Spread The Wealth
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2008-10-29 12:26 PM |
Expert 833 Adrian, MI | Subject: Spread The Wealth Why is there such a disparity between the haves and have nots in terms of wealth? And why has the the gap continued to widen? Is this a problem? Can anyone explain why this is economically speaking? Is capitalism at fault? GW Bush policies haven't helped reverse this trend (if it's possible?). I wonder if either Obama's or McCain's policies could?
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2008-10-29 12:31 PM in reply to: #1773379 |
Runner | Subject: RE: Spread The Wealth |
2008-10-29 12:33 PM in reply to: #1773395 |
Slower Than You 9566 Cracklantaburbs | Subject: RE: Spread The Wealth Most people who work hard have money. Most people who do not work hard do not have money. HTFU and earn it. |
2008-10-29 12:33 PM in reply to: #1773379 |
Champion 5171 Racine, WI | Subject: RE: Spread The Wealth Here's my non-economical .2: People with more wealth enjoy wealth. We all do. Wealth sometimes creates power and greed. However, not every wealthy person is greedy and looking to destroy those not on their same level. But there are programs and services to help lessen the disparity gap. However, as a society we need to be aware that some people don't have access to these, some people don't care for more assistance, some people have so many barriers (personal attitude, race, mental illness, addictions) to get them to a certain level. I don't have any answer but I know with the economy and several budget cuts this disparity will only widen. Did you know the average newspaper reader is at a 5th grade level? That's a shame! I'm not blaming anyone but I know we all should take responsibilty but unfortunately not everyone feels the same way. |
2008-10-29 12:38 PM in reply to: #1773395 |
Expert 833 Adrian, MI | Subject: RE: Spread The Wealth Here's a better question: Why does it matter? If you believe it is a problem then does that make it "matter"? You might disagree if it "matters" which is fair.
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2008-10-29 12:43 PM in reply to: #1773379 |
Pro 4909 Hailey, ID | Subject: RE: Spread The Wealth Why do we think that if someone has money it means others don't? Last I checked, the rich support many many many more people than the typical person, "spreading the wealth" all without government intervention. I live in a VERY affluent area. The middle class/working class are hurting right now because the rich aren't SPENDING like they were before this. Hurting the rich isn't as good as it sounds. |
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2008-10-29 12:44 PM in reply to: #1773422 |
Runner | Subject: RE: Spread The Wealth fromer - 2008-10-29 1:38 PM Here's a better question: Why does it matter? If you believe it is a problem then does that make it "matter"? You might disagree if it "matters" which is fair. I do not believe it is inherently a problem, no. The very nature of our society, of life in general, is that there are those who have things and those who do not. Some are better at running a business than others, and are rewarded appropriately. Some are better at throwing a baseball than others, and are rewarded appropriately (based on what society feels is appropriate, at least). There will always be those who have more of something than others, and are rewarded for that. |
2008-10-29 12:48 PM in reply to: #1773379 |
Subject: RE: Spread The Wealth fromer - 2008-10-29 10:26 AM Why is there such a disparity between the haves and have nots in terms of wealth? And why has the the gap continued to widen? Is this a problem? Can anyone explain why this is economically speaking? Is capitalism at fault? GW Bush policies haven't helped reverse this trend (if it's possible?). I wonder if either Obama's or McCain's policies could?
Until you define some terms this is just an abstract discussion. What is the gap, and at what percent is it rising per year? What is the definition of a "have" and a "have not"? Why does something have to be "at fault" for it, implying that it's inherently bad (not saying it is or isn't). At a simple level, you work hard, you make money. You don't work hard, you don't make money. Economically speaking. |
2008-10-29 12:55 PM in reply to: #1773449 |
Member 1699 | Subject: RE: Spread The Wealth I think the disparity between wealthy and poor is not nearly as important as the level of poverty. If people have enough money to feed their family, put a roof over their head and clothes on their back, I don't care what difference is between them and Bill Gates. I think the more important factor is making sure that people can do those basic things in life. I also think a lot of people don't understand necessity and luxury. Cable TV is not a necessity. Dining out is not a necessity. A car that is as nice as the neighbors is not a necessity. |
2008-10-29 12:56 PM in reply to: #1773466 |
Pro 4909 Hailey, ID | Subject: RE: Spread The Wealth eberulf - 2008-10-29 11:55 AM I think the disparity between wealthy and poor is not nearly as important as the level of poverty. If people have enough money to feed their family, put a roof over their head and clothes on their back, I don't care what difference is between them and Bill Gates. I think the more important factor is making sure that people can do those basic things in life. I also think a lot of people don't understand necessity and luxury. Cable TV is not a necessity. Dining out is not a necessity. A car that is as nice as the neighbors is not a necessity. That's why you only get the basics, like beer, cell phones and a flat screen TV with satellite, not cable! Edited by bradword 2008-10-29 12:57 PM |
