Meet The Depressed

[FOTD]

DISGUSTING!

Income Inequality Is At An All-Time High: STUDY
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/14/income-inequality-is-at-a_n_259516.html

" Though income inequality has been growing for some time, the paper paints a stark, disturbing portrait of wealth distribution in America. Saez calculates that in 2007 the top .01 percent of American earners took home 6 percent of total U.S. wages, a figure that has nearly doubled since 2000.

As of 2007, the top decile of American earners, Saez writes, pulled in 49.7 percent of total wages, a level that's "higher than any other year since 1917 and even surpasses 1928, the peak of stock market bubble in the 'roaring" 1920s.'"

This trend, according to Saez, only accelerated during the George W. Bush's tenure as President:

"...while the bottom 99 percent of incomes grew at a solid pace of 2.7 percent per year from 1993-2000, these incomes grew only 1.3 percent per year from 2002-2007. As a result, in the economic expansion of 2002-2007, the top 1 percent captured two thirds of income growth."


oh, don't miss Meet The Press on Sunday as your famous Docta Coburn returns with RACHEL MADDOW and Dick Armey ( http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/08/armey_leaves_lobby_firm_citing_negative_attention.php?ref=fpblg )
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3898804/

[guido911]

That just breaks my freakin heart, the "haves" getting over on the "have nots".  Oh, this will really pi$$ the devil off, I just began an at least three month "sabbatical" (you know, taking off work, not earning money so no additional taxes to give to failures), to hang out at home and with my kids because I WORKED HARD and SACRIFICED to achieve.

[Red Arrow]

Wow that is terrible.  Working hard, getting an education, making yourself valuable to an employer (or yourself, if self employed) and being rewarded is just not fair to the uneducated, unskilled, those with low standards, those unwilling to be responsible enough to keep a job.....

Let's raise the marginal tax rate to 100% of anyone's income over $50,000. with present tax rates up to the $50,000 level.  We could give that tax income to the poor to raise them above the poverty level and live in a style to which they would like to become accustomed.  That should level the playing field. I think I'll retire early.  It would be even better than finding a rich widow to marry.


NOT!

[we vs us]

That just breaks my freakin heart, the "haves" getting over on the "have nots".  Oh, this will really pi$$ the devil off, I just began an at least three month "sabbatical" (you know, taking off work, not earning money so no additional taxes to give to failures), to hang out at home and with my kids because I WORKED HARD and SACRIFICED to achieve.

You're really refining that generic "love you, Jack, I've got mine" attitude down into something special and memorable.  I think what gives it its extra savor is the liberal (heh, liberal) sprinkling of smugness that you've been adding over the time you've been posting here. Speaking as a budding capitalist (hell, aren't all salespeople capitalists?) I have to say that you're a powerful argument for an ideology that's looking more warped and misanthropic every day. 

FOTD beat me to posting this link -- which originally appeared in the Guardian, not Huffpost -- because I wanted to get a reaction to this from some of the local righty pundits.  My question was going to be:  when confronted with yet more proof that our ship of state is off course is your reaction to 1) blame the author, 2) the liberal media, 3) President Obama, or 4) France? 

I would of course welcome 5): recognize that there's a level of truth to some of these statistics and allow that, even if some of our national myths haven't been true for awhile, our unique system allows for a broken government to be fixed. 

Of course, Guido answered the question for me.  It was 6) Give us all the bird. 

Stay classy, brother.  Stay classy.

[Red Arrow]

You're really refining that generic "love you, Jack, I've got mine" attitude down into something special and memorable.  I think what gives it its extra savor is the liberal (heh, liberal) sprinkling of smugness that you've been adding over the time you've been posting here. Speaking as a budding capitalist (hell, aren't all salespeople capitalists?) I have to say that you're a powerful argument for an ideology that's looking more warped and misanthropic every day. 

FOTD beat me to posting this link -- which originally appeared in the Guardian, not Huffpost -- because I wanted to get a reaction to this from some of the local righty pundits.  My question was going to be:  when confronted with yet more proof that our ship of state is off course is your reaction to 1) blame the author, 2) the liberal media, 3) President Obama, or 4) France? 

I would of course welcome 5): recognize that there's a level of truth to some of these statistics and allow that, even if some of our national myths haven't been true for awhile, our unique system allows for a broken government to be fixed. 

Of course, Guido answered the question for me.  It was 6) Give us all the bird. 

Stay classy, brother.  Stay classy.

France.  Let's blame France.

[guido911]

Stay classy, brother.  Stay classy.

Stay classy wealthy, brother.  Stay classy wealthy.

FIFY.

And BTW, I give thousands of dollars to charities every year, not because I have to (as opposed to paying taxes so the government can determine which charities I give to), but because I understand that people who make bad decisions might need help (especially those persons who have children and are suffering by no fault of their own). How about you?

As for giving the bird, it's only to those who believe I should feel guilty about being successful.  I do not feel the slightest amount of guilt that between my wife and I we have nearly 20 years of post high school education, a combined 16 years worth of military service, and possess professional licenses. I am in my early forties with lots of years to do the things I sacrificed or simply could not afford when I struggled and scraped to achieve the success I enjoy. How about you?

Here's some guilt back at ya; how about I turn my charitable spigot off in your and FOTD's honor? How's that?

[we vs us]

Stay classy wealthy, brother.  Stay classy wealthy.

FIFY.

