The SHARE of the national income going to the top 20% is increasing while the SHARE of the national income going to the bottom 20% is declining - but "the national income" is rising and so is the income of all "20%" groups - the top group's income is just rising faster.
And what's a group? Individual membership IN the various groups turns over significantly - someone in the bottom 20% today is, ten years later, more likely to be in the top 20%, more than twice as likely to be in the top 40%, and 4 times as likely to be in the top 60%, than to be in the bottom. This is natural - most of the bottom 20% are entry-level, and young or recently emmigrated, and most of the top 40% are experienced - and older.
Statistically as an individual moves up he leaves his group at some point and it stops moving up with him - this happens earlier if he starts at the bottom.
Most of us make a bit more when you start out, and a lot more at the height of your career, than people did 30 years ago.
2007-02-16 10:17:14 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
Thank you for posting these significant facts. The basic truth is that the economy is not a zero-sum game, and even though the gap between the rich and poor may be growing, the fact remains that the income of those in the bottom 20% has been increasing as well.
2007-02-16 10:37:49 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
that may be true, but people who were living middle class moved to str8 poor. while those who were in upper middle either became rich or poor. but incomes have to rise with changing prices. in the 40s you could have bought a car for like $40 but incomes were lower then. so it makes sense why incomes would be going up today, even though millions of americans are in debt beyond what they make
2007-02-16 18:23:06 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is a very good idea!! Though 10% of Americans, control 90% of the wealth.
When Conservatives talk about people getting richer...they usually mean the rich are getting richer off the backs of the working poor.
Your idea has great merit! Many great leaders discussed this idea in the past, and is successful in some EU nations.
2007-02-16 18:23:03 · answer #3 · answered by Villain 6 · 1⤊ 3⤋
"From each according to their means. To each according to their needs." Liberals love this quote. Do some research to find out who originally said it. You will be appalled.
2007-02-16 18:25:29 · answer #4 · answered by ? 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you must work for what you get. that is a fundamental principle of life. nobody owes you anything!
2007-02-16 18:20:18 · answer #5 · answered by patriot07 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A LIBERAL MAGIC TRICK:
THINKING THAT YOU CAN REDISTRIBUTE WEALTH AD INFINITUM, WITHOUT SOMEONE ACTUALLY HAVING TO ***EARN*** IT.
2007-02-16 18:21:02 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