necessary to maximize profit. They are obviously the most talented CEOs because they had to earn it all the way up the ladder and have to keep earning it every day. There were no nepotistic deals cut for the son of my college buddy to start out as a VP with a 100K salary.

Our country has been playing a game of poker where the poor guy is playing with 5 cards and the rich guy is playing with 7 (and keeps wanting to change the rules so that they can play with 8, 9 and 10). Not to mention the house stakes for most of the financial elite where they get the equivalent of a rake on every hand. Win, lose of draw they get a cut every time.

That's what the ridiculous Supreme court ruling(allowing corp donations to pol's) does for us. It has been going that way for a while. Little by little, stacking the deck to favor the financial elite.

 

[BrntOrngStmpeDe]

VYF,

that's a pretty good stretch to make a point. first the 'poor' guy in your example is not likely to ever be the financial elite referenced in the original post. as a matter of fact, i would argue that the OP was making mostly a similar point. that the little guy that's doing everything right is STILL at a significant disadvantage to the financial elite in both percentage and real dollar gains over the last 3 decades.

 

[VYFan]

Even though I used a literary anecdote, I thought I was clear. No matter who you are, if you have not increased your wealth in 26 years, you are almost certainly a ridiculously immature, irresponsible person who is over-consuming and dragging down your community with your selfish and irresponsible decisions. And, in the article, the awful rich Scrooges who accumulated wealth over 26 years averaged $1.2 million. That's not a hard amount to accumulate in 26 years of applied work, good decisions, and living below your means, and it is a lifestyle that benefits the community. The idea of labeling the saver as a "stealer" rather than a hero is ludicrous.

Maybe I'm just in a attitude right now, but yes, this study does seem to have a socialist bent toward it, with the demonization of savers and the glorification of spenders. Isn't that what the issue of "accumulation of wealth" is all about?

 

[Gadfly]

In reply to:

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[HornBud]

Productivity and wage increases over the past 30 years. Note the split at 1980:

Historical tax rates, again note the big change at 1980

What Happened to our Productivity gains

More graphical data....blah blah blah 1980 blah blah blah

Rising Middle Class Tide Raises all Boats