To the editor:
A number of years ago, (when I could no longer deny the wreckage that my excessive behaviors were causing in my life), I received a bit of wisdom. A wise man told me that I didn’t necessarily need to replace everything in my life, but I certainly needed to find a healthier balance.
In my opinion, and that of the nonpartisan, historically respected Congressional Budget Office, economic wealth in our country is out of balance. The present lack of regulations and little government oversight favor the wealthiest in our country (with the situation growing worse). Over the last 30 years, after-tax income rose 275 percent for the top 1 percent of Americans. In comparison, the same income for the bottom 20 percent of citizens rose 18 percent. This is wrong and out of balance.
With passage of the heinous “Citizens United” ruling by the Supreme Court, the 1 percent (and the corporations they own) are flooding our election system with HUGE amounts of money to elect conservatives into the legislatures and judiciary at both the state and federal level. This is wrong and out of balance.
History doesn’t show many examples of successful, purely socialistic states in the modern world. I’m not advocating a swing to pure socialism, but world history has too many examples (many happening today) where the economic aristocracy lord it over the economic peasants. I’m opposed to that happening anywhere, but especially so in MY country. We are better than this.
Comments
its_just_math 1 year, 6 months ago
Pretty candid and overall OK letter to the editor. But why blame this on conservatives? And just what precisely do you recommend as far as gov't. intervention or controlling the super rich? And a little observation, and merely my opinion, but maybe if your behavior was not so excessive earlier on in life, you could've seen your own income rise 275%. Maybe?
jafs 1 year, 6 months ago
Possibly because the recent CU ruling split along conservative/liberal lines with a 5-4 vote.
Cant_have_it_both_ways 1 year, 6 months ago
You left out the part about over 50% of people enjoying the USA pay zero income taxes and are being carried by those of us who do. A wise man told me only believe half of what you see and none of what you hear. You are a victim of the media. Spewing what you hear as fact. Turn your energy into doing something to better yourself and many of your problems will correct themselves.
tomatogrower 1 year, 6 months ago
That doesn't change the fact that the 1% could create jobs, and could pay their workers more, but refuse to, because they might only earn 50million, instead of 60 million. I mean it would really mess up their lifestyle losing that 10 million.
Cant_have_it_both_ways 1 year, 6 months ago
Why should someone take all the financial risk to support those who don't? You only see business as always making a profit. Did you ever stop to think that when sales are down, the very person you are bashing is the one that supports you when they have no revenue coming in. Do you have any idea what taxes your employer pays so YOU can have a job. I'll bet you think that unemployment insurance is part of your pay.
The companies that are struggling and using programs like work share will be incurring costs for a long time to keep ungrateful employees on the payroll. You see, there is nothing wrong with acquiring wealth, unless you are not the one doing it.
funkdog1 1 year, 6 months ago
As has been pointed out again and again and again, but people like you refuse to acknowledge or even hear, the vast majority of those 50% would LOVE to be earning enough to pay income taxes.
tomatogrower 1 year, 6 months ago
First of all, many companies are showing a profit, and if their sales are down, it's because they consider employees a burden and have gotten rid of as many as they could. Of course, these employees are the ones who buy products, so they are defeating their purpose. Some are making huge profits selling stuff to the growing affluent Chinese, so they could care less about the workers in the US.
Second, the wealthy are buying politicians, so they have plenty of money for that, but not for raises? They lobbied for the trickle down theory, but they aren't letting anything trickle down. They can finance the Tea Party, but they can't build a new factory? A strong and large middle class brings stability to a country. Why are they surprised that the big gap in incomes is making things unstable?
Third, there is nothing wrong with acquiring wealth. But if you use that wealth to keep others from acquiring wealth, without producing anything, then that is bad. They took jobs out of the country, so they could acquire more wealth, putting the US economy at risk. They wrote mortgages, then sold them for a profit, making money, but not doing anything really productive, or helping real people get into homes they could afford. Usually creating wealth for a company brings added benefits to the community in jobs and taxes, but that is not happening now. The recent practices have only made money for the top.
