Income inequality in America

[RandomGuy]

On the contrary, the 51/49 ratio is extremely relevant if you morally support taking from the haves to give to the have nots. When the have nots (many by their own choice) become the majority ALL the working/producing minority will have targets on their backs.

"many by their own choice".

Blaming the victim again, as if babies born into crushing poverty with ty parents, no positive role models, and never learning anything better will spontaneously rise up out of that swamp.

People can escape that, but to not allow for the fact that environment plays a huge part in the ultimate outcome of how self-actualized a person is seems foolish to me.

[Parker2112]

There is a segment of the population that worships the "free market" as if it is a infallible God of some sort, incapable of doing wrong.

There is a segment of the population that refuses to admit the fallibility of government as a means of achieving a rich, fulfilling life...free of strife and poverty.

With free markets, each citizen retains at least as much power as his pocketbook can muster.

With government playing "our" superman, corporations retain the power with their pocketbooks. Average joes and random guys' pocketbooks can no longer compete.

[Parker2112]

The Soviets had, and the Chinese have a pretty flat income distribution curve (small number of extremely wealthy outliers notwithstanding) and I would say their quality of life is pretty ty.

[CosmicCowboy]

"many by their own choice".

Blaming the victim again, as if babies born into crushing poverty with ty parents, no positive role models, and never learning anything better will spontaneously rise up out of that swamp.

People can escape that, but to not allow for the fact that environment plays a huge part in the ultimate outcome of how self-actualized a person is seems foolish to me.

Oh please.

I know plenty of kids from upper-middle class families that ed their lives off and basically would be living in poverty if it weren't for their parents. As a matter of fact, they ARE counted as poor in the statistics because the parental help is under the table. , just look at your typical over-educated under-achieving OWS protester.

[ChuckD]

On the contrary, the 51/49 ratio is extremely relevant if you morally support taking from the haves to give to the have nots. When the have nots (many by their own choice) become the majority ALL the working/producing minority will have targets on their backs.

It's called history, and it happens repeatedly when the few hold everything and the many have nothing to lose.

I don't understand the resistance to taxes and hand outs by some, other than they fail to understand that this is what keeps the villagers with pitch forks and torches at bay. It's a small price to keep Bastille Day and Krasny Oktyabr down the road.

[CosmicCowboy]

LOL at all these veiled threats of violence if the spoiled brats don't get their free tuition, free health care, and free housing.

[CosmicCowboy]

Little es think they are bad asses because they watched a couple of Tarantino flicks and play call of duty on their x-boxes...

[ChuckD]

LOL at all these veiled threats of violence if the spoiled brats don't get their free tuition, free health care, and free housing.

It's not threats. Threats are something that may or may not happen. Look into your history. When the wealth gap gets too wide, violence ensues 100% of the time. If you don't understand that, you'll soon be in the middle of it.

“Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it.”
- Edmund Burke

[CosmicCowboy]

It's not threats. Threats are something that may or may not happen. Look into your history. When the wealth gap gets too wide, violence ensues 100% of the time. If you don't understand that, you'll soon be in the middle of it.

“Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it.”
- Edmund Burke

Pfft. I assume you are referring to the French Revolution. Huge difference. The poor were REALLY poor and weren't a bunch of toothless little es like the OWS crowd.

[RandomGuy]

There is a segment of the population that refuses to admit the fallibility of government as a means of achieving a rich, fulfilling life...free of strife and poverty.

With free markets, each citizen retains at least as much power as his pocketbook can muster.

With government playing "our" superman, corporations retain the power with their pocketbooks. Average joes and random guys' pocketbooks can no longer compete.

Full government control is a horrible way to run an economy. Governments are ty at doing it. Any government meddling in the economy should be kept to a minimum needed to provide a framework for business and free markets to operate.

[ChuckD]

Pfft. I assume you are referring to the French Revolution. Huge difference. The poor were REALLY poor and weren't a bunch of toothless little es like the OWS crowd.

OWS is nothing, just the waking giving a big yawn, the first wavelet days or even weeks before the tsunami comes.

When it happens, it will be the truly poor from the barrio/ghetto/hood, and it will be such a spasm of rage and anger, no one will control it or direct it.

[RandomGuy]

Pfft. I assume you are referring to the French Revolution. Huge difference. The poor were REALLY poor and weren't a bunch of toothless little es like the OWS crowd.

Because the best way to convince young people that your ideas are good ones is to insult them and belittle them for having the temerity to doubt those ideas.

[CosmicCowboy]

Because the best way to convince young people that your ideas are good ones is to insult them and belittle them for having the temerity to doubt those ideas.

Thats the whole point of the political forum!

Has anyone ever REALLY changed someone elses mind? If ChuckD REALLY wants to believe the revolution is just weeks away and the barrios are going to empty en-mass and slaughter the middle and upper class will anything I post in here change his mind?

[ChuckD]

"Let them eat cake..."

- Cosmic Cowboy 2011

[ChuckD]

Thats the whole point of the political forum!

Has anyone ever REALLY changed someone elses mind? If ChuckD REALLY wants to believe the revolution is just weeks away and the barrios are going to empty en-mass and slaughter the middle and upper class will anything I post in here change his mind?

LOL. You think that I think the revolution is weeks away because of my tsunami reference? I was thinking of a time frame when there would be no indication of a tsunami, CC.