And BTW, I give thousands of dollars to charities every year, not because I have to (as opposed to paying taxes so the government can determine which charities I give to), but because I understand that people who make bad decisions might need help (especially those persons who have children and are suffering by no fault of their own). How about you?

As for giving the bird, it's only to those who believe I should feel guilty about being successful.  I do not feel the slightest amount of guilt that between my wife and I we have nearly 20 years of post high school education, a combined 16 years worth of military service, and possess professional licenses. I am in my early forties with lots of years to do the things I sacrificed or simply could not afford when I struggled and scraped to achieve the success I enjoy. How about you?

Here's some guilt back at ya; how about I turn my charitable spigot off in your and FOTD's honor? How's that?

I thought your Spigot of Mercy was shut off in November when President Wealth Redistribution took office.  Either way, do what you will.  I'm not on the dole and won't benefit directly from it.  Contribute what you want and what you can afford.   From each according to his ability, to each according to his need, as the old sage said.

In general I find distasteful a theory of capitalism that has a vast underclass reliant on the charity of a few. We played that game back in the 1800s and I like to think learned from it.  Wouldn't we all much rather have the broad based prosperity of the 40s and 50s?  I'm not sure why I'm asking you . . . it's obvious you'd prefer to be the king of your own counting house.

You must be rocking a bit of a persecution complex if you're getting guilt messages from a paper about macro-economic trends.  If I were you, I'd be proud.  In a nation of slowly dwindling opportunity, you're an even rarer beast than you might have been in decades past.  The only thing I might suggest while you're rolling around on your pile of gold coins is to consider the role that luck might have played in your success . . . alongside all of your other obvious virtues.

[FOTD]

FOTD thinks we are only hearing the parts Guido wishes to convey about his bad self.

In that 20 years of combined service, was there damages from that gassing incident? Does he collect disability? Is his health care underwritten by taxpayers?

It's pitiful you resort to bragging about giving.

[TheArtist]

I have often wondered what factor the larger number of "sales/consumers per a product" has on wealth. As in... I can imagine that in the past there werent as many consumers in the world who could afford or gain access to a product, such that if you had a new product, and sold it on the market at one time, you wouldnt have sold as many and thus wouldnt have become as wealthy. But today, you could sell literally hundreds of millions of that item, and or have a global market with thousands of chain stores selling your product. Even just selling something for a dollar, you could instantly become a multi-millionair because of the sheer numbers of the item/invention/service you could sell.  

The "poor" or average person could have their income increase, but if you strike it rich in such a huge global market, you REALLY strike it rich these days. The US market is larger, the global market is larger, those who sell to or service the masses, have more "masses" than ever to sell to, and thus can be far far richer than ever before. That person could be making less per item than before (perhaps even be paying the employee or "seller" more), but because of the larger number of items they are selling, still make far more in comparison.

It stands to reason that as the worlds population and market grows, those who sell to that larger market will become ever richer.

[guido911]

I thought your Spigot of Mercy was shut off in November when President Wealth Redistribution took office.  Either way, do what you will.  I'm not on the dole and won't benefit directly from it.  Contribute what you want and what you can afford.   From each according to his ability, to each according to his need, as the old sage said.

First, your "thought" is wrong. I still give to numerous pro-life organizations and charities directed to helping children. In reading your response, I see you apparently give nothing, much less a sh!it, about helping those less fortunate.

As for you not being on the "dole"? If you are not facing an Obama tax increase, you are not presently insured, you received a stimulus check, you and FOTD are sure as hell on someone's dole. 

Oh, and FOTD, discussing giving to charity is not bragging, it is passing along information to "have nots" like you that believe income disparity is somehow an indication that the "haves" don't care. If you were not such a moron, you would have picked up on that.

[rwarn17588]

Here's some guilt back at ya; how about I turn my charitable spigot off in your and FOTD's honor? How's that?

How about if I suggest that you get professional help? Anyone who's that spiteful obviously needs some.

And, no, I'm not kidding.

[guido911]

How about if I suggest that you get professional help? Anyone who's that spiteful obviously needs some.

And, no, I'm not kidding.

Another Obama spooner, have not weighs in on those evil rich folks. What took you so long?

[FOTD]

Wow....the show this morning was beyond belief. Coburn lied about euthanasia saying the reason living wills are not enforced comes from doctor paranoia about being sued. Not here in Tulsa. If you are in a Catholic supplemented hospital, it's religion that keeps people hooked up to ventilators until the machines prove useless.

Ironic Coburn is going to bat over fear of loss of control and fear of lawsuits. Is it time that these people making health care decisions based on fear of lawsuit and fear over change stop and get perspective? They use fear as a means to discuss and as a means to think and develop policy. That's sad. Coburn used fear through out this mornings show. He once again failed to speak out against hate speech.

BTW, anybody here see the lawsuit filed this week regarding the wrong knee being operated on despite the left knee having a huge magic marker "YES" on the correct knee? That deserves legal action.

More to be exposed....

[guido911]

BTW, anybody here see the lawsuit filed this week regarding the wrong knee being operated on despite the left knee having a huge magic marker "YES" on the correct knee? That deserves legal action.

More to be exposed....

Anyone else hear about the unknown thousands of lives saved by doctors in this country every day?  Probably not. 

[rwarn17588]

Another Obama spooner, have not weighs in on those evil rich folks. What took you so long?

Your grammar needs professional help, too.