2008-10-29 1:02 PM in reply to: #1773449 |
Expert 833 Adrian, MI | Subject: RE: Spread The Wealth I did a cursory google search and came across this NewsHour article from 2002. http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/economy/july-dec02/democracy_7-17.html Here's an interesting quote from the article: Phillips thinks this new piracy explains why the top fifth of all Americans now earn 11 times more than the bottom fifth -- the industrial world's greatest gap. And history, he claims, proves such gaps unsustainable. Consider the 1800s, he says, when the government let wealth grow unchecked and inequality first soared. Until you define some terms this is just an abstract discussion. What is the gap, and at what percent is it rising per year? What is the definition of a "have" and a "have not"? Why does something have to be "at fault" for it, implying that it's inherently bad (not saying it is or isn't). At a simple level, you work hard, you make money. You don't work hard, you don't make money. Economically speaking. |
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2008-10-29 1:03 PM in reply to: #1773488 |
Runner | Subject: RE: Spread The Wealth I'm still not sure what you are driving at. What is your position? |
2008-10-29 1:07 PM in reply to: #1773379 |
Subject: RE: Spread The Wealth Accdg to a website I just googled (IOW, can't vouch for it), top 25% earns an AGI of about $64K. damn robber barons!!!!! That's what I mean about defining terms. I am reading your post like it's about the uber rich. In reality, there has always been and always will be an uber rich, but these percentages have nothing to do with them. You're talking about "wealthy" when in reality that's less than a plumber makes Edited by ChrisM 2008-10-29 1:08 PM |
2008-10-29 1:09 PM in reply to: #1773403 |
Elite 3022 Preferably on my bike somewhere | Subject: RE: Spread The Wealth bcart1991 - 2008-10-29 1:33 PM Most people who work hard have money. Most people who do not work hard do not have money. HTFU and earn it. If only it were that easy. |
2008-10-29 1:11 PM in reply to: #1773513 |
Elite 3022 Preferably on my bike somewhere | Subject: RE: Spread The Wealth ChrisM - 2008-10-29 2:07 PM Accdg to a website I just googled (IOW, can't vouch for it), top 25% earns an AGI of about $64K. damn robber barons!!!!! That's what I mean about defining terms.  I am reading your post like it's about the uber rich. In reality, there has always been and always will be an uber rich, but these percentages have nothing to do with them. You're talking about "wealthy" when in reality that's less than a plumber makes $64k year in Boston won't allow you an aparment and food for you and a child. Much less daycare, auto insurance, and health insurance. |
2008-10-29 1:13 PM in reply to: #1773379 |
Extreme Veteran 518 Sault Ste. Marie | Subject: RE: Spread The Wealth Im only 19 years old and continue to gain infotmation on how these topics work.....or whatever...... It doesnt bother me when i see people wth a lot of money, or no money. (sometimes it does) But i beleive the true problem lies when people "with" the money.....do absolutely nothing!! with it. They are retarded and spend their money on expensive houses, superplanes, weapons of mass "waste", media, stealth bombers, money spent on war, space exploration, drugs, blahhhh blahhhh blahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh im sure many people could widen the list of billion dollar wastes of money! and thats what rattles me. People with money need to understand what their money could do for everyone and anyone......... (wrote this in 2 seconds, but you should get the point) Please expand, i will come back. P.S, mony would be nice, but i enjoy life and really only need money for new tri shoe, tri bike, FOOD, and race entry fees. Hopefully my job at Loblaws grocery can gimmie the help i need. Edited by Jyles16 2008-10-29 1:14 PM |
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2008-10-29 1:15 PM in reply to: #1773523 |
Subject: RE: Spread The Wealth D.Z. - 2008-10-29 2:11 PM ChrisM - 2008-10-29 2:07 PM $64k year in Boston won't allow you an aparment and food for you and a child. Much less daycare, auto insurance, and health insurance. Accdg to a website I just googled (IOW, can't vouch for it), top 25% earns an AGI of about $64K. damn robber barons!!!!! That's what I mean about defining terms. I am reading your post like it's about the uber rich. In reality, there has always been and always will be an uber rich, but these percentages have nothing to do with them. You're talking about "wealthy" when in reality that's less than a plumber makes Or DC. Or most major cities. Many, many of my single friends and I make below this (sure, there are some people who make loads, but certainly not all of my friends who work at non-profits downtown). We manage, but that money doesn't get us too far. Edited by wurkit_gurl 2008-10-29 1:16 PM |
2008-10-29 1:19 PM in reply to: #1773527 |
