The rich seem to be doing OK , but how about the poor and the middle class?

Question

are you better off then you were 6 years ago ?

Answer 1

You have hit upon the fallacy that the economy is doing so much better. The differnce between rich and poor has grown exponetialllyin the last twenty years. In addition the degree with which people have been able to cross economic classes has declined. This is based upon Commerece Department statistics.

The net increase in income for middle classes has actually declined in the last ten years. While it has dramatically increased for upper classes.

I did some labor day blogs on some of this if you are interested on my Yahoo 360 page.

Answer 2

Not just no, but Hell No!!! Only the rich are better off than they were 6 years ago and if anyone else tells you differently they're lying. It is the aim of the Bush administration to abolish the middle class and make everyone either upper class or poor with nothing in-between. And the fascists are succeeding.

Answer 3

The poor and middle class in urban areas are not doing better. The middle class in the suburbs are doing well. What people don't realize is with the tax breaks for the rich, they tend to either keep their money or spend it in their own neighborhood. How does that help the poor? It doesn't. Yet you hear from some people on here how well THEIR community is doing, but they don't look outside their own neighborhood. They are not doing better 6 years ago. It's funny that the Republican Party and the Christian Right are talking about morals, yet will kick a homeless person after they leave church...

Answer 4

Unemployment is down, average incomes are rising, the rich are paying more taxes than ever, and the middle to lower classes are paying less, life expectancy is at record levels, pollution is at its lowest levels in generations for most pollutants, ULSD has hit the market and diesel engines will be cleaner than ever, the Dow Jones is breaking records every couple of days after a slow, steady rise built on a solid foundation, which is important because more Americans own stocks than did in the past, whereas the economy was tanking 6 years ago under Clinton, the Dow was a freakish bubble waiting to burst, and Al Qaeda was 3 for 3 on their attacks on America and well into their planning for the fourth attack we now know as 9-11, but now Osama is hiding in a cave in the north of Pakistan, Afghanistan is run a decent guy like Karzai who hasn't hung anyone with piano wire recently, Iraq sucks, but with about the annual fatalities under Malaki as under Saddam, (and no, Lancets re-release of their bogus propaganda, a month before another election is not credible) and on a positive note Apple is releasing a 1G Ipod the size of a quarter for less than a $100, cars are safer, birds sing sweeter, my girlfriend is cuter, and all is well with the world, why do you ask?

Answer 5

Well if your no better off, then you didn't try to be better off, I'm doing fine, the economy is doing wonderful in fact just last week the dow jones and nadaq hit allo time high numbers, boy you liberals hate when things are going good. And if your not better off, how do you propose the democrats are gonna make your life better? Hmmmm national health care, you'll pay for that, higher taxes, you'll pay for that too. so in what way is your life going to improve? So far, ive had no left winger realy answer that question. And for the records, I'm quite middle class and happy with my lot in life in these United Sates, I'm doing awsome. You pessimists tell us, how they gonna make it better for you?

P.S. Some of you are socialists on the verge of being communists, thats scary. What do we propose to the people in this country that are doing well? Take some of there money and give it to you? Hmmmm there will be fighting in the streets before that happens and I'll be leading the charge!

Keepsondancing: Hmmm and at what point did you think social security was going to finance your retirement LOL Its never been for that, and you still have a mortgage, and other bills LOL You ain't to smart for an old guy, hmmm I doubt you are an old guy cause that was the dumbest B.S. Ive ever heard LOL Eeven the democrats know that the social security system is going to crash, bush tried to fix it, the dems chose to sit on their *** LOL Man you aint too smart are ya now?

Answer 6

Well now, is it the time for the economy to be criticized by you commislamic fascists? I'm middle class and I am doing about the same as I was 6 years ago.

Answer 7

It depends on the context of the question. In relative terms of income distribution no most workers are relatively worse off. The middle class and working class wages are falling behind the top 5% of wage earners. Yet, with consumption more low wage workers own cars, computers, air-conditioning then they did in 1990. It’s a double edge sword low wage earners can buy more and better car than 15 years ago. The amount of income required to buy food is less than 15 years ago. The biggest problem now days for wage earners are health care costs and housing costs. Health care and housing take up more income relatively speaking to purchase those goods. A lot of economic data contradicts itself look at material well being were better of than 15 years ago. Yet, we look at social well being were worst off. American society going to have to make a choice in the next decade if they want better health care, and cheaper housing, or more consumer goods. Its good question you asked actually, and the viewpoints on the right and left are equally valid in regards to the question in the forum.

Answer 8

No, i am not better off! Only the rich are better off as we have been playing wealth redistribution!!! We rob from the poor to give to the rich!

What middle class? Do you mean those making $44,000 a year?Hell, the average rich person got more than that in tax cuts!

Answer 9

Hell no! I recently retired. Now, you pay into the system all your working life with the expectation that when you finally exit the world of work, Uncle Sam will take care of you. Wrong! My Social Security check, after deductions for Medicare (hah! You thought that was free?) is a little over $700. I still haven't factored in the monthly cost of Medigap insurance and the Plan D prescription drug costs. Luckily I'm healthy, but I still have to pay. Once I pay the mortgage and the monthly bills, there's nothing left for groceries and gas. In other words, I have to fnd a part-time job - I can't afford to retire!

Marry me!
(Or hire me. I'm an editor/proofreader and I can telecommute. I'm serious!)

Answer 10

Ofcourse the rich are doing ok, they're RICH. No, I am NOT better off I am worse off. The whole damn country is worse off. The ONLY ones that arent worse off are the rich sons a bitches that are making more money from us over this oil bullshit. Layoffs and employment reductions are killing us. I am losing my home and I dont see it getting any better for a long time!