Is Income Inequality a problem for our country?

by Roger47 Posted 2012/06/11 20:19:33

Related Topics: Economics, Winner, Economy, America, Ugly, Born, Stuck, Picture, Joseph, Land

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	Yes	42 votes	62%
	No	26 votes	38%

Nobel Prize Winner in Economics Joseph Stiglitz has looked at income inequality in America, and he says it is a problem. We are no longer the land of opportunity. You are more likely to remain stuck in the economic class you are born into than the people growing up in any other developed nation.
If the root causes of income inequality go unaddressed, America will truly become a two-class society and look much more like a third world economy, Stiglitz warns. "People will live in gated communities with armed guards. It's a ugly picture. There will be political, social and economic turmoil."

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Birthpangs 2012/06/11 21:19:31

No

+8
moderated...
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More polls by Roger47

rustyshackelford 2012/06/12 03:15:50 (edited)
marcuss LIBERALS ARE IDIOTS 2012/06/12 02:58:22

No

+4
This sounds like a TYPICAL LWNJ I want a hand out blog. Quit your whining and make something of yourselves. You ass clowns cry about what other people have but you would never protest outside of the FILTHY RICH LIBERAL ELITES 150 million dollar homes begging for their scraps. Go ahead though it would be nice to see them IGNORE you while they feed their dogs T bone steaks.

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Elleryqueen 2012/06/12 02:47:32

No

+4
Inequality in status or inequality in pay? There are rich, middle class and poor. Everyone has the same opportunity in life to better themselves. I'm sure I will hear about those in the ghettos, appalachia, etc. There are success stories from both areas.

Those who have the work ethic and intellect and sometimes luck do tend to do better.

If it's pay inequality as far as I know the inequality is in the higher echelons of corporate. ie: CEO's, COO's, Presidents, Vice presidents, etc.

Those that work in the trades, electrician, block masons, brick layers carpenters or male nurses, female nurses, RN or LPN pay is equal. Female same as male.

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JJ to Elleryq... 2012/11/25 15:57:25

+1
Actually that's not factually true. We don't all have the same opportunity to better ourselves. The data says that we tend to stay in the economic class that we are born into - both rich and poor. Of course there are statistical anomalies, there likely always will be, but for the most part, if you're born poor, you stay poor, if you're born rich, you stay rich.

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Maltilda 2012/06/12 02:18:50

No

+4
Life ain't fair. Equal opportunity does not mean entitlement.

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GuruA2J~#IOKIYAR~612 BLOCKT 2012/06/12 02:09:32

Yes

+5
You better believe it & these disparities have always preceded DEPRESSIONS.

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socokid 2012/06/12 02:01:06

Yes

+5
It is THE problem, and it is getting worse:

http://www.csmonitor.com/Busi...

http://www.motherjones.com/po...

http://www.amazon.com/The-Pri...

http://www.wnyc.org/shows/lop...
(audio interview with Stiglitz)

We are creating a two-tiered society. We now "enjoy" the largest income disparity and the least amount of class movement in the western industrialized world. We are now rewarding the money your parents earned FAR more than hard work. An intelligent, hard working person that is born to a poor family has far, FAR more hurdles to jump over. A minefield that fewer are able to get through, and it is getting worse. We are literally making it harder for hard working, intelligent Americans to contribute to our society. At the same time, we are making it easier and easier for those with access to gain more. Easing the path to success for a decreasing number of Americans. This harms everyone . The entire nation.

You cannot sell your widgets if only a decreasing fraction can afford them. When the GOP suggests that taking more from the wealthy is not a fix, realize what they are really saying is "Look, we need to take more of the wealth percentage. Trust us. When we have 90% of the wealth, THEN you'll see the benefit. It's cool, man!"

Call them on it. The history of this ideology...

It is THE problem, and it is getting worse:

http://www.csmonitor.com/Busi...

http://www.motherjones.com/po...

http://www.amazon.com/The-Pri...

http://www.wnyc.org/shows/lop...
(audio interview with Stiglitz)

We are creating a two-tiered society. We now "enjoy" the largest income disparity and the least amount of class movement in the western industrialized world. We are now rewarding the money your parents earned FAR more than hard work. An intelligent, hard working person that is born to a poor family has far, FAR more hurdles to jump over. A minefield that fewer are able to get through, and it is getting worse. We are literally making it harder for hard working, intelligent Americans to contribute to our society. At the same time, we are making it easier and easier for those with access to gain more. Easing the path to success for a decreasing number of Americans. This harms everyone. The entire nation.