Pro 4277 Parker, CO | Subject: RE: Spread The Wealth wurkit_gurl - 2008-10-29 12:15 PM D.Z. - 2008-10-29 2:11 PM ChrisM - 2008-10-29 2:07 PM $64k year in Boston won't allow you an aparment and food for you and a child. Much less daycare, auto insurance, and health insurance. Accdg to a website I just googled (IOW, can't vouch for it), top 25% earns an AGI of about $64K. damn robber barons!!!!! That's what I mean about defining terms. I am reading your post like it's about the uber rich. In reality, there has always been and always will be an uber rich, but these percentages have nothing to do with them. You're talking about "wealthy" when in reality that's less than a plumber makes Or DC. Or most major cities. Many, many of my single friends and I make below this (sure, there are some people who make loads, but certainly not all of my friends who work at non-profits downtown). We manage, but that money doesn't get us too far. also to note, this income would probably qualify for maybe a 200K mortgage loan. No wonder we've made such a mess of things... |
2008-10-29 1:19 PM in reply to: #1773527 |
Runner | Subject: RE: Spread The Wealth wurkit_gurl - 2008-10-29 2:15 PM D.Z. - 2008-10-29 2:11 PM ChrisM - 2008-10-29 2:07 PM $64k year in Boston won't allow you an aparment and food for you and a child. Much less daycare, auto insurance, and health insurance. Accdg to a website I just googled (IOW, can't vouch for it), top 25% earns an AGI of about $64K. damn robber barons!!!!! That's what I mean about defining terms. I am reading your post like it's about the uber rich. In reality, there has always been and always will be an uber rich, but these percentages have nothing to do with them. You're talking about "wealthy" when in reality that's less than a plumber makes Or DC. Or most major cities. Many, many of my single friends and I make below this (sure, there are some people who make loads, but certainly not all of my friends who work at non-profits downtown). We manage, but that money doesn't get us too far. So....we should blame someone for this issue? Is this an issue? I'm not sure what point people are trying to make. |
2008-10-29 1:22 PM in reply to: #1773379 |
Subject: RE: Spread The Wealth To clarify, from an earlier post, data from tax returns (2006, I believe) I needn't point out that it appears that the uber rich (1%) pay quite a bit more in taxes to help those less fortunate? For the record, here's The Tax Foundation's analysis of who pays what:
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2008-10-29 1:25 PM in reply to: #1773546 |
Pro 4277 Parker, CO | Subject: RE: Spread The Wealth Scout7 - 2008-10-29 12:19 PM So....we should blame someone for this issue? Is this an issue? I'm not sure what point people are trying to make. First I want to clarify that I am not in favor of redistribution of wealth. But maybe the OP is trying to bring to light that there continues to be a growing disparity between the rich and the middle class. I don't know what the answer is but I do believe that this is a reality. I often wonder what will be the gap by the time my kids are trying to make a living? |
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2008-10-29 1:26 PM in reply to: #1773379 |
Master 2485 Atlanta, Georgia | Subject: RE: Spread The Wealth One take on the difference between 'haves' and 'have nots' is ability to afford health care insurance.. The number of gainfully employed Americans who don't have healthcare insurance has been increasing for some time: http://www.nchc.org/facts/coverage.shtml Frequently, these are folks working minimum wage service jobs but increasingly it's becoming a middle class issue, too. I'm not so sure it's a question of 'work harder' or 'make better choices with regards to consumption' anymore. |
2008-10-29 1:27 PM in reply to: #1773563 |
Runner | Subject: RE: Spread The Wealth rayd - 2008-10-29 2:25 PM Scout7 - 2008-10-29 12:19 PM So....we should blame someone for this issue? Is this an issue? I'm not sure what point people are trying to make. First I want to clarify that I am not in favor of redistribution of wealth. But maybe the OP is trying to bring to light that there continues to be a growing disparity between the rich and the middle class. I don't know what the answer is but I do believe that this is a reality. I often wonder what will be the gap by the time my kids are trying to make a living? No one has pointed out how or why this disparity might be bad. So what if there's a gap? Does it make any real difference? |
2008-10-29 1:31 PM in reply to: #1773379 |
Elite 2768 Raleigh | Subject: RE: Spread The Wealth i find it very interesting that majority of persons who do not have money want there to be a level playing field; for there to be little "gap between the haves and the have nots". Especially when "our" culture celebrate people who are better than others in ever other way. |
2008-10-29 1:36 PM in reply to: #1773379 |
Extreme Veteran 580 Kansas City, MO | Subject: RE: Spread The Wealth It might. There are plenty of historical examples of the "have-nots" taking matters into their own hands and forcibly redistributing the wealth of the "haves". I'd like to think we've matured as a society to the point where we find better solutions than revolution or other violent forms of social unrest, but I think people are capable of some pretty insane things if pushed far enough. |
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