A different approach to explaining the problem with income distribution -

[hedgehog]

It's hard to convince some people that there is massive inequality in income distribution and that the middle class is taking the hit. Too many people in their heart of hearts figure that some day, they too, will be in the 1%.

But tell me if this makes any sense:

1. The 1% kept profits very high by keeping prices too high.

2. Since the 1% couldn't spend all their money on themselves if they used gold leaf for toilet paper, they had to spend their money elsewhere.

3. So, the 1% is out there gobbling up companies left and right, giving them the power to keep prices high.

4. So every dollar you spend goes to help someone charge you more for what you need.

[lcarreau]

1. Free markets

Competition from other 1 percenters drives prices to a point where margins are small enough to where others will not enter the market. Where s the colusion?

[TBF]

2. FFS.

[hedgehog]

3. But, but, 23 billion dollars just doesn't go as far as it used to!

Here's another set of numbers people need to get familiar with :

There are roughly 314 million people in this country today, which means that


roughly 3,140,000 are in that top 1%

and roughly 31, 400 are in the top 0.01%: 30 thousand people with $23 billion in annual income, each.

All too often, we think of the 1% as the Walton family, Warren Buffet, Bill Gates and the Koch Brothers. The truth is that there are 3 million other people whose names we don't know. How many of them have a Senator or two in their pocket? How many of them are Senators?

[Bunnahabhain]

4. That's a very flawed analysis

Top 1% is not based on % of the general population in the least.

[TBF]

5. Your last line is key -

they are our political and economic "leaders" ... along with a few hangers-on who hope to be in their shoes.

Greed really is ugly.