Wealth Inequality in America

[Iceaxe]

Just curious... where did that definition of middle class come from? And what are you called if you make more then 70k? While 70k is a comfortable income I would not call anyone making 70k rich.

Tap'n on my Galaxy G3

[Scott P]

Just curious... where did that definition of middle class come from?

It is exactly what it says. Middle Class = Middle of the Class.

I calculated it out using income percentiles.

~$27,000 = 33 1/3 percentile. ~$70,000 = 66 2/3 percentile.

This really should be the true definition, despite the fact that most people on either side still consider themselves Middle Class.

In reality (without any PR, PC, or BS):

0-33 1/3 percentile = less than ~$27,000 = Lower Class

33 1/3 percentile to 66 2/3 percetile = ~$27,000 to ~$70,000 = Middle Class

66 2/3 percentile to 100 percentile = more than ~$70,000 = Upper Class

While 70k is a comfortable income I would not call anyone making 70k rich.

Just because you are outside the Middle Class bracket doesn't always mean that you are rich or poor. As you know, there are people who make less than 27K per year that aren't poor and manage money wisely, while others making 70K a year are broke.

[DiscGo]

Democrats = Blaming the rich for all of society's problems.
Republicans = Blaming the poor for all society's problems.

Normally the Republicans do not blame the poor, they blame the Government. The Government is responsible for mismanaging funds, and freedom.

[Byron]

Republicans = Blaming the poor for all society's problems.

Wrong. DiscGo is right...that statement is a myth if there ever was one. I will, however, agree that the Dems blame the rich. So what you're saying is half true, really.

I was born dirt poor. I'm talking hardcore, welfare case, trailer trash, uneducated...I never went back to school after the 8th grade, parents that were mentally ill, alcoholics, dysfunctional, abusive step father...a great big bowl of the worst.

Despite all that, I'm worth more than a million. I guess I'm rich too, because my annual income exceeds 100K. No one, and I mean no one, ever did anything to help me along the way. I don't know what an unemployment check looks like, no one has ever bailed me out...because I never let myself get into such a position.

I vote Republican, straight down the line. It seems like I'm supposed to be this horrible, selfish person? I laugh at that, because when I see someone who has come up to success after having to scrape the bowl for so long, I think it's the greatest thing ever. That impresses me far more than some idiot coming to me with his hand out.

And ya want to know something? It's really not that hard to pull it off.

[Iceaxe]

It is exactly what it says. Middle Class = Middle of the Class.

I calculated it out using income percentiles.

Gotcha

For what it's worth... some Economist's consider the 50% in the middle to be "middle class", with the 25% above and below considered outside.

Sounds like defining middle class is more difficult than defining assault rifles.

[Iceaxe]

I was born dirt poor. I'm talking hardcore, welfare case, trailer trash, uneducated...I never went back to school after the 8th grade, parents that were mentally ill, alcoholics, dysfunctional, abusive step father...a great big bowl of the worst.

I bet Thanksgiving with your family is a fun time.

For what it's worth, my wife comes from a similar background. I always ask her how she managed to dig herself out of such a hole and she just tells me "I knew there had to be a better life and I was determined to live it". I'm always very impressed when people from a dirt poor background are able to elevate themselves through determination and hard work.

[cchoc]

Normally the Republicans do not blame the poor, they blame the Government. The Government is responsible for mismanaging funds, and freedom.

If republicans blame the government, why keep reelecting the same knuckleheads that make up the government?

I live in a yellow dog republican district and there is rarely even a democrat on the ballot - even for congress. There are other districts that are just the reverse. It's this kind of district gerrymandering by whatever party controls the state legislature that deprives us of good choices and keeps sending the same losers (with good connections) to Washington. I have never been able to embrace the total platform of any party and would prefer to choose between good candidates, not just vote a straight party ticket, but that just isn't possible.

[Deuce]

True Middle Class = income of ~$27,000 to $70,000. If you are outside this bracket, you are not really Middle Class. Weird how most people (poor and rich) consider themselves Middle Class.

Interesting numbers..... I have always had numbers closer to $75K-125K in my head. No real basis for that, just my myopic world, thinking that is a solid living, you're not rich....you're not poor....you're just comfortable, assuming you live within your means.

27K middle class......where, Nicaragua......

[DiscGo]

If republicans blame the government, why keep reelecting the same knuckleheads that make up the government?

I am registered as a Republican because here in Utah the Republicans have all the clout. So I am technically a Republican, but I don't consider myself to be Republican. I agree with a lot of the Republican's platform, but I disagree with giving up my individual belief and handing the right to form my opinion over to a political group.

That said, I have never once voted for anyone who has been elected President, and seldom if ever do any of my preferred candidates get elected.

[cchoc]

I am registered as a Republican because here in Utah the Republicans have all the clout.

In GA we have open primaries, but I vote in the republican one since whoever wins in the republican primary will get elected automatically in the general. The bad news is that usually the primary winner is the one anointed by the party hacks, so we rarely get anyone who can or will think for themselves. My pont being that our federal government problems are just an extension of who the state party wonks are sending there. The exception being grass roots groups like the tea baggers who get out the vote in the primary and knock off the party favorites, but they are getting push back from republican party. As long as we allow our country to be run by professional politicians we continue to get the government we deserve.

[DiscGo]

In GA we have open primaries, but I vote in the republican one since whoever wins in the republican primary will get elected automatically in the general. The bad news is that usually the primary winner is the one anointed by the party hacks, so we rarely get anyone who can or will think for themselves.