It's years away, but I don't think decades. You're probably safe, and will die in your bed with a half eaten steak hanging out of your mouth, which I'm sure is all you care about. It'll be your kids and grand kids who will be slaughtered.

[RandomGuy]

Thats the whole point of the political forum!

Has anyone ever REALLY changed someone elses mind? If ChuckD REALLY wants to believe the revolution is just weeks away and the barrios are going to empty en-mass and slaughter the middle and upper class will anything I post in here change his mind?

Changing minds happens occasionally. Winehole changed my mind about Afghanistan, and I have occasionally changed a mind or two with some reasoned, polite arguments.

I don't see any kind of violent revolution anytime soon, barring some widespread heavy-handed police crackdowns.

I do wonder how much more angry people will get.

[CosmicCowboy]

LOL. You think that I think the revolution is weeks away because of my tsunami reference? I was thinking of a time frame when there would be no indication of a tsunami, CC.

It's years away, but I don't think decades. You're probably safe, and will die in your bed with a half eaten steak hanging out of your mouth, which I'm sure is all you care about. It'll be your kids and grand kids who will be slaughtered.

I actually see myself going out smoking a couple of joints, and then drinking a morphine laced bloddy mary, but thanks for the best wishes.

If my son that lives in LA gets consumed by the revolution it will be the ultimate irony as he is a die hard west coast liberal, even thought he is a relatively wealthy productive citizen.

If my daughter that lives here gets consumed by the revolution it will only be because she ran out of my rather generous stockpile of ammo.

[RandomGuy]

If my son that lives in LA gets consumed by the revolution it will be the ultimate irony as he is a die hard west coast liberal, even thought he is a relatively wealthy productive citizen.

Wierd that wealthy productive people might be liberals.

That's just crazy talk. We all know that a requisite for being a liberal is ignorance of how free markets work and a total dependence on the government.

[CosmicCowboy]

Wierd that wealthy productive people might be liberals.

That's just crazy talk. We all know that a requisite for being a liberal is ignorance of how free markets work and a total dependence on the government.

Actually, attorneys seem to be the exception to the rule. They can be wealthy and liberal.

[CosmicCowboy]

Wierd that wealthy productive people might be liberals.

That's just crazy talk. We all know that a requisite for being a liberal is ignorance of how free markets work and a total dependence on the government.

Actually, attorneys seem to be the exception to the rule. They can be wealthy and liberal because they get paid whether they win or lose at work...

[Bartleby]

LOL. You think that I think the revolution is weeks away because of my tsunami reference? I was thinking of a time frame when there would be no indication of a tsunami, CC.

It's years away, but I don't think decades. You're probably safe, and will die in your bed with a half eaten steak hanging out of your mouth, which I'm sure is all you care about. It'll be your kids and grand kids who will be slaughtered.

I'm not convinced (yet) that we will see widespread revolution during this decade or even my lifetime, but if the present trajectory continues what does seem highly likely is a steady increase in crime and social unrest. Much of the latter will be manifested by incidents of domestic terrorism, often directed towards the rich (or super-rich) either directly or symbolically.

Although the consequent response to this from the police/military may ultimately bring about some sort of revolution, that still seems decades away.

[ChuckD]

I actually see myself going out smoking a couple of joints, and then drinking a morphine laced bloddy mary, but thanks for the best wishes.

If my son that lives in LA gets consumed by the revolution it will be the ultimate irony as he is a die hard west coast liberal, even thought he is a relatively wealthy productive citizen.

If my daughter that lives here gets consumed by the revolution it will only be because she ran out of my rather generous stockpile of ammo.

It won't make any difference what anyone's political bent is, and she will run out of ammo. 99 to 1, and your support of the NRA will make sure that everyone is armed. That's as ironic as your son being a liberal, and still on their hit list.

[ChuckD]

I'm not convinced (yet) that we will see widespread revolution during this decade or even my lifetime, but if the present trajectory continues what does seem highly likely is a steady increase in crime and social unrest. Much of the latter will be manifested by incidents of domestic terrorism, often directed towards the rich (or super-rich) either directly or symbolically.

Although the consequent response to this from the police/military may ultimately bring about some sort of revolution, that still seems decades away.

The crime and destruction are simply the precursors, the artillery salvo in advance of the incursion. The match that ignites things will be the inevitable violent, brutal response. I think it's 20 years away at the outside. People always underestimate the time frame, and then are surprised. The Vandals and Goths are already at our southern border while we are ing around in the middle east. They are well armed, thanks to the NRA lobbying again, and violent beyond anything most people in the US can imagine.

[RandomGuy]

Much of the latter will be manifested by incidents of domestic terrorism, often directed towards the rich (or super-rich) either directly or symbolically.

http://www.forbes.com/forbes-400/list/

It's not like they, or their interests, would be hard to identify.

CC might pooh-pooh OWS, but all it takes is one or two nutjobs with an automatic weapon or two, or a good shot with a rifle.

That is what worries me most. OWS represents some genuine feeling of a lot of people. Fox "news" and company demonizing or belittling them will not help assuage the anger and discontent fueling this.

[Wild Cobra]

That is what worries me most. OWS represents some genuine feeling of a lot of people. Fox "news" and company demonizing or belittling them will not help assuage the anger and discontent fueling this.

I agree they have some real honest feelings out there. Still, they have a bunch of nut jobs also. I think they are more likely to have trouble from within than from outside.