ocean color ribbon texture
waiting for a wave in the fog
The super-rich got even wealthier this year, and yet most of them are paying even fewer taxes to support the eduction, job training, and job creation of the rest of us. According to Forbes magazine's annual survey, just released, the combined net worth of the 400 richest Americans climbed 8% this year, to $1.37 trillion. Wealth rose for 217 members of the list, while 85 saw a decline.
This is what is so annoying about the news that the Dems don't want to fight for the middle class. They need to tell this story OVER AND OVER until voters understand that both Democrats and Republicans are getting screwed by the current system. We need real change. We need to take control back from the Big Business interests, the Lobbyists, the Banks. It's not socialism, it's equal rights for all.
full moon over half moon bay
it's radar dome meets harvest moon at pillar point
The report (pdf) "Building a Better America -- One Wealth Quintile At A Time" by Dan Ariely of Duke University and Michael I. Norton of Harvard Business School (hat tip to Paul Kedrosky), shows that across ideological, economic and gender groups, Americans thought the richest 20 percent of our society controlled about 59 percent of the wealth, while the real number was closer to 84 percent.
More interesting than that, the report says, is that the respondents (a randomly selected 5,522-person sample, reflecting the country's ideological, economic and gender demographics, surveyed in December 2005) believed the top 20 percent should own only 32 percent of the wealth. Respondents with incomes over $100,000 per year had similar answers to those making less then $50,000. (The report has helpful, multi-colored charts.)
This is why the dems must stick to their guns. Dems must educate the electorate to show that the middle class has been drastically reduced while the top 20% of the rich own 84% of the wealth!! It does seem that they could spare a few percent for the rest so that kids can get educated and people can get healthcare.
Democrats emerged from the meeting mostly mum about what final decision had been reached, though Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) said it was "generally accepted" that no vote would be taken before the election.
I really don't understand why the Dems are afraid that if they go on record for tax cuts for the middle class BUT NOT FOR THE RICH that they will lose the upcoming elections. For goodness sake we are talking about a very small percentage of the electorate and those people are all voting republican anyhow. Dems need to clearly explain to the electorate what it means for them. We need to:
PROTECT SOCIAL SECURITY
KEEP TAX CUTS FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS
RAISE TAXES ON THE RICH
GET OUT OF AFGHANISTAN (SAVING TRILLIONS OVER TIME)
REPEAL DADT
surf check in morning light 9/23/2010
WASHINGTON — House Republicans on Thursday will issue a legislative blueprint called “A Pledge to America” that they hope will catapult them to a majority in the November elections. Its goals include a permanent extension of all the Bush-era tax cuts, repeal of the newly enacted health care law, a cap on discretionary federal spending and an end to government control of the mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
I AM AMAZED.... how is it possible that any americans believe that:
1. affordable healthcare for all
2. asking millionaires to help the less fortunate
3. regulation of predatory banking companies
IS NOT A GREAT THING.
HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?
DON'T YOU WANT AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE?
DON'T YOU WANT ENOUGH MONEY TO SUPPORT YOUR FAMILIES?
DON'T YOU WANT BANKS TO BE PREVENTED FROM CHARGING OUTRAGEOUS FEES AND FOR BEING TOO BIG TO FAIL?
I HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT EVERYONE WOULD WANT THESE OUTCOMES
FRIENDS, PLEASE TELL ME IF YOU UNDERSTAND THIS? HOW CAN ANYONE VOTE AGAINST THESE GOALS?