Serious question. When someone says they're a one-percenter, what are they talking about?

[Bucky]

And who are the 99%?

[movonne]

1. The wealthy top are the 1% and the rest of us is 99%

[newblewtoo]

2. I associate it with the Hell's Angles

or other M/C gangs. It was on a TV show so I know it must be so.

[rfranklin]

4. Hell's Angles...geometric daddy-o!

Is that obtuse or acute?

[rfranklin]

3. One percenters are outlaw motorcycle gangs...

Some outlaw motorcycle clubs can be distinguished by a 1% patch worn on the colors. This is claimed to be a reference to a comment made by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) in which they stated that 99% of motorcyclists were law-abiding citizens, implying that the last one percent were outlaws. The comment, supposedly a response to the Hollister riot in 1947,<24><25> is denied by the AMA—who claim to have no record of such a statement to the press, and that the story is a misquotation.<26> As a result, some outlaw motorcycle clubs used it to unite or express themselves and are commonly referred to as "one percenters". According to the ATF they are also known as Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs or OMGs

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outlaw_motorcycle_club#One_percenter

[RaleighNCDUer]

7. IOW, whether it means super rich or outlaw bikers, the 1%ers

are criminals.

[NNN0LHI]

5. The Rolling Stones security force

Google Altamont.

Don

[Fuddnik]

6. Actually, the 1% patch is a part of the Outlaws MC colors.

Back in the '60s, the President of the American Motorcycle Assn, said that it was a 1% minority of riders that gave the other 99% a bad reputation.

[provis99]

10. I thought 1% referred to the number of honest cops.

You know, 99% of cops give the honest 1% a bad reputation.

[Welibs]

8. 5% of licensed drivers are motorcycle riders and 1% of those belong to a bike gang!

1%ers are active gang bikers!

[ProgressiveProfessor]

9. Depends on context and in some cases the speaker

Historically 1 percenters were the percentage of MC riders who were gang members. Today *some* use it in the tax debate

Similar example is 99ers, historically an organization of women pilots. Today *some* are using it in reference to people whose unemployment claims were expiring.

Pointing out prior historical usage tends to annoy those *some*