And in other news, rich keep getting richer. Middle Class stays the same.

If absurdly rich people didn't exist, then the rest of us wouldn't be able to watch illegal Russian street-races between Ferarris and Bugattis on youtube. That thought really keeps me awake at night.

Well just look at the ratio of pay per CEO when compared to their workers. 40 years ago it was 39:1, now it's over 1000:1. If that doesn't make you shake your head in disgust I don't know what will. HoolaHoopMan

If things continue as they have I can for see america sliding to a two tier society in the not to distant future. Well on the bright side it give the rest of the world a lesson on how not to run a country.

Capitalism is a great thing.

No surprises there, considering almost every american who votes, votes for a party that hates the middle class.htekemerald

The rich are supposed to keep getting richer. I don't like how that somehow seen as a problem. The middle and lower class issues are problems.

Pirate700

You should start to worry when the middle class starts to get poorer.

[QUOTE="Pirate700"]

The rich are supposed to keep getting richer. I don't like how that somehow seen as a problem. The middle and lower class issues are problems.

LJS9502_basic

Misconception 1: How much money you earn directly relates to how much you've "earned" by hard work. Manual laborers who work all day destroying their own body in the process barely scrape a living together while any decent CEO can make millions. Thing is, those CEO's wouldn't even have a job without legions of manual laborers. Progressive taxes just fix the natural imbalance in wages, while also taking money from where it doesn't hurt. This is why the tax cuts for the rich are a bad idea.

Misconception 2: It isn't a problem as long as middle class/lower class don't go backwards in how much they earn. If there's one thing we can learn from history is that empires fall because of huge differences between high and lower classes. It leads to social unrest and unhappiness. So yes, the rich getting way too rich can actually become a problem. Apart from that, there's a balancing aspect. If politicians cared about making the middle class better off, it would probably come from the share that the rich get. Economics isn't a zero sum game, but it's not too far off.

[QUOTE="Pirate700"]

The rich are supposed to keep getting richer. I don't like how that somehow seen as a problem. The middle and lower class issues are problems.

LJS9502_basic

It is a damn shame. This is only proving the point that the gap between rich in poor and increasing. Not only did the poor lose income gain but the rich gained more then them. We need to tax the rich more heavily in my opinion.MgamerBD

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"][QUOTE="Pirate700"]

The rich are supposed to keep getting richer. I don't like how that somehow seen as a problem. The middle and lower class issues are problems.

BMD004

The rich should be used to cure the deficit. Obama should come up with a new tax bracket that requires people who make over $200,000.00 per year to be hit with a 75% non-refundable tax.

BluRayHiDef

[QUOTE="DroidPhysX"]

[QUOTE="Pirate700"]

The rich are supposed to keep getting richer. I don't like how that somehow seen as a problem. The middle and lower class issues are problems.

Pirate700

Not sure where we came up with the idea that everyone should have the samde amount of money...or begrudge those that have more....all this talks abotu is the gap...have more people moved from poverty to the Middle class or from middle to rich?...and if so...isn't that what is more important?...the gap is meaningless.....Omni-Slash

]Not a problem that everyone doesn't have the same money...is a problem that some pay more of a percentage of their income into taxes than others.LJS9502_basic

It honestly disturbs me how many people do not seem to get the problem.

First of all, throw all of your dreams and preconceived notions of a little perfect free market capatlist American utopia out the window. Globalized free market capitalism does not work, and will not work. Why? Because there is only so much to go around, and the idea of a infinte ever lasting cycle of cylical consumption and even distribution between consumer and producer was a failed construct from the get go. We are living on archaeic principles of century old establishments and thinkers, and the money has always been at the forefront of peoples minds.

Second of all, get the idea of Upper/middle/lower class out of your head because this too is no longer relevent. There is anyone who is on multi billion dollar corporate/government payroll, and then there are those who are not.

Third of all, these "rich" multi national super corporate conglomerates (GE, Halliburton, Goldman Sachs) no longer even have anything to do with the American populace...at least other than the top 1% and American based banks. So WHY, WHY do people seek to defend them? They profit and take advantage of foreign peoples willing to whore themselves out simply to make a better name for themselves and because they know no better. Look up suicide rates in Eastern Pacific countries (China, Japan, Indonesia)...yeah, not good.

