Income inequality in the US. [infographic]

[scabzzzz]

Haha. I didnt notice other people noticed!

[e30e]

How about life isn't fair and even in the event of a revolution (which would probably be funded by a rich person) wouldn't change anything.

[mrsleeve]

The problem is, one can "earn" that money by offshoring work, selling off assets, gambling pensions, and various other things that completely ruin a company and its workers. Do this, and when the unsustainability becomes apparent and the shit hits the fan, pull the golden parachute and wave to the other %90 of us assholes. Good job dickhead, you sure "earned" it.

Not to toss in another horse into the race, but shit like this is precisely why the union movement came about.

And why they are/were important.

[Turf1600]

I can't see the graphic - but I'm fairly certain what it says.

Poverty is a result of community values. It's a painful cycle and is hard to break. However, poverty today is the result of a complex system that encourages the poor to be even poorer. Additionally, income is not representative of wealth as it has been in the past. Many families with a reasonable income have a negative net worth. I'd like to see all of the net worth stats rather than income distribution.

[DaveSmed]

Not to toss in another horse into the race, but shit like this is precisely why the union movement came about.

And why they are/were important.

Absolutely. There is almost nothing out there these days putting upward pressure on wages. One thing that is putting pressure is unions either directly or by the threat of organizing in the face of unfair acts/pay.

That topic is near and dear to my heart as I just voted tonight on our very first contract. Since last year I have been involved with making it happen and getting my coworkers to organize.

They are still very important and people are still out there fighting to organize and keep their right to organize (Wisconsin...)

[Turf1600]

http://sociology.ucsc.edu/whorulesamerica/power/wealth.html

Interesting link...

[herbivor]

Just looking at the graphs would suggest that as tax rates for the wealthy go down, the gap between rich and poor increases. That would suggest that trickle down economics doesn't work. Another interesting fact, the world's top 3 happiest countries (according to the Legatum Institute) also have some of the highest tax rates and are borderline socialist states.
Solution: Raise Taxes on the wealthy.

[Turf1600]

This is an interesting chart that demonstrates the difference in opinion regarding investments between the wealthy and the not so wealthy:

[HarryPotter]

Just looking at the graphs would suggest that as tax rates for the wealthy go down, the gap between rich and poor increases. That would suggest that trickle down economics doesn't work. Another interesting fact, the world's top 3 happiest countries (according to the Legatum Institute) also have some of the highest tax rates and are borderline socialist states.
Solution: Raise Taxes on the wealthy.

"HNNNNNGGGG"

Blunt.

[gwb72tii]

Just looking at the graphs would suggest that as tax rates for the wealthy go down, the gap between rich and poor increases. That would suggest that trickle down economics doesn't work. Another interesting fact, the world's top 3 happiest countries (according to the Legatum Institute) also have some of the highest tax rates and are borderline socialist states.
Solution: Raise Taxes on the wealthy.

not quite that simple
the gap has increased no matter what tax brackets are

the solution, imho, is to lower all tax rates, income and corporate, to increase GDP and job creation, and then tax consumption. get the economy r3v'd up (haha) and give people the opportunity to create personal wealth without the (ugh) fucking government taking it away and determining what is "fair" for political reasons.

the gov't creates unequal rules and low and behold really really smart people figure out how to take advantage of the laws. (smack forehead) duh! the gov't creates, in its infinite wisdom and search for "fairness", unintended consequences we all pay for.

[ck_taft325is]

not quite that simple
the gap has increased no matter what tax brackets are

the solution, imho, is to lower all tax rates, income and corporate, to increase GDP and job creation, and then tax consumption. get the economy r3v'd up (haha) and give people the opportunity to create personal wealth without the (ugh) fucking government taking it away and determining what is "fair" for political reasons.

the gov't creates unequal rules and low and behold really really smart people figure out how to take advantage of the laws. (smack forehead) duh! the gov't creates, in its infinite wisdom and search for "fairness", unintended consequences we all pay for.

I totally agree with this. Taxation is not a great way to "inforce" fair or good business practices upon ANY business.

[Turf1600]

not quite that simple
the gap has increased no matter what tax brackets are

the solution, imho, is to lower all tax rates, income and corporate, to increase GDP and job creation, and then tax consumption. get the economy r3v'd up (haha) and give people the opportunity to create personal wealth without the (ugh) fucking government taking it away and determining what is "fair" for political reasons.

the gov't creates unequal rules and low and behold really really smart people figure out how to take advantage of the laws. (smack forehead) duh! the gov't creates, in its infinite wisdom and search for "fairness", unintended consequences we all pay for.

A few questions:

How does lowering taxes guarantee a GDP increase and job creation?

What percentage of the population would use this as an opportunity to "create personal wealth"?

How, with all of the tax cuts, do we pay off our national debt?


You could argue that lowering taxes on the poor would do more for the economy than anything - as the vast majority of their income is spent and is essentially taxed. Big brother is going to get a slice either way - it's just important that it's being circulated. I suppose your argument is that cutting taxes for the rich allows them to create income for the poor via employment. While that may be true, it doesn't guarantee circulation.

[joshh]

There's another angle yet. Our children are slowly becoming less smart (to put it nicely) over time. This goes along with trying to make everyone equal. Which is literally impossible. All children should be allowed to progress at their own rate. Holding back the smartest kids is shooting ourselves in the foot as a country. And not putting better focus on the slower children is part of that. I believe that has everything to do with the situation this country is currently in. Even with income equality.

[joshh]

I know we don't see eye to eye on a few things, but I absolutely %100 agree with you here.

Being rich isn't the problem. Taxing the living shit out of them simply because they are rich isn't right either.

The problem is, one can "earn" that money by offshoring work, selling off assets, gambling pensions, and various other things that completely ruin a company and its workers. Do this, and when the unsustainability becomes apparent and the shit hits the fan, pull the golden parachute and wave to the other %90 of us assholes. Good job dickhead, you sure "earned" it.

Agreed....
I believe this has a lot to do with Government involvement. Not just directly with taxes and laws that are hard on business but politicians not focusing on small businesses instead of where THEIR money lies (the rich). And when the economy tanks business owners fire who they need to fire to keep the money rolling in (or just to keep the business doors open at all). And might even fire a few extra employees so they can tuck "extra" money away. Which in turn makes fewer employees forced to work harder because they have 1000 people waiting for them to get fired and the demand of the business owner.
Small businesses are not the reason this economy hit the skids. But that's who it hits the hardest.
Under the circumstances I find it hard to blame a small business owner for doing such things though. They have to do what they have to do to protect themselves from what politicians and lobbyists (the rich in many cases) are putting them through.

Not sure I've ever seen you post something worth reading before, but I think now is that time!

Sorry, I'll do best to continue pissing you off in the future. Just say the name Obama.

[ck_taft325is]

Obam... nevermind.