Data Shows Income Gap Is Widening

[edhopper]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/29/business/29tax.html?ref=business

This is amazing;
The new data also shows that the top 300,000 Americans collectively enjoyed almost as much income as the bottom 150 million Americans. Per person, the top group received 440 times as much as the average person in the bottom half earned, nearly doubling the gap from 1980.

Of course this means we need more tax cuts for the uber-rich.

[leftofthedial]

1. well, duh.

The whole point of Capitalism is to sucker 99.99% of the people into serving the interests of the .01% in the plutocracy.

[xultar]

2. Mishun Accomplished.

[unpossibles]

3. although this information is not surprising to most of us

I wonder how many average Americans know this or would admit it as a problem (or at least as a symptom of a greater problem)?

[bryant69]

4. It would be interesting to consider

I suspect most would put it out of their mind; like the statistics on how much CEOs vs Workers make today vs 50 years ago. It's not something they want to face.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[MidwestTransplant]

7. 30% of people think they are inteh top 5% of income earners.

[unpossibles]

9. exactly. see my other post

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=531313&mesg_id=531765

[lonestarnot]

5. More tax cuts for the rich please! More more more.

[DaveJ]

6. Because people are too embarrassed to stand up for themselves

People do not often complain about this because they are scared they will be called bitter, winers, losers, etc.

So therefore this trend will continue.

[unpossibles]

8. I also think that what I call the "lottery complex" is involved

deep down, many people truly think someday they will be among the rich elite (or even more absurdly, think they already are, what my wife calls "$80,000 Millionaires") so they do not want to complain about the rich or tax them or whatever, because they see themselves there someday (or now).

The truly ironic part is, and why I call it the "Lottery Complex" is how many people complain about people getting free handouts, about arts funding and welfare queens, then play the lottery. If they win, did they earn that money? of course not. Sure, they earned it by gambling on the risk, but come on. The other reason I call it that is how unrealistic it is today for someone to actually become a millionaire if starting out poor or even middle class. Sure, I am all for striving to better yourself and all of that, but the odds are pretty low from hard work alone (or wishful thinking), just like the lottery.

[DaveJ]

10. That's part of it

That's one of the most nonsensical parts of it, when it comes to Righties who complain about tax increases that won't even effect them.

They are also scared that when their rich bosses are hurt, that they will suffer the repercussions. They are scared that any disloyalty will have its consequences. It's all about them being frightened.

People are scared to talk about all the things that the super-rich are doing to keep us shackled. Maybe they just don't see it. The cost of real estate is one of the most obvious issues. These home improvement shows on TV, I think, are meant to push 20 somethings into signing up for lifetime mortgages where they will end up paying 10 times than the home is worth -- then all the profit goes to billionaires who own both the real estate and the media who pushes them into wanting those mortgages.

But people are scared to talk about it. If anyone complains about something like this, all their personal imperfections will be queried. Why don't you have more money? Get off your ass and stop whining. What did you do to screw up so bad? Why aren't you more educated? Why don't you just go out and make it? People would rather be left alone and just continue to serve their masters than to be grilled and embarrassed like that. Meanwhile nothing is being done to encourage people to succeed.