The One-Percenters

[cal04]

By Roger Ebert
http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2011/04/the_one-percenters.html

"The upper 1 percent of Americans are now taking in nearly a quarter of the nation's income every year. In terms of wealth rather than income, the top 1 percent control 40 percent.

"Their lot in life has improved considerably. Twenty-five years ago, the corresponding figures were 12 percent and 33 percent."

So I discover in a piece by Joseph E. Stiglitz in the new issue of Vanity Fair. These facts confirm my impression that greed is now seen as a virtue in America. I'm not surprised by the greed of the One-Percenters. I'm mystified by the lack of indignation from so many of the rest of us.

Day after day I read stories that make me angry. Wanton consumption is glorified. Corruption is rewarded. Ordinary people see their real income dropping, their houses sold out from under them, their pensions plundered, their unions legislated against, their health care still under attack. Yes, people in Wisconsin and Ohio have risen up to protest these realities, but why has there not been more outrage?

[ladjf]

1. Keep kicking it Cal04. Americans desperately need to understand

what is happening.

[Hotler]

2. Why? Not enough people hurting just yet.

Still lots of people with jobs that have the attitude "I have mine. fuck everyone else."
Or until it effects them it doesn't matter.

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

3. Another group wearing the 1% patch is The Hells Angels.

Hmm.

[Patiod]

4. "But when *I'm" in the 1%, I won't want them to tax ME"

As if.
Even if you win the Powerball, honey, you aren't getting anywhere NEAR them.

[Scuba]

6. You would have to win a $100,000,000 tax free Powerball EVERY WEEK...

...to net what the Koch brothers netted last year. EACH.

[bvar22]

5. All symptoms of an Empire in Decline.

*

[Scuba]

7. Bingo.

[annabanana]

8. "There aren't enough rich people to close the budget gap"

That's what I keep hearing when I say it's time to tax the rich. It doesn't really matter "how many" of them there are. It could be one really really rich bastard not paying his share....