The Fear and Loathing of the One Percent

[OhioChick]

Published: Wednesday, 8 Aug 2012 | 12:18 PM ET

Are they the whiny rich? Or besieged job creators?

Whatever you call them, and whatever your politics, there is no doubting that the One Percent is on the defensive – culturally, financially and psychologically. And now a new poll shows that their fear and lack of risk taking may be imposing real financial costs on the economy.

The 2012 Survey of Affluence and Wealth in America, from American Express Publishing and Harrison Group, finds that One Percenters are hoarding three times as much cash as they were two years ago. Their savings rate soared to 34 percent in the second quarter of 2012, up from 12 percent in 2007.

Higher savings would normally be good for the economy. But not now, when capital is needed to invest in growth and jobs. The One Percenters put 56 percent of their available cash into savings accounts and money markets in 2012 – that’s up from 24 percent in 2007.

More: http://www.cnbc.com/id/48570985

Snip~ "The survey found that 62 percent of One Percenters are in favor of an income-tax increase."

[dballance]

1. Well, if they weren't hiding an estimated $21 trillion off-shore

and they were actually building manufacturing and putting people to work here in the US rather than in China, Myramar, Haiti, Mexico and other places at slave-labor wages we might not despise them so much.

[TBF]

2. Of course they are in favor of an income-tax increase -

it's not like they're the ones paying taxes. They've got their money in off-shore accounts. As we shall see if Rmoney ever releases his forms ...