America's Brutal Treatment of Its Struggling Wealthy Class

[Mass]

http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/01/americas-brutal-treatment-its-struggling-wealthy-class

A couple of weeks ago the Wall Street Journal ran a story explaining the details of the fiscal cliff tax increases. Today it got new life as several bloggers united to mock the graphic that goes with it. Brad DeLong wants to know just how many single mothers with two kids and an income of $260,000 even exist. Xenos is amused that everybody in the graphic looks as though President Obama "ran over the family dog." And I want to know why even the retired black couple looks so miserable despite the fact that their taxes didn't go up at all.

In any case, I thought I'd help out by demonstrating why all these well-to-do wage slaves feel so brutally treated. It's because their taxes have gone up by a whopping 1-3 percent of their income. Where are the torches and pitchforks when you need them?

[HughBeaumont]

1. My heart weeps . . . WEEPS for these people, I say!!

The Murdoch Street Journal: Looking to Put the Onion Out of Business, One Supremely Hilarious Article at a Time.

[exboyfil]

2. Especially since the single mom making

minimum wage got a 2% increase after Social Security returned to its mandated withholding level. The mom making $260K would have seen a combined 2% increase as well.

[rurallib]

3. mock now, but when you are making $500,000

you'll be crying too!


(sarcasm for the humor impaired)

[NBachers]

4. I'm surprised they didn't use this one

[gtar100]

7. I believe the Heritage Foundation would put her income at around $325,000 annually.

And that the worry she feels is because Obama is raising her taxes. Soon to come... the Great Depression was a liberal conspiracy designed to pass FDR legislation.

Wow! It's so easy to think like a republican. That's scary.

[gtar100]

5. Yet more right wing arguments doctored up with misleading

graphics and misleading information. Why can't they ever make an argument based on sound facts and clear explanations without sensationalism? (That's a rhetorical question, by the way. Years and years of spewing propaganda to their faithful has warped their ability to think and act reasonably.)

[formercia]

6. When Bread is $20,000 a Loaf, I will weep for them.

But for now:

[lonestarnot]

8. Next they'll be stealing toilet paper from gas stations and restaurants.

[SaveAmerica]

9. Where's the National Association for the Advancement of Moneyed People

when you need it?

Please help!! Sally Struthers, where are you when there is so much struggling, strife, and sadness. Look at them!! I won't be able to sleep tonight.

[AlbertCat]

10. Fun with numbers!!!!

Let's see:

$3,356 a year is $9.19 a day! ($3.06 a person)
$2,907 a year is $7.96 a day!
$21,608 a year is $59.20 a day! ($9.87 a person)


I know I'd just die if I had to cut my daily spending by $10!!!!!

[riverbendviewgal]

11. incredible gall

The last year I worked I made forty thousand. My taxes both federal and provincial was 25 percent. I did get survivor benefits of about four thousand that year which made my income 44k. Must be nice to make that much money. I guess you can say I made more when you factor in my health care. You know what? I am happy I live Canada even with my piddly income.

[Bigmack]

12. This is offensive....

Only 1.5 % of households earn more than $250K, the median income of real people is $46K, the median income of single moms is $25K and blacks make up 1/100th of the 1% of families who make more than $500K. The median income for black senior families is $35K. That black senior couple making $650K in the cartoon.... as rare as a banker with a sense of guilt.

[Bettie]

13. I'm cracking op about the amounts of "investment income" listed

I don't know anyone who makes anywhere near any of those amounts in investment income!

[daleanime]

15. Amen....

only the single person makes less in "investment" income then I do in income period.

[EC]

14. Wow,

the Journal really thought people would feel empathy for those in the illustrations?

[Solly Mack]

16. I feel for'em.

Just can't reach'em.

Poor dears.

[Amonester]

17. Wow... Have these publishers earned ANY Degree anywhere, or do they...

just manage to get paid big bucks making up shit out of their asses like this on a regular basis???

[hfojvt]

18. most of the tax increase cited

is from the expiring payroll tax cut, which Obama tried to keep

but yeah, it's got to be tough trying to scrape by on a mere $650,000 a year.

[Snarkoleptic]

19. Interesting how the African American couple is the only family not paying more.

Murdoch's hidden message "Blacks are getting a free ride from the the Kenyan Socialist".
These graphics are very carefully constructed and what's not often first seen is a major message they're trying to sneak out there.