I don't hate the rich, but many of them today do not see the big picture. They do not feel a sense of patriotism or community. They do not look to the future. It's profits right now. And by the way, many people would consider me wealthy, but I'm not in the 1%, and don't care to be. I only want to take care of my family, just like anyone else. A person who is working hard should not be told "Why did you have kids, if you knew that your job was going to China?" Why shouldn't anyone working not be paid a living wage?
Cant_have_it_both_ways 1 year, 6 months ago
Your frustration should be funneled toward the politicians and not the business community. In every conversation a sale is being made, we are making one here on both sides. The politicians, as are everyone else are interested in keeping their place or making it better. If those in here only knew what a bunch of BS it is to create employment, they would change some of what they think.
tomatogrower 1 year, 6 months ago
Big business has bought all the politicians. They are one and the same. Where have you been lately? Living in the '50's?
Getaroom 1 year, 6 months ago
You are the one who should be wearing the Mickey Mouse ears. You are a victim of your own twisted mind masquerading as what? The pinnacle of Truth. You have been spewing the racist rhetoric of the whacko Right since you began on this blog. l expect you continue to believe that Obama is a Muslim. If by, "Can't_have_it_both_ways" means it's your way or no way then sure that is true.
Cant_have_it_both_ways 1 year, 6 months ago
You will never understand those who produce....you see, I have a job, all my teeth, and I choose to do things to better myself instead of blaming everyone else for my problems.
pace 1 year, 6 months ago
Golly, your numbers get bigger everyday. Glad you are finally thinking of children and the impoverished elderly as people. Of course you only mean income tax not all the other taxes and then you lump income levels and paying taxes as if everyone has three or four dependent kids. You want to protect the tax cuts to the wealthiest and put it on the poorest. cool. It must chaff you that Jesus was more hippy than tea. I don't mind helping the elderly woman or man near the end of his life but I mind helping the billionaire standing at the top of his gated drive way. You are the opposite. I suppose it is part of the celebrity worship. rich and famous get your love, while the every day worker gets the shaft. I don't blame the celebrity, I blame the church of tax cuts to the wealthiest, they will produce jobs. How is that working?
citizen1 1 year, 6 months ago
Daniel Patrick Schamle the disparity in incomes & economic wealth comes from several factors, chief among them is the lack of "Marketable Skills" by most of those who are not sharing in the wealth.
That is the fundamental issue to improve the individual/family income and personal wealth.
There are far too many people that focus on the "Top 1%" & make statements of inequity. Life teaches us that if we do not properly set goals for personal & financial success, prepare our abilities, & expend the effort to achieve those goals then we will never be successful. The formula for success is simple, the work is hard.
The most important factor in achieving your goals is "Attitude". Keep a positive & singularly focused mind toward your goals. Associate with successful people that will help uplift you by example & mentoring. DO NOT HANG WITH OR ALLOW YOURSELF TO WALLOW IN NEGATIVITY IN YOUR ENVIRONMENT OR WITH FRIENDS.
Not everyone aspires to be , nor are they willing to work toward, being at the top of the income/wealth scale. That is another key factor why there is a disparity in wealth.
Remember, no one is going to do the work for you. Your goals and hard work is the only tangible asset that will make the difference in your, or anyones life.
tomatogrower 1 year, 6 months ago
So the unskilled jobs shouldn't be paid a living wage? Are these jobs just suppose to be for slaves? And before you say they are paying market value for that labor, then why do they have such turn over? Why should that woman checking out your groceries have to eat from food stamps, because the grocer doesn't pay enough? Why shouldn't that woman be able to rent a simple apartment? Just so others can get really richer?
pace 1 year, 6 months ago
My favorite checker is an old woman and if you think paying her a fair wage makes your groceries too high, then garden. You want her to sacrifice so you can buy bread cheap. Get a second job if you want her charity or be a man and just tell her to her face, that because you want cheaper groceries you think she needs to kneel to your special needs.
