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Bill USA

(6,436 posts)
Wed Oct 3, 2012, 03:58 PM Oct 2012

Five Obscene Reasons the Rich Keep Getting Richer as Middle Class declines

http://www.alternet.org/economy/5-obscene-reasons-why-richest-americans-grow-richer-middle-class-declines?page=0%2C0&akid=9471.263688.Tt44KS&rd=1&src=newsletter719318&t=3




The super-rich have learned a new lesson: it is far better to take than to make.


If you want to see what’s wrong with America take a good look at the nauseating list of the 400 richest Americans – the Forbes 400 . While the economy struggled to create jobs, it was another banner year for the super-rich. They increased their collective wealth by a whopping $200 billion, which is more than enough to provide every student in the country with free higher education.

Meanwhile, the median middle-class family – the one smack in the middle of the income distribution -- saw its net worth (assets minus liabilities) drop from $102,844 in 2005 to $66,740 in 2010 according to the U.S. Census Bureau . So while the richest 400 Americans increased their wealth by 54 percent since 2005, the median middle-class family saw its wealth decline by 35 percent. Welcome to the new American math.

It’s not easy to wrap our arms around so much financial fat. The numbers involved are truly mind-boggling. Here’s more new math:

• The richest 400 Americans have as much combined wealth as 25.5 million middle-income Americans. 400 = 25.5 million!

• The average wealthy member of the Forbes 400 is 63,000 times as rich as the average middle-class family. One = 63,000!

• It would take the median middle-class family 82,411 years to earn an amount equal to the wealth of the average person on the rich list. That’s the very definition of financial obscenity.
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Five Obscene Reasons the Rich Keep Getting Richer as Middle Class declines (Original Post) Bill USA Oct 2012 OP
Until the tax code is changed to make it more profitable to "Make" we.... yourout Oct 2012 #1

yourout

(7,534 posts)
1. Until the tax code is changed to make it more profitable to "Make" we....
Wed Oct 3, 2012, 04:04 PM
Oct 2012

are not going to see anything but "take".

Need to raise the "take" tax rate to 65% and offer tax credits for business expansion(IE hiring).

Carrot and stick.
Carrot and stick.

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