New Data Shows Just How Unequal Wealth Has Become in the U.S. Since the 80s - Polidicks

[B][release]How Rich Are the Superrich?[/release][/B][release] [B]A huge share of the nation's economic growth over the past 30 years has gone to the top one-hundredth of one percent, who now make an average of $27 million per household. The average income for the bottom 90 percent of us? $31,244.[/B] [IMG]http://assets.motherjones.com/politics/2011/inequality-page25_1.png[/IMG] [IMG]http://assets.motherjones.com/politics/2011/inequality-page25_therichest280.png[/IMG] [B]Note: The 2007 data (the most current) doesn't reflect the impact of the housing market crash. In 2007, the bottom 60% of Americans had 65% of their net worth tied up in their homes. The top 1%, in contrast, had just 10%. The housing crisis has no doubt further swelled the share of total net worth held by the superrich.[/B] [B]Winners Take All[/B] [B]The superrich have grabbed the bulk of the past three decades' gains.[/B] [IMG]http://assets.motherjones.com/politics/2011/inequality-p25_averagehouseholdincom.png[/IMG] [B]Out of Balance[/B] [B]A Harvard business prof and a behavioral economist recently asked more than 5,000 Americans how they thought wealth is distributed in the United States. Most thought that it’s more balanced than it actually is. Asked to choose their ideal distribution of wealth, 92% picked one that was even more equitable.[/B] [IMG]http://assets.motherjones.com/politics/2011/inequality-page25_actualdistribwithlegend.png[/IMG] [B]Capitol Gain[/B] [B]Why Washington is closer to Wall Street than Main Street.[/B] [IMG]http://assets.motherjones.com/politics/2011/inequality_mediannetworth_1.png[/IMG] Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) $451.1 million Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.) $435.4 million Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.) $366.2 million Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) $294.9 million Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) $285.1 million Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) $283.1 million Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wisc.) $231.2 million Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) $201.5 million Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) $136.2 million Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) $108.1 million combined net worth: $2.8 billion [IMG]http://assets.motherjones.com/politics/2011/inequality-10richest_2.png[/IMG][IMG]http://assets.motherjones.com/politics/2011/inequality_taxcuts_2.png[/IMG] [B]Who's Winning?[/B] [B]For a healthy few, it's getting better all the time.[/B] [IMG]http://assets.motherjones.com/politics/2011/inequality-who%27swinning_3.png[/IMG] [IMG]http://assets.motherjones.com/politics/2011/inequality-taxrate_3.png[/IMG] [B]YOUR LOSS,THEIR GAIN[/B] [B]How much income have you given up for the top 1 percent?[/B] [IMG]https://motherjones.com/files/images/lossgain_0.jpg[/IMG][/release] [url]http://motherjones.com/politics/2011/02/income-inequality-in-america-chart-graph[/url] Thanks Republicans! I'm sure that they're all hard workers and everyone else is just lazy.

don't worry OP I'm sure the wealth will trickle down eventually

I love statistics that have pretty colors and fonts

What sucks is that there is no capitalistic way to fix this, and nobody is willing to adapt.

REAGAN :argh:

Holy shit. That really fucking sucks.

I'm quite sure the republicans are aware of this and it's exactly why they enjoy them tax cuts so badly.

Stay classy America

Not really surprised but your average middle class household still makes more than if they were in another country and I remember seeing somewhere that they still have a very high percentage leftover after spending on basic necessities. It's definitely not how it should be but as far as income goes, you average middle class Americans still have it pretty good.

This is already known and there's really nothing we can do about it.

[QUOTE=Meller Yeller;28281443]Not really surprised but your average middle class household still makes more than if they were in another country and I remember seeing somewhere that they still have a very high percentage leftover after spending on basic necessities. It's definitely not how it should be but as far as income goes, you average middle class Americans still have it pretty good.[/QUOTE] but the issue is that it will only get worse

[QUOTE=Meller Yeller;28281443]Not really surprised but your average middle class household still makes more than if they were in another country and I remember seeing somewhere that they still have a very high percentage leftover after spending on basic necessities. It's definitely not how it should be but as far as income goes, you average middle class Americans still have it pretty good.[/QUOTE] Maybe if that country is in Africa

Well shit nipples my capitalism, that ain't right.

Just kidding. [editline]25th February 2011[/editline] Automerge :Dawkins102:

[QUOTE=RBM11;28281461]Maybe if that country is in Africa[/QUOTE] No on average, your typical American will have more disposable income than someone from the UK, Australia, or any other developed country. It is getting worse though and it may not stay that way for long.

Just found this. Mellow's actually right: [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Median_household_income[/url] But it's going to get worse.

[QUOTE=Meller Yeller;28281443]Not really surprised but your average middle class household still makes more than if they were in another country and I remember seeing somewhere that they still have a very high percentage leftover after spending on basic necessities. It's definitely not how it should be but as far as income goes, you average middle class Americans still have it pretty good.[/QUOTE] However, living here is also much more expensive than most other countries, and that bottom 90% only averages at $31k/year, meaning many people make far, far less than that.

[QUOTE=furious_d;28281448]This is already known and there's really nothing we can do about it.[/QUOTE] That's a terrible attitude.

[QUOTE=Thy Reaper;28281497]However, living here is also much more expensive than most other countries, and that bottom 90% only averages at $31k/year, meaning many people make far, far less than that.[/QUOTE] Actually the cost of living is quite a bit cheaper than in most other countries. We have to pay for extra things like Health insurance but we have much lower taxes and the things we buy usually don't cost nearly as much. It works out pretty good for a lot of people but usually screws over the rock bottom percentage.

This corrodes the bit of America in me. Jefferson would be mad, but Hamilton proud.

Y'know, if this were Arabia, the top 1% would've had their hands cut off a long time ago. Y'know, for their thievery an' all?

The problem is that we think providing tax cuts to a specific part of the population improves us economically. Such notions are based upon subjective views of people. Provide even tax cuts to all and you have a mighty fine recipe for prosperity (as long as you keep the budget balanced).

Equal wealth is communism and communism is satan remember? You hate it and therefore this situation must be good!

Hey the top earners' share actually goes down in the Reagan and Bush years.

[QUOTE=SigmaLambda;28281410]REAGAN :argh:[/QUOTE] Worst President

God fucking damn the republican retards. Reagan costed America more than the fucking Second world war.

[QUOTE=ironman17;28281878]Y'know, if this were Arabia, the top 1% would've had their hands cut off a long time ago. Y'know, for their thievery an' all?[/QUOTE] In Arabia the top 1% rule. There's no difference!

Yeah I really don't see a way out of this, its just going to have to come crashing down before anything changes so people will actually wake up.

This is all news?

So Americans want more equal distribution of wealth!? How un-American!