pace 1 year, 6 months ago
I am sorry you don't have the skills necessary to afford paying a fair price for food. I am sorry you need checkers, stockers and everyone else to support your desire for cheap food. I am sure if you weren't lazy you could work harder, garden or if you were smart you could learn the skills. Why deny someone working hard a fair wage because you don't have the skills or job and want cheaper food?
tomatogrower 1 year, 6 months ago
+1 for pace!!!
pace 1 year, 6 months ago
If you need cheap food to sustain you, Don't ask the people who show up and work hard, Ask me, I give to even the undeserving, just because you don't have the skills for a higher paying job and are too lazy to garden or make it on your own. I have been blessed, I would rather give you charity than watch you demand sacrifice from hard working people who can't afford to, to carry you on their back. They have families dependents, mortgages, rent. I hope you like carbs? I also can give you basil and rosemary, from my garden. You poor helpless guy. I feel so sorry for you. Have more pride. Don't ask poor people to contribute to your groceries, at least ask the richer ones.
pace 1 year, 6 months ago
So you need cheap food. I understand. If you can cheat an old lady or a teenager, you feel like you won. Again. don't think cheating the checker of a grocery store of a fair wage because you can't afford to pay a fair price for your food is a win. Get a job, improve your skills, don't blame the hard workers of the food chain on your inability to pay your own way.
tomatogrower 1 year, 6 months ago
Just exactly what do you consider fair, LO? We don't want to pay a fair price for our food or our clothing. So we hire illegals to pick the produce for very little money and we expect the people who serve it up, in whatever way, to not get paid enough for basic living expenses. And we move our clothes manufacturing out of the country, so our teenagers can leave their clothes in the lost and found at school, and never claim them, because they can always go out and buy more and more.
Because the these "peon" workers can't afford basics, they either go hungry, go to a food bank, or get food stamps. Then you moan and groan that they are on food stamps. Geez, LO, do you have any idea what you sound like? Someone has to do these jobs. They are vital jobs. But because they don't require a lot of education, you look down on them and throw them a few scraps, so you don't have to pay more for your food, and then complain about the scraps? "Let them eat cake." snobbery.
pace 1 year, 6 months ago
You seem to think manual laborers in America should be reduced to the standard of illegal immigrants. You want to force the American worker to accept lower wages, unsafe conditions, eliminate the "regulations and consequences" to cheat them out of their earnings. I think it is one of the GOP/Corporation alliances. The cheating of workers , the alliance results in no effective immigration reform bill, No job bill. Your desire for cheap workers. If you need cheap food, again, I will donate to you. If you don't have the skills or will to pay your own way, better it on me than every person working hard for a living.
deec 1 year, 6 months ago
Actually your cheap food is subsidized through your tax dollars via farm subsidies. There is no free market in food in the U.S. Our corn-based diet is cheap because the federal government pays farm corporations to grow it. Our food supply is cheap because undocumented workers are exploited in its production and processing. More and more of our food is imported from other countries, who may not have laws in place to protect the purity of the food or the rights of workers.
jafs 1 year, 6 months ago
I wonder why people continue to repeat the untruth about 50% paying no tax, or no income tax.
The correct figure is about 47%, involves only "federal" income tax, and includes a variety of people, including those on Social Security, veterans benefits, etc. and some rich folks.
According to the people that did that research, many on the right are misunderstanding and misrepresenting it.
markoo 1 year, 6 months ago
I know you're asking a rhetorical question, but I can't help answering it:
People repeat bullsh$t because they hear what they want to hear, and then repeat it.
Elrond 1 year, 6 months ago
Liar The writer didn't say that 50% pay no tax, only that they pay no INCOME tax.
jafs 1 year, 6 months ago
"paying no tax, or no income tax"
From my post.
Either one is incorrect, of course, the correct term would be "federal" income tax.