We have the same problem here in Utah, but our primaries are not open.

[Scott P]

Despite all that, I'm worth more than a million.

Somewhat similar backgrounds, but in very different ways.

My dad was unemployed much of the time growing up, I joined the military on my 17th birthday, and I was married as a teenager (to the same beautiful woman than I am now). When I was married I started out making $4.85 an hour ($7.73 in 2013 dollars). We are however different in that I do have a college education (which we did pay for ourselves, no student loans, grants; I worked full time, Kim worked two jobs, so it took 10+ years). No real abuse from parents, only others (lots of sexual abuse and physical abuse from certain individuals, but that’s not appropriate to discuss here). Got to still do hiking and stuff as a kid too.

Doing fine now, despite much of the rest of the family is not. I’d probably be worth over a million if I didn’t have kids (though it was my choice to have them-no complaints). So, yes, I know what you are saying.

I have no problem with the rich as long as the money was earned honestly. (I do have a big problem with the CEO’s that were bailed out getting a big bonus right after the bailout though).

I still believe in the “myth” I posted above though. I should also say that both parties will always blame each other and hardly ever take responsibilities for their own mistakes.

I am neither democrat nor republican and won’t be until they both change their tunes.

I agree that the opportunities are out there for those that want to work. I also believe that most (not all) people who are poor put themselves in that position. On the other hand, I don’t think you can punish a child for being born. Regardless of the parent’s social status, income, etc., I still believe a child has a right to an education. It’s not their fault they were born into a certain family and at a young age the child can’t do anything about it. I guess you can call me a socialist for that belief if you must. I will go as far (despite it not being PC) that people who can’t support a child probably shouldn’t have them (and this happens a lot even among people calling themselves Republicans). Call me a socialist in this regard, but I also believe in school uniforms and that the parent's social status has no place in our schools. If what you say about your background is true, then I'm sure you too were severely teased and harassed because of the clothes you wore to school.

I also believe that there are people out there who really do need help at times (which is why we try to help others when needed).

People still need to respect each other whether rich or poor. One of my first negative experiences with marriage was when one of my mother in laws (I've only had one wife; it wasn't from me getting married twice) told my wife that I could never support her because of the neighborhood my parents lived in (she came from a well off family). It's absolute BS to judge someone that way.

I also don’t believe that most corporations will do the right thing if there were no laws or regulations. For example, I see the clean air act as a good thing. For those that don’t believe in things like environmental regulations, I invite you to visit places that have lax environmental regulations. Try cities like Nairobi, Delhi, Jakarta, Moscow, etc. Go breath their air a while and come back and say that we don’t need any environmental regulations.

I will never be a Republican (unless the party changes). The same holds true about being a Democrat.

PS, laziness and entitlements are actually prominent in both parties.

The county I live in is as about republican as it gets and we are in Colorado. Still, I’ve worked in many cities/places in Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Missouri, etc. and this republican county is by far the laziest place I have ever lived. We were recently named the second least healthy county in Colorado.

There are hardly any sidewalks and almost no one walks. The city actually went out last year and grinded off all the crosswalks. There is only one tiny bike path and people are always complaining if anyone does ride a bike. Hardly anyone hikes or does any kind of exercise. I’ve ran into only a few people in nine years hiking in the local area. If anyone will get outdoors, they do it in a pickup or ATV and seldom get out and walk. Most in this county think that they should be entitled to ride their ATV anywhere they want. Even for Church activities (I am LDS) most people just want to sit around and break the word or wisdom by eating too much and doing nothing.

Most people don’t want any public land. They want it to be given to them for free. They hate sidewalks, pedestrians, bikers, etc. Not only do they be lazy themselves here, but they try to prevent others from having any possible place to exersize (other than their own home). How does driving up the medical cost for everyone else fit into socialism?

You still have to love and respect them, but it's not always easy. Perhaps the above is quite disrespectful as well. It's not exactly all hugs and kisses and there is much frustration with the situation from my point of view.

Still, this is by far the laziest place I have ever lived. I used to like it here, but I no longer do. Of course, I have a good paying job and my family comes before any of my needs and wants.

Oh, and I really don’t get why Republicans claim to want small local control of government and yet take the opposite stance when it comes to foreign invasions, war and trying to control other countries that have nothing to do with our self defense. Don’t get me started how misguided it was to support the Iraq War (and most people that supported it seemed to be Republican). [PS, I support the troops, not the War itself. Also, I support helping countries that really need it, especially if they share our values.].

Neither party has any real accountability. Both have their own entitlements and both promote irresponsibility in different ways.

Of course all of that are completely different topics.

[hank moon]

Oh, and I really don’t get why Republicans claim to want small local control of government and yet take the opposite stance when it comes to foreign invasions, war and trying to control other countries that have nothing to do with our self defense.

Both parties know that human memory is selective, short, and very comfortable with contradiction. Pols can and do say just about anything that resonates with their target audience. Mostly they stick to framing idealistic "problems" that produce strong, divisive, emotional reactions. Folks are much easier to control when they're not thinking clearly, and there's an obvious "enemy" that needs to be defeated. Hence our society remains in perpetual war mode.

Until folks start realizing that our interests are pretty much the same, and that we need to work together to change the status quo in DC, then yeah,

As long as we allow our country to be run by professional politicians we continue to get the government we deserve.

what he said.