General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhat percentage of the 1% are "1%ers"?
The message from the Occupy movement has been that the 99% is oppressed by the 1%, that the 1% is a collective of Mitt Romney clones living large and oppressing the rest of us for giggles and grins.
But among the 1% who seem to support progressive causes are people like:
Michael Moore, Alec Baldwin, David Letterman, Roseanne Barr, Russell Simmons, Warren Buffett, George Soros, and many more.
And on the other side are many people at the middle and bottom of the economy who wholeheartedly support the GOP.
I spent 2 years driving taxi in one of the wealthiest parts of the country (heck, the world) and while I tended to avoid political conversations (I admit it - being a professional and scoring a tip beat out potentially uncomfortable trips and complaints to my boss), it seems like there were a sizable number of people who had at least "Social Liberal" attitudes coming out of the mansions, country clubs, and $500+ a night hotel. Of course, there were a good share of pure conservatives as well, but I was more likely to get a request to turn on Rush Limpballs from someone coming from or going to a middle class or poor area as a wealthy one.
Any thoughts or other experiences? Does wealth make you a bad person regardless of your actions, attitude and beliefs?
lib2DaBone
(8,124 posts)I also drove a cab, and I found there are some (very few) people who appreciate workers who slave for tips and minimum wage.
No, wealth is not the problem.
The real problem is with the Ayn Rand-Paul Ryan Plutocrats who shit on everyone and wrap themselves in the flag while carrying a bible, while they crap on all hard-working Americans.
You can't fix ignorance.
Scootaloo
(25,699 posts)I haven't seen any claims that the 1% is "a bunch of Mitt Romney clones," at least outside of the right wingers who mock the idea and think liberals "hate wealth."
The idea is that 1% of the people control a vastly disproportionate amount of wealth - and thus power, in our system - compared to the remaining 99% of people. Michael Moore, Alec Baldwin, Roseanne Barr, Warren Buffet, they all acknowledge and agree with this.. .though come to think of it, with the exception of Buffett and Soros, your examples are probably not in that 1% (They're certainly wealthy, but there's wealthy and then there's "so wealthy you forget what money is"
It's not a question about if they're good peopel or bad people - again, that's a BS talking point from the right, don't adopt it. The issue is wealth disparity.
slampoet
(5,032 posts)He is far from progressive.