I await your apology.
snap_pop_no_crackle 1 year, 6 months ago
For the 2008 election, Barry received more money from Wall Street than any other candidate in history. He make gripe about big money to keep the rubes stirred up but he lovingly accepts that money all the same.
tbaker 1 year, 6 months ago
“…lack of regulations and little government oversight” You’re serious? You think our country lacks these things? The excess of these things is a big part of the reason why people can’t get ahead. Wealth redistribution in the name of social justice is the tool of tyrants. If limiting the power money has over politicians is your goal, one could repeal the 17th amendment. There is a reason why the founders of our country built the executive and legislative branches of government the way they did. Direct election of US senators (brought upon us by the 17th amendment) has usurped the founder’s wisdom and has given us the corruption that cripples our senate, not to mention neutered the voice of the states in our federal government. To quote Madison: The senate will be elected absolutely and exclusively by the State Legislatures and will therefore owe it’s existence more or less to the favor of the State Government, and must consequently feel a dependence on them for reelection.” If big money wants to buy senators, they’d have to set up lobbyists in 50 capitols, not just one. State government is by and large a part-time job in most places. The legislatures are made up of real people who hold jobs outside of politics. Buying their votes is far more difficult task.
jayhawklawrence 1 year, 6 months ago
Many people feel as this writer does. It is not unreasonable to feel this way.
The danger is that we have been coming up with solutions from the Democrats and Republicans that do not work but rather reward their constituencies meaning they are not representing all Americans.
That is why the national debt has continued to climb, the economic problems have become more complex and our ability to face 21st century challenges seems more and more in doubt.
In this cauldron we are seeing the same troubling habits by our political parties. The Republicans are running people with less and less brain power and more and more radical and crazy ideas that don't seem connected with reality.
The Democrats pretend to look like centrists but are always taking hard left turns and scaring the business community with radical ideas that end up costing a lot of money.
How about we take the best ideas from all of these people and start another political party?
As you watch each Republican candidate crash and burn like the Hindenburg you have to wonder if this is a form of judgement from God rather than just a bunch of stupid people.
Stain 1 year, 6 months ago
Brownback is bringing this inequality to Kansas. He is an agent for the uber-wealthy, an errand boy for the Koch brothers. When he's finished we'll be a state of poor people.
gl0ck0wn3r 1 year, 6 months ago
Class war!!!!
citizen1 1 year, 6 months ago
Tomatogrower, my question is why you think those are career jobs. Like all of us we started out with entry level jobs and moved on by developing skills to better support our families.
Yes the jobs you mentioned are paid based on there value to the companies.
If someone wants a living wage then develop the skills to warrant that level of pay.
Just demanding more pay will only get you low level paying jobs. Get some skills & earn a better income. Become portable in your employment abilities. Don't be trapped.
hear_me 1 year, 6 months ago
We need unskilled workers, too. In fact there are times I think unskilled workers are more valuable than professionals. Besides, who else would do the work?
Example. When the leaders were rebuilding New Orleans, they rebuilt the entertainment district, the hotels and restaurants. Then, wondered why the employee pool had not moved back. They had to house employees in the hotels.
hear_me 1 year, 6 months ago
"gl0ck0wn3r (anonymous) says…Class war!!!!"
Most accurate. Summary statistics from various studies cannot be used together. The study groups are not the same. They may overlap. Mixing the statistics does not yield valid conclusions. This political misuse of statistics misleads then voters.
citizen1 1 year, 6 months ago
Yes, unskilled workers positions are available. That does not mean they should be paid more than their value to their employer. Nor does it mean they must remain unskilled.
pace 1 year, 6 months ago
I don't agree that gardeners, wait people, janitors, cooks are unskilled. I have been served by the unskilled wait person, and served by the skilled wait person. Just showing up for work is a skill that has value. Hard work, well done is to be honored in my family, not someone to cheat, pay their due. Small business need reliable workers, they should not be cheated.
deec 1 year, 6 months ago
According to the latest Gallup poll, 8.5% of people are unemployed. 18.1% are underemployed. Earlier this year McDonald's had a national hiring day, when they hoped to hire 50,000 workers. They hired 62,000. A million applied.
Moderate 1 year, 6 months ago
You know that the guy who wrote this believes that the US Government is complicit in 9/11 and wants criminal charges brought. Now they may be complicit in having not adequately worked to avoid it but the idea they were active conspirators smacks of real paranoia.
citizen1 1 year, 6 months ago
Figures!
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