Wealth gap is at critical mass

[theFallGuy]

Oxfam report: world's 26 richest billionaires own same as total wealth of the 3.8 billion poorest - CNN

26 people have as much wealth as 3.8 billion people have, collectively. Forget the debate of process, communism, tax policy, capitalism, inherited wealth, etc.

With the internet and readily available information, I think we are getting to the point where the 3.6 billion aren't going to be willing to put up with this much longer. The world is heading for an inevitable collision between the haves and the have nots.

I was trying to merge this thread with the one you started about income inequality under Obama but it's weird, I couldn't.

 

[GAVol]

Oxfam report: world's 26 richest billionaires own same as total wealth of the 3.8 billion poorest - CNN

26 people have as much wealth as 3.8 billion people have, collectively. Forget the debate of process, communism, tax policy, capitalism, inherited wealth, etc.

With the internet and readily available information, I think we are getting to the point where the 3.6 billion aren't going to be willing to put up with this much longer. The world is heading for an inevitable collision between the haves and the have nots.

You can't post what could be on the dust cover for the Communist Manifesto and then say "forget the debate".

 

[GAVol]

So why is everyone so obsessed with taxes?

Because that's the primary mechanism the government has at it's disposal.

 

[luthervol]

Rich and poor are relative terms. The guy with the most chickens may be the richest man in the village even though he has a dirt floor and no running water or electricity. In some ways he is "richer" than the "poor" man here who has an x-box and an I-phone but is working 60 hour weeks at a low paying job.
The other major factor is perceived equity.
The monkey experiment where two monkeys in adjoining cages where fed different foods is the perfect example. As both monkeys were being given slices of cucumbers they were both content and happy. Once the trainer started giving one monkey slices of banana and continued giving the other slices of cucumbers the problems started. The one getting the cucumbers became increasingly agitated, finally reaching the point of throwing the food back and flinging himself against his cage. The one getting the bananas also became agitated.

 

[TheDeeble]

Rich and poor are relative terms. The guy with the most chickens may be the richest man in the village even though he has a dirt floor and no running water or electricity. In some ways he is "richer" than the "poor" man here who has an x-box and an I-phone but is working 60 hour weeks at a low paying job.
The other major factor is perceived equity.
The monkey experiment where two monkeys in adjoining cages where fed different foods is the perfect example. As both monkeys were being given slices of cucumbers they were both content and happy. Once the trainer started giving one monkey slices of banana and continued giving the other slices of cucumbers the problems started. The one getting the cucumbers became increasingly agitated, finally reaching the point of throwing the food back and flinging himself against his cage. The one getting the bananas also became agitated.

Well fortunately we still have the opportunity to earn our bananas instead of living in a society where you hope your beloved govt overlords would gift you one.

 

[GAVol]

Rich and poor are relative terms. The guy with the most chickens may be the richest man in the village even though he has a dirt floor and no running water or electricity. In some ways he is "richer" than the "poor" man here who has an x-box and an I-phone but is working 60 hour weeks at a low paying job.
The other major factor is perceived equity.
The monkey experiment where two monkeys in adjoining cages where fed different foods is the perfect example. As both monkeys were being given slices of cucumbers they were both content and happy. Once the trainer started giving one monkey slices of banana and continued giving the other slices of cucumbers the problems started. The one getting the cucumbers became increasingly agitated, finally reaching the point of throwing the food back and flinging himself against his cage. The one getting the bananas also became agitated.

True to some extent. Once basic necessities of life are met, it's a matter of perspective. I've always heard that money buys happiness up until about $50-$75k per year.

 

[0nelilreb]

Yes, it is my perspective. I don't expect the vast majority of the board to agree with me. Two people can look at the same situation and reach vastly different conclusions.

If we aren’t careful we create or get caught up in echo chambers that only reaffirms our own beliefs and perspectives . You just admitted you are in a minority on a forum that has people with vast experience , in many different aspects all over the country and some that move in and out of the country often . I would go out on a very solid limb and say not many countries on the planet are as prosperous as we are , and none have the scale of rights and freedoms that we do .

 

[McDad]

Rich and poor are relative terms. The guy with the most chickens may be the richest man in the village even though he has a dirt floor and no running water or electricity. In some ways he is "richer" than the "poor" man here who has an x-box and an I-phone but is working 60 hour weeks at a low paying job.
The other major factor is perceived equity.
The monkey experiment where two monkeys in adjoining cages where fed different foods is the perfect example. As both monkeys were being given slices of cucumbers they were both content and happy. Once the trainer started giving one monkey slices of banana and continued giving the other slices of cucumbers the problems started. The one getting the cucumbers became increasingly agitated, finally reaching the point of throwing the food back and flinging himself against his cage. The one getting the bananas also became agitated.

Your monkey business is why it is imperative we never become wards in the State cage where the government doles out the slices. We must remain autonomous even if you find banana slices and i cucumber in our autonomy.

 

[luthervol]

Because that's the primary mechanism the government has at it's disposal.

If you could redistribute all of the wealth equally and it would all end up the same, the rich become rich again and the poor become poor again, then why not go ahead and do it.
By that logic, if you heavily tax the rich, it doesn't really matter - they will just get the money back and remain rich while the poor will remain poor.

 

[luthervol]

Your monkey business is why it is imperative we never become wards in the State cage where the government doles out the slices. We must remain autonomous even if you find banana slices and i cucumber in our autonomy.

Don't overlook the point..........perceived equity. That's where the US is losing it.

