"The Collapse of the Middle Class"

[MrFun]

Originally posted by Japher


That is the dumbest idea I ever heard. Most rich people are wealthy because they know how to obtain and keep wealth. And, with that wealth the supply jobs to those who do not know how to keep wealth. You take that money from the rich and no one will eat but the fat political cow...

Also, I'd bet half of them arrogant rich snobs you see every day bought that rolex on lay away, and they used their credit card to put the down on the BMW... Most of the idiots you see rolling around flaunting what they got are actually not even millionares and are living in debt, and above their means...

Don't believe everything you see, and half of what Sava posts.

good points

[Sarxis]

Unemployment isn't necessarily a bad thing.

I love how people's lives are tossed about as so many numbers to be crunched.

[jdd2007]

Originally posted by rah
There are beggers in Chicago that beg 40 hours a week then head home to their home in the suburbs. Some clear 50K in cash a year. Yet, they're getting food stamps and such. I know these are exceptions but it does make you question some of these things.

I thought this was an urban myth. Do you know any of these people personally?

[mrmitchell]

You know, I force neocons to do it, so in the interest of fairness, Sava:

Summary?

[rah]

They profiled a couple of these guys in the Chicago Tribune awhile back. (without a picture of course.)

[Chemical Ollie]

Originally posted by rah

...There are beggers in Chicago that beg 40 hours a week then head home to their home in the suburbs. Some clear 50K in cash a year. Yet, they're getting food stamps and such...

Hey, that's more than my salary, working as a scientist. And I pay 35 % income tax on that + 25 % VAT!

Not that I feel poor though. I eat beef filet or entrecoté 2-3 times a week and live in a 10- room house with the view you see in the attached picture. Beat that, beggars!

[Ben Kenobi]

So it makes me wonder how I should react to all the doom and gloom statements based on such definitions.

How do they draw the poverty line? Percentage based?

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by Haupt. Dietrich
Everyday when I leave the safety of my home I see more and more rich people in my travels.

I see more and more people driving BMW's, Mercedes, etc. wearing Rolex's and really living the good life.

Then I turn on the news and listen to how some CEO embezzled millions while he laid off the average Joe who could barely support his wife and kids.

I definately see the gap growing between the very rich and very poor everyday here in the USA. And the rich people act so spoiled and arrogant. You know I never used to believe in KOMUNISMA but I can honestly see what Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels were talking about now.

Let's take away the wealth from the evil rich people and redestribute it to the nation. No one person should have a billion dollars and still have the gaul to want more.

First, it's "gall". "Gaul" refers to a race of people that used to live in France (all I know about them).

Anyway, those are some of the stupidest, most inane ideas I've ever heard (and I have two little brothers - twins ). Why am I obligated to give money I earned to someone else because they need it more? I recieve money in return for a commodity - my labor. If my labor is more valuable, then I will recieve more money. The value of my labor varies based on the same rules as any other commodity - supply and demand. Now, as I am recieving money for my labor, why should I then have to provide this money to someone with greater need for it than I? This essentially means that I am a slave to the needs of others. My labor, the ONLY commodity that is innate to me, has now been stolen by others. "From each according to his ability; to each according to his need." This is nothing more than being a slave to the needs and wants of others. Why does someone "deserve" something simply because they need it? I might as well not work, for then my need would be greater, and I would recieve more.

Originally posted by Anun Ik Oba

Unemployment isn't necessarily a bad thing.

I love how people's lives are tossed about as so many numbers to be crunched.

This just shows how ignorant you are. Zero unemployment would be DISASTROUS for the economy. Without a sufficiently large pool of unhired labor, hiring new people become extremely difficult and expansion becomes impossible. It is healthy for the economy to have unemployed workers.

[Sava]

Originally posted by obiwan18


How do they draw the poverty line? Percentage based?

The poverty line for a family of 4 is around $18k per year total household income. Yes, and they all have big TV's, drive beemers, and live extravagant lives...

[Japher]

Ah, ha! Sava finally admits it!

[JohnT]

The thing is, this article could've been written, with the same trends and figures, in 1975. Of course, that was probably the last time Bernie Sanders had an original idea, so...

[Ben Kenobi]

Yes, and they all have big TV's, drive beemers, and live extravagant lives...

Peasents.

Really, I just asked, since I don't know the US system.

[Sava]

Really, I just asked, since I don't know the US system.

that second comment was directed at Rah... who thinks the poor are living it up...

[Odin]

Good thread, Sava!

to Japher for his lack of compassion. HISTORY IS NOT ON YOUR SIDE! WE WILL BURY YOU!

VIVA LA REVOLUCION!!!

[Lord Merciless]

Revolution? I thought we already buried most of you, apart from NK and a couple lunatics in Canada.