Globalization is creating a corporate elite that owns more capital, more "wealth" and "riches", and more power than any organization or government could dream of. Hell the banks have everyone believing that useless paper with fancy designs backed up by no empirical worth is actually the meaning of life, and that your credit score is not some manipulative system of total control, so they canget away with anything apparently.

And to top it all of, our current system does not even encourage progress anymore...it inhibits it, holding back enourmous amounts of potential. Oil companies, electric companies,automotive companies, air travel companies, government programs, and now even space companies...the list goes on. America is dying, and long with it the rest of the world.

It honestly disturbs me how many people do not seem to get the problem.

First of all, throw all of your dreams and preconceived notions of a little perfect free market capatlist American utopia out the window. Globalized free market capitalism does not work, and will not work. Why? Because there is only so much to go around, and the idea of a infinte ever lasting cycle of cylical consumption and even distribution between consumer and producer was a failed construct from the get go. We are living on archaeic principles of century old establishments and thinkers, and the money has always been at the forefront of peoples minds.

Second of all, get the idea of Upper/middle/lower class out of your head because this too is no longer relevent. There is anyone who is on multi billion dollar corporate/government payroll, and then there are those who are not.

Third of all, these "rich" multi national super corporate conglomerates (GE, Halliburton, Goldman Sachs) no longer even have anything to do with the American populace...at least other than the top 1% and American based banks. So WHY, WHY do people seek to defend them? They profit and take advantage of foreign peoples willing to whore themselves out simply to make a better name for themselves and because they know no better. Look up suicide rates in Eastern Pacific countries (China, Japan, Indonesia)...yeah, not good.

Globalization is creating a corporate elite that owns more capital, more "wealth" and "riches", and more power than any organization or government could dream of. Hell the banks have everyone believing that useless paper with fancy designs backed up by no empirical worth is actually the meaning of life, and that your credit score is not some manipulative system of total control, so they canget away with anything apparently.

And to top it all of, our current system does not even encourage progress anymore...it inhibits it, holding back enourmous amounts of potential. Oil companies, electric companies,automotive companies, air travel companies, government programs, and now even space companies...the list goes on. America is dying, and long with it the rest of the world.

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"][QUOTE="Pirate700"] They aren't supposed to have that much of an adjustment while the rest of the country stagnates. That is not a recipe for a successful country.BMD004

It is a damn shame. This is only proving the point that the gap between rich in poor and increasing. Not only did the poor lose income gain but the rich gained more then them. We need to tax the rich more heavily in my opinion.MgamerBD

Because the further the gap increases soon our pyramid will hold two types of income. Rich and Poor. With the missing middle class that is not agood way to run a country. Also no matter how hard they worked for it they still should be taxed. I'm sure they will survive without that new car or house. Its called being fair BMD004 if we work hard to survive down here. They have to at least pay more taxes like the middle and lower class.

Because the further the gap increases soon our pyramid will hold two types of income. Rich and Poor. With the missing middle class that is not agood way to run a country. Also no matter how hard they worked for it they still should be taxed. I'm sure they will survive without that new car or house. Its called being fair BMD004 if we work hard to survive down here. They have to at least pay more taxes like the middle and lower class.

[QUOTE="Buttons1990"]

[QUOTE="DroidPhysX"] The gap between rich and poor is growing. I dont think thats a winning formula.

DroidPhysX

So people who work hard for themselves and make a lot of money don't deserve what they have worked for?

But poor and middle class families who didn't work for it do derserve that money?

if they inherited it its unlikely their earning more from it.

[QUOTE="Pirate700"]

[QUOTE="BluRayHiDef"]

The rich should be used to cure the deficit. Obama should come up with a new tax bracket that requires people who make over $200,000.00 per year to be hit with a 75% non-refundable tax.

th3warr1or

Edit: I should stop posting. My sarcasm detector is broken.

Edit2: I'm not sure it's a joke.

