Rich Have Unexpected Allies Near Base of Economic Ladder

[drakonyx]

America's rich have an unexpected ally in their fight to avoid paying more taxes: the nearly poor. The report finds that people near the bottom of the pecking order exhibit what it calls "last-place aversion." People near the bottom, it says, are the least likely to give money to the people below them.

http://www.theprovocation.net/2011/08/rich-have-unexpected-allies-near-base.html

[elleng]

1. I suspect the analysis is skewed; don't trust it.

[Ruby the Liberal]

2. I suspect the brainwashing is complete.

Recommended viewing:

(Noting that the poor will never believe that they are the {whisper} "poor" {/whisper} as noted by Jon in the second half, and exemplified by someday-i-might-have-a-job-and-make-250k-joe-the-fake-plumber).

This is what Fox news has reduced the RW LIVers in this country to. Believing that as long as they all stand firm for the billion dollar hedge funders, someday, they too will be one.

Meanwhile, they vote against reality (and their/our) own best interests while they dream the dream.

Please stow your tray tables, return your seatbacks to their full and upright position, and for the convenience of the neighbors in your immediate seating area, grab a barf bag in preparation for the video:

Behold astonishing hypocracy du jour: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1779028

[Bosso 63]

3. In Germany in the 1930's they were called the "Brown Shirts"

[applegrove]

4. I've noticed that the weakest member in a group will often be the most aggressive with those

outside said group. I've experienced this most recently with one of my cats. But it is really true. As an outsider I've seen lots of groups. And the weakest will lash out in a very predictable way. I'm not surprized the GOP has this group locked up.

[fasttense]

5. Not according to this survey:

Indeed, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' latest survey of consumer expenditure found that the poorest fifth of America's households contributed an average of 4.3 percent of their incomes to charitable organizations in 2007. The richest fifth gave at less than half that rate, 2.1 percent.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2009/05/19/68456/americas-poor-are-its-most-generous.html

Even people near the bottom, those making on average $26,670/year give at a rate of 2.5% (above the national average) as compared to 2.1% of giving by the very richest in society.