You cannot sell your widgets if only a decreasing fraction can afford them. When the GOP suggests that taking more from the wealthy is not a fix, realize what they are really saying is "Look, we need to take more of the wealth percentage. Trust us. When we have 90% of the wealth, THEN you'll see the benefit. It's cool, man!"

Call them on it. The history of this ideology shows they are simply false. Exactly backwards, in fact. We thrive when the disparity less and access is available to more. The removal of apathy is palpable (regain the adage "If I work hard, I will be able to survive!" which is now a diminishing myth). The class war was already waged, they won, and they are now cleaning up as it destroys us from the inside out. What is amazing, is that they have convinced half of this country that they should be giving more to those at the top.

Unreal.
(more)

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Lady Wh... to socokid 2012/06/12 10:04:34

+1
WELL SAID

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bob h. to socokid 2012/06/15 22:17:25

+2
It's our own fault. Stop buying G3 or G4 or what ever that means, Buy Hybrid cars, Stop with the Mirco soft or Apple garbage. $200 for a windows Vista or something that you don't own and doesn't work?? Buy a real book, bag the Nook. The only reason they have the money is because we give it to them.

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socokid to bob h. 2012/06/22 13:51:27

+1
Hey man... I'd die without my iPhone. ;-)

Kidding aside, I believe one of the main purposes of government should is to combat disparity and ensure a modicum of access to all if NOTHING else. The GOP wishes to do the exact opposite.

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WhereIsAmerica? ~PWCM~JLA 2012/06/12 01:58:19

No

+5
Class warfare is not the answer, I am far from rich myself, but I have learned I do much better in life by not biting the hand that feeds me. You can get really poor really fast that way.

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David Lindner 2012/06/12 01:29:48

No

+4
people who arent happy with what they have is a bigger problem

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Christian Miller 2012/06/12 01:10:24

No

+1
Inequality is not the problem, but the US is rich enough so that no one need be below the poverty level. A convenient truth is that full employment is not necessary for the production of sufficient goods and services for everyone. Not everyone needs to work full-time, but everyone needs money to buy those goods and services.

I recommend Social Security for all: The Federal Government makes an unconditional payment of $13,628 each year to every adult US citizen to provide a modicum of financial independence to everyone. This program can be financed entirely by cutting existing federal welfare associated programs and changing the federal personal income tax to a flat rate of 18% but allowing no deductions. This $2.975 trillion per year program would not add to nor reduce the federal deficit. Other potential avenues for federal deficit reduction such as Defense, Medicare, Medicaid, foreign aid, wealth taxes or gas taxes are not preempted. The figure of $13,628 per year per adult was chosen because after 18% income tax it yields $11,175 per adult, which would amount to the 2011 Federal Poverty Level of $22,350 for a family of 4 (2 adults plus 2 children).

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Moonage 2012/06/12 01:04:24

No

+4
The only difference between the poor of today and the poor of 100 years ago is now they are fed, housed, and provided medical care. If the inequality is bad now, it would have destroyed the country then.

Some people have no perspective whatsoever. Giving them a Nobel just exposes their ignorance. Just ask Al Gore.

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bob h. to Moonage 2012/06/15 22:32:07

Unless you happen to be in the increasing army of homeless.

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Moonage to bob h. 2012/06/17 21:42:40

I'm gonna bet you anything you want that the homeless were a bigger issue nationwide in 1930 then they are now. For that matter, I'll bet you homeless were a bigger issue post Civil War in the South than the entire country is now.

Care to take that bet?

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Roger47 to Moonage 2012/06/19 14:37:22

That a problem was worse decades ago than it is now does not mean that it is not a problem now, right?

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Moonage to Roger47 2012/06/19 15:17:50

I wasn't arguing that's a problem or not. It's a reality. What I was arguing is the "increasing army of homeless" statement. My original argument is compared to most of the world, we don't have "poor". Choke on that all you want. They are fed, housed, given medical coverage, most have cell phones for crying out loud. Go walk down the streets in Brazil, Central America, Asia, Africa. You want poor? That's poor. We don't have poor, we just have people that don't have as much stuff as we expect everyone to have. Things go bad for those same people in North Korea or Afghanistan and they starve to death.

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Roger47 to Moonage 2012/06/19 21:20:03

+1
Agreed.

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mac9 2012/06/12 00:55:05

No

+5
Not everyone has the same education or skill. Some jobs or professions are worth more some less.

