Why is the gap widening between the rich and the poor?

Answer 1

We have allowed our power to slip into the hands of selfish leaders who use the authority we have given them for their own purposes, and not for the purpose of human decency for which our hearts and minds long.

Human beings are not only isolated to being slaves to the rich and powerful, but have also become indentured to their own desire to become a master. “Getting ahead in the world” has become the model of individuality. It becomes easier for us to alienate our minds from the conditions of poverty and destitution required at the bottom of the corporate chain, because of the image in our minds of future success and the opportunity to jump from the ninety-nine percent to the one percent.

We have become desensitized, and pay no attention to human history that shows us how we have gotten to this point, and demonstrates to us that the set percentages have never changed, and never will—one wise one on top needs ninety-nine others below in order to keep them buoyed up on the sea of humanity.

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To leave his mark on the world, a rich farmer or merchant, for example, recognizes himself as “wealthy” or successful based on the amount of money or product he produces. His self-worth is then determined by the comparison made to other farmers and merchants of like trades who share the same personal goals. If he can convince others that his products and services are beneficial to the whole, then he has made himself valuable, and has set a mark for which others aim to reach or exceed. If he is powerful, because his club is bigger than another’s, or his finger sits on a button that can launch a missile to take away life, he is in a position to protect this standard from any who disagree.

The governments, leaders, and corporations that simply want to control, do it for powers sake. They maintain fear with their armies and navies, and their ideologies that control man.

The PEOPLE put them in power, and it will be the PEOPLE that take them out of power. In a democracy, the people do have a vote. As a people, we can unite and force our leaders to change from warfare to welfare for the poor.

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The only way to prove to ourselves that our value for human life outweighs our selfish desires to exist alone, in spite of others, is for us to take our power back.


Throughout the history of our earth, the governments therein instituted have always failed the people. A government supported by people, however, cannot be blamed for failure when it is the people who run it. People fail people. To effectually and successfully assure human existence upon this earth, and maintain it equitably for all, the people must use their existence to choose a course that is fair and just for them. The people must take responsibility for their world and control it appropriately for the sake of all. The people must control the government.

Answer 2

a livable wage for a couple, with only one working is 22 dollars an hour. That is enough money for decent health care housing (not fancy housing) food and clothing. Most people I know don't make that as a family of two. those with kids a family of four a livable wage is 25 an hour if both parents work.

poverty wage for one person is 10,000. a year. these figures by the way are before taxes. even the poor are made to pay taxes. I know a mother and daughter who only made 8000 last year. She has no medical coverage, one old car (and the friends I know help maintain it for her) she lives in an old house trailer she either owns or rents not sure.

I don't think she has to pay any fed income tax just state, barely any property taxes, trailors usually are cheap that way,now if they are defining poor this way this country is a sad place considering the wealth production (gross national product is super high right now even tho the wages don't reflect that). If she has a computer it is because someone gave her one.

now I consider myself lower middle class because we are barely staying above water, we have a 30 year old truck, a 12 year old car and barely can afford the repairs that seem to be needed alot. credit is how we survive. but hopfully we won't have a serious medical downturn or job downturn or we are screwed.

I don't consider my neighbors up the street however, poor, I consider them middle to upper middle, they have three cars or more in the driveway that look brand new or close to it, 160-200 thousand dollar homes, with brand new this and that. one guy seems to be always improving his home and yard. which is nice actually. I would say about half have children the others don't.

So I guess being poor is relative?

The gap is increasing because the average joe is not allowed to build wealth, the wealthy wouldn't like it, that is why we are taxed to death, sales and excise taxes and the government making it's own money interest free was sufficient to build infranstratures and provide police, fire etc. The fed income taxes you pay are not used to pay for services, they are used to pay the interest on the national debt. These go into the international bankers (fed reserve) back pockets.

gas taxes are sufficient for keeping up the roads. license fees and license plates fees etc are not necessary to pay for roads. We pay for them already and shouldn't have to pay to use them. Permits and other fees and taxations (all are taxes actually) shouldn't be required to exercise your rights, we don't need permission to exercise a right, a privelge yes, but not a right.

As a result cost of living was low, money was sound, and no one lost their shirts to inflation or heavy taxation.

taxes are all about wealth confiscation.

But before the fed reserve system people were getting wealthy, there were few homeless people compared to today, limited government was subserviant to the people, the people were independant of government except for vital services outlined in the constitition and bill of rights.

If you had property and education enough, you could support yourself. by making people become dependant on government for everything, they became more important than the people they are supposed to serve, it reversed every thing. now the wealthy elites and corporations, (one and the same) use the color of law (the governmental system) to enslave people little by little. Thus the gap.

RRRR

Answer 3

Because inflation has risen faster than salaries. The inflation factor that the government uses does not include things like heating oil, which has risen faster than the inflation on other things. This is why things like unions are important. Unions set the standard for an industry as far as pay and benefits. People who are anti-union do not realize that they have been benefiting from unions even if they do not belong to one.

When inflation rises faster than salaries, it hurts the middle class most of all. They have less expendable income. This also hurts the economy because many businesses depend upon the expendable income to stay open. The result is layoffs in certain industries.

The way I see it the corporations whose salaries do not keep up with the true rate of inflation are only hurting themselves in the long run. If you have less expendable income, you might not take the trip you were planning or go out to eat. In the end this hurts the corporations.

Answer 4

The gap between rich and poor is ALWAYS widening.

The Rich get richer and the poor stay poor.

Answer 5

The latest census reports shows the poor, as we define them, are decreasing in the USA.

The odd thing is that "the poor" as are defined by the census mostly own their own homes, have multiple cars, TV's, AC, heating, several phones, have more than enough food, etc etc. This makes them better off than the upper class in Europe. Isn't that amazing?

So if you're talking about Europe and Africa, then the gap probably is widening. I don't know for sure, but that's not happening in the US.

The tax cuts have done wonders for our economy and our GNP. Our deficit has halved in just a few years. Why don't more people know these facts?

Answer 6

the gap is widening cause the middle class is taking it up the a$$

Answer 7

It's because of the way we elect our government officials. Campaigning is so expensive that candidates have to bring in money from wherever they can. Only a small percentage of campaign funds come from ordinary people in small amounts. Almost all campaign money come from the very rich or corporations and it comes with strings. One of the strings is that the very rich become much, much richer. Did you know that the richest one fifth of one percent of this country has half the money?

Answer 8

It is, but in America, even the poor have television and telephones. Access to computers. Housing. Food. Clothing. Medical care....
And they don't need to pay taxes!
Poor is a RELATIVE term.

Answer 9

Actually latest numbers shows poverty is decreasing in this country. So even it is, more people are doing better.

Answer 10

cause of the bush years.