Its not, he says some crazy stuff. Everywhere i go I see him say something and people ask the same thing

[QUOTE="DroidPhysX"]

[QUOTE="Buttons1990"]

So people who work hard for themselves and make a lot of money don't deserve what they have worked for?

But poor and middle class families who didn't work for it do derserve that money?

if they inherited it its unlikely their earning more from it.

[QUOTE="BMD004"][QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"] Why?[QUOTE="MgamerBD"]It is a damn shame. This is only proving the point that the gap between rich in poor and increasing. Not only did the poor lose income gain but the rich gained more then them. We need to tax the rich more heavily in my opinion.MgamerBD

Because the further the gap increases soon our pyramid will hold two types of income. Rich and Poor. With the missing middle class that is not agood way to run a country. Also no matter how hard they worked for it they still should be taxed. I'm sure they will survive without that new car or house. Its called being fair BMD004 if we work hard to survive down here. They have to at least pay more taxes like the middle and lower class.

Unforunately that is a consequence of any merit based system. Those with the skills and the means will continue to do well, those without won't. Generally, if you have the skills and formula to be successful, you will continuously exploit it and continue to further the gap between others who don't.

[QUOTE="BluRayHiDef"]

[QUOTE="Pirate700"]PLEASE tell me this is a joke.

Wasdie

We need that money. Also, we should stop the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, immediately. Welfare should also be cut, and the people who have been on welfare should be placed into speically assigned neighborhoods, where there are no tax-supported public services like police-enforcement or firemen-services. These people should be forced to take government assigned public-service jobs themselves, and hit with a 75% tax rate which would go toward paying back the money they used when they were on welfare, and toward the deficit. Prisons should be shut down, since they're a waste of money. All of the prisoners should just be gassed and done with. Neighborhoods which are in school districts which have low acadmic averages should stop receiving tax-money for their public shools. We need that money, too.

Haha good one...

:|

How dare you see those rich, who worked so hard, should not deserve to earn more and more money? Those lazy middle class workers deserve to earn little! I mean how hard could it be to work in a factory?!

The rich are supposed to keep getting richer. I don't like how that somehow seen as a problem. The middle and lower class issues are problems.

Pirate700

Unforunately that is a consequence of any merit based system. Those with the skills and the means will continue to do well, those without won't. Generally, if you have the skills and formula to be successful, you will continuously exploit it and continue to further the gap between others who don't.

sonicare

Studies have shown that the bigger the income gap between the rich and the rest, the lower the rates of happiness for a country....

Why is it that if the rich make more money, they don't deserve it and need to be taxed more heavily? What kind of attitude is this? BMD004

Because the further the gap increases soon our pyramid will hold two types of income. Rich and Poor. With the missing middle class that is not agood way to run a country. Also no matter how hard they worked for it they still should be taxed. I'm sure they will survive without that new car or house. Its called being fair BMD004 if we work hard to survive down here. They have to at least pay more taxes like the middle and lower class.

You should start to worry when the middle class starts to get poorer.

omho88

The rich are supposed to keep getting richer. I don't like how that somehow seen as a problem. The middle and lower class issues are problems.

Studies have shown that the bigger the income gap between the rich and the rest, the lower the rates of happiness for a country....

With-Hatred

[QUOTE="With-Hatred"]

Studies have shown that the bigger the income gap between the rich and the rest, the lower the rates of happiness for a country....

surrealnumber5

[QUOTE="With-Hatred"]

Studies have shown that the bigger the income gap between the rich and the rest, the lower the rates of happiness for a country....

surrealnumber5

Studies have shown that the bigger the income gap between the rich and the rest, the lower the rates of happiness for a country....

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"][QUOTE="surrealnumber5"] perhaps if the middle class had more capital to use in productive or other ways the gap would not be growing. now what takes money from people, its not those employers, they give money to people..... i may need some help here, does anyone know what takes money from people in an involuntary manor?surrealnumber5

Of course the rich get richer... haven't you played Assasin's Creed 2 or Brotherhood?

[QUOTE="surrealnumber5"][QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"] However, the wealthy have ways to hide assets and not pay tax...which means when the government needs more money a disproportionate amount falls on the middle class who have no means to hide assets. LJS9502_basic