 

[0nelilreb]

Rich and poor are relative terms. The guy with the most chickens may be the richest man in the village even though he has a dirt floor and no running water or electricity. In some ways he is "richer" than the "poor" man here who has an x-box and an I-phone but is working 60 hour weeks at a low paying job.
The other major factor is perceived equity.
The monkey experiment where two monkeys in adjoining cages where fed different foods is the perfect example. As both monkeys were being given slices of cucumbers they were both content and happy. Once the trainer started giving one monkey slices of banana and continued giving the other slices of cucumbers the problems started. The one getting the cucumbers became increasingly agitated, finally reaching the point of throwing the food back and flinging himself against his cage. The one getting the bananas also became agitated.

This is probably accurate until you introduce humans into the equations instead of using monkeys that have only the baser instincts . What if the human you try that with doesn’t like bananas ? What if he is perfectly happy just eating cucumbers ?

 

[InVOLuntary]

Oxfam report: world's 26 richest billionaires own same as total wealth of the 3.8 billion poorest - CNN

26 people have as much wealth as 3.8 billion people have, collectively. Forget the debate of process, communism, tax policy, capitalism, inherited wealth, etc.

With the internet and readily available information, I think we are getting to the point where the 3.6 billion aren't going to be willing to put up with this much longer. The world is heading for an inevitable collision between the haves and the have nots.

I'd like to know what percentage are liberals, especially the ones that reside in the US. Why aren't they doing anything about it?

 

[82_VOL_83]

Oxfam report: world's 26 richest billionaires own same as total wealth of the 3.8 billion poorest - CNN

26 people have as much wealth as 3.8 billion people have, collectively. Forget the debate of process, communism, tax policy, capitalism, inherited wealth, etc.

With the internet and readily available information, I think we are getting to the point where the 3.6 billion aren't going to be willing to put up with this much longer. The world is heading for an inevitable collision between the haves and the have nots.

Sounds like 3.6 billion should get a job......IN THEIR COUNTRIES.

 

[FLVOL_79]

The police are absolutely militarized. When a police department has surplus military weaponry and freaking tanks, they are militarized. Not to mention all the other issues with violating constitutional rights and frankly showing ****** judgement.

They dont have tanks. Just because a car is bigger than your geo metro doesnt mean it's a tank

 

[FLVOL_79]

Impressive lunatic fear mongering thread Lg..

 

[zeppelin128]

If we aren’t careful we create or get caught up in echo chambers that only reaffirms our own beliefs and perspectives . You just admitted you are in a minority on a forum that has people with vast experience , in many different aspects all over the country and some that move in and out of the country often . I would go out on a very solid limb and say not many countries on the planet are as prosperous as we are , and none have the scale of rights and freedoms that we do .

Yeah, I didn't say they were right though. Few can match our prosperity, rights, and freedoms, but that means we should constantly be trying to be better. Not dragging each other back.

 

[GAVol]

If you could redistribute all of the wealth equally and it would all end up the same, the rich become rich again and the poor become poor again, then why not go ahead and do it.
By that logic, if you heavily tax the rich, it doesn't really matter - they will just get the money back and remain rich while the poor will remain poor.

Because it never works and the result is always the government enriching itself.

How many more generations of perpetual welfare do we have to destroy before people acknowledge that the way we've been trying to right the wrongs for 50 years hasn't worked?

 

[zeppelin128]

They dont have tanks. Just because a car is bigger than your geo metro doesnt mean it's a tank

Cobb County, for example.

 

[LouderVol]

Oxfam report: world's 26 richest billionaires own same as total wealth of the 3.8 billion poorest - CNN

26 people have as much wealth as 3.8 billion people have, collectively. Forget the debate of process, communism, tax policy, capitalism, inherited wealth, etc.

With the internet and readily available information, I think we are getting to the point where the 3.6 billion aren't going to be willing to put up with this much longer. The world is heading for an inevitable collision between the haves and the have nots.

I probably have more than the bottom hundred million. Those are incredibly slanted numbers to throw out.

Our homeless have access to clean free water, which puts them above a bunch of nations.

 

[zeppelin128]

This is probably accurate until you introduce humans into the equations instead of using monkeys that have only the baser instincts . What if the human you try that with doesn’t like bananas ? What if he is perfectly happy just eating cucumbers ?

You are giving too much credit to the humans, and not enough credit to the monkeys.

 

[McDad]

Don't overlook the point..........perceived equity. That's where the US is losing it.

Equitable opportunity, yes. Equitable outcomes, no.

 

[luthervol]

Because it never works and the result is always the government enriching itself.

How many more generations in the inner cities do we have to destroy before people acknowledge that the way we've been trying to right the wrongs for 50 years hasn't worked?

I see lots of successes. Think of the progress over the last 50 years. The overriding problem is teenage/unwanted/inappropriate pregnancies.

 

[luthervol]

Equitable opportunity, yes. Equitable outcomes, no.

Agree. Kind of like a sporting event. You just want the refs to be fair and for everybody to be playing by the same rules.

 

[McDad]

This is probably accurate until you introduce humans into the equations instead of using monkeys that have only the baser instincts . What if the human you try that with doesn’t like bananas ? What if he is perfectly happy just eating cucumbers ?

In essence this is how economies are created. You trade your bananas that you don't like for my cucumbers that I don't like and so on and so forth

 

[volinsd]

If you could redistribute all of the wealth equally and it would all end up the same, the rich become rich again and the poor become poor again, then why not go ahead and do it.
By that logic, if you heavily tax the rich, it doesn't really matter - they will just get the money back and remain rich while the poor will remain poor.

Ok crazy Luther, listen....its not your money dude. The riches toys arent your toys. Earn your way man. Easy peasy. If you worked as hard at trying to make more money as you do at coveting others money and whining....you would be one of the 26.