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Pronatalist Pronatalist 2012/06/12 00:50:17

No

+4
No, income inequality is not bad for our country. We need some inequality to motivate people to work. And if people are content to live in a cardboard box, or in their car, they shouldn't have to work as hard as somebody who wants a nice home.

Let us decide for ourselves.

However, incessant government meddling, and sky-high taxes, has made it harder for anybody but the filthy rich to get ahead, and so the gap between rich and poor has widened to obscene levels. I don't want what belongs to the rich man. I want what belongs to me.

Get the politicians out of our pockets, and out of our business.

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Brian 2012/06/12 00:34:47

No

+4
Well if it's such a big problem for Mister Stglitz, then he can start sharing some of his wealth with ME! put your money where you pie hole is ya douche!

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Cyan9 2012/06/12 00:06:14

Yes

+4
It's a huge problem in this country especially considering it's at the highest level since the pre-depression 1920s. This nation is being tried with a second guided age, however let's ignore the history for the moment. If you're unconvinced of how and what effect inequality has on the standard of living in a country. Below is by far the most convincing case for egalitarianism I think has ever been made. I hope you take the time and honestly watch it with an open mind. It's not very long. http://www.youtube.com/watch?...

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apachehellfire65 2012/06/11 23:52:54

No

+5
i have never heard or seen a real life case of it in my whole life!

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YouSirName 2012/06/11 23:49:16

Yes

+3
If you don't think so, watch the 2006 documentary "The One Percent" by Jamie Johnson of the Johnson and Johnson family. It's available on Netflix and YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?...

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Jbug799 2012/06/11 23:34:00

Yes

+2
What isn't a problem?

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Nancy~PWCM~JLA~POTL 2012/06/11 23:20:58

No

+4
Its a problem if you make it one.

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bags the Indigenous Guru 2012/06/11 23:03:33

Yes

+3
Mr. Stiglitz is right on the $$, IMHO. It's beginning already. Gated communities are becoming more and more common. People are more and more concerned with 'I've got mine and you ain't gettin' any of it'. Wasn't Trayvon Martin walking in a gated community?

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Lady Wh... to bags th... 2012/06/12 10:01:07

+1
yup!

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Keeping It Real 2012/06/11 22:58:58

Yes

+3
Without a doubt!

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lee 2012/06/11 22:29:55

Yes

+4
...Is Romney going to work on fixing that?

NO!

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marcuss... to lee 2012/06/12 02:53:47

+3
Is 0WEbama fixing that....FU@K NO nor will he. He is too busy hobnobbing with the filthy rich Hollywierd elite and taking their money to give a FU@K about you or anyone else.

Socialism only works for the socialist not the people.

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lee to marcuss... 2012/06/12 21:32:51

he will do more to fix it than Romney ever will....

at least he came from middle class, single mom kind of background... romney? silver spoon, all the way.

who's got your back?

Romney?

he'll put a knife in it.

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marcuss... to lee 2012/06/12 21:40:52 (edited)

+1
You know this how Mr KNOWALLOGIST? Seems to me the only fixing 0WEbama is doing is fixing to travel to yet another dinner with the LIBERAL HOLLYWIERD ELITE to get their cash. I prefer someone who knows what they are doing over the 6 1/2 TRILLION DOLLAR CLOWN.

0WEbama? He has already put a knife in the back of Americans and you want another knife in the jugular.

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lee to marcuss... 2012/06/12 22:43:58

are you kidding me?

who doesn't know these simple facts about either of these men?

have you been living under a rock or something?

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marcuss... to lee 2012/06/12 23:35:35
lee to marcuss... 2012/06/13 00:13:20
marcuss... to lee 2012/06/13 00:55:57

+1
So being born to a successful family is evil? Giving your inheritance to charity is evil? 0WEbama was born to communist parents and his god father is Frank Marshall Davis and his COMMUNIST mentor. Odd that you see someone who was mentored by communists as a better person.

Are you also a communist? Have you also dined on dog?

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lee to marcuss... 2012/06/13 16:25:03 (edited)

your the only one saying detachment from the middle class values is EVIL...

i'm just saying "detached", meaning he's not looking out for us... he's looking out for the ppl he KNOWS.... (who are all rich).

its not good, its not evil.. its how things work.

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marcuss... to lee 2012/06/13 21:20:36 (edited)

+1
He looked out for THOUSANDS of people that work for Staples......He saved their company they work for. Hell even Bill Clinton is defending Romney's exemplary record at Bain Capitol. Hell a number of DEMOCRATS are now donating to Romney, one standout is Warren Buffet.

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