(Comfortable.)
House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) is hopping mad about the Bush-era tax cuts for the rich -- specifically, about Democrats' continued opposition to extending them. Failing to blow a $36 billion hole in the budget, failing to ask the rich to pay what they paid during the Clinton era, would "be the most irresponsible thing that I have seen since I have been in Washington," Rep. Boehner says.
Meanwhile, the Census Bureau is sending up a flare of its own. Rachel Maddow notes this report, which tells us:
The income gap between the richest and poorest Americans grew last year to its widest amount on record as young adults and children in particular struggled to stay afloat in the recession.
The top-earning 20 percent of Americans -- those making more than $100,000 each year -- received 49.4 percent of all income generated in the U.S., compared with the 3.4 percent earned by those below the poverty line, according to newly released census figures. That ratio of 14.5-to-1 was an increase from 13.6 in 2008 and nearly double a low of 7.69 in 1968.
A different measure, the international Gini index, found U.S. income inequality at its highest level since the Census Bureau began tracking household income in 1967. The U.S. also has the greatest disparity among Western industrialized nations.
At the top, the wealthiest 5 percent of Americans, who earn more than $180,000, added slightly to their annual incomes last year, census data show. Families at the $50,000 median level slipped lower.
"Dear Candidate X -- Is this a good thing or a bad thing?" Maddow tweets. "If it's bad, what's your plan for dealing with it?"
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There are Lots of Issues here--- but I Just Want to Comment on Wages of Average Americans--- Not the Rich.
The Job Markets are Changing. I Saw a Tweet from a Tweeter in Florida ( Great--- My State). She Complained that she Used to Make $15.00 an Hour--- Now Making $9.00 Per Hour.
So---- the Poor are Getting Poorer???
Another Issue is the Housing Boom, I Can Only Speak for Florida, where I Live. I Once Talked to a Client, Who was a Home Builder in Orlando--- He Explained this Long Before the Crash Happened.
People that Certainly Could NOT Afford a $500,000 Home in a Gated Community Bought the House Anyway-- They Were Approved for the Mortgage. The Goal-- was to (Flip) the House and Make Double-the Profit. They Had the (Adjustable Rate Mortgage)--- and When Rates Went Up, they Lost the House.
Will There Ever be Another American Dream???
Diana B
I used to be angry every time I saw some show on HGTV that seemed to imply that one of the main motives to buy a house was to make a lot of money in a short time so you could flip the house and make a quick buck, or use the money to get a second mortgage for home improvement. I felt that they were encouraging people to buy homes as a get-rich-quick scheme, rather than think of them as a place to live. I know that buying a house to live in was a novel idea in those housing bubble halcyon days, but common sense had to say that homes couldn't keep rising in value at those rates forever. Unfortunately, those who didn't know better bought houses they could never afford outside the housing bubble, and those who should have known better urged them to do so. The greed of the buyers, the greed of the financers, all came together to bring everyone down, even those who had nothing to do with the process to begin with.
About the Segment on Mr Raese, Who is Running in West Virginia. Yea--- Going Back to the Good Ole Days Back in the Turn of the Century. He is Full of It, because He Knows that Would Never Happen.
But I know his Type--- Naples, Florida Has Many of Them. In Fact, That is Why Some People Call Naples---- ( Olde Naples ). It is an Inside Joke for Locals, that Only Locals Know.
There is NO Such Community, NO Such Neighborhood. The Joke is--- Old Naples, Old Money
BTW---- Years Ago I Did Go to the Exclusive Country Club in Naples for Lunch. I Was Invited as a Guest. You Have to be a Member to Go. It Was Total- 100% Ralph Lauren Chic, and Every Person There Was as White as Snow.
And---- They Want to Keep it This Way
Diana B
Just to Add Too--- at the time, my Friend Explained to me that (Not Everyone) in the (Neighborhood) Becomes a Member of this Exclusive Country Club Either.
The Point is--- They Like, and Welcome the Cliques of ( Old Money )! Not to Say that Many People Cannot Join and Play in Golf Tournaments, etc...
But there Definitely is a Clique of (Old Inherited Money)---- Probably in Many Areas!
They Do NOt Want to Change this!!
Diana B
It is time to stop labeling the failure of Democratic congress people as weakness or spineless or inept.
It should be obvious to everyone by now that it is an insidious bait and switch that we seem to fall for every election.
In Chicago, 3 years after the Chicago Fire of 1871, a Christian minister to the elite of his time, opposed a movement to help the poor and homeless. He presented his argument as not a class war of inherited nobility vs. working people, but as hardworking rich people vs. not hardworking poor people, as "labor vs. labor."
What's amazing is that the argument is the same one being used by Tea Party Libertarians against Social Security, Medicare, unemployment insurance, etc.
Okay, this is off -topic but I need to get this onboard here. While watching Bill Maher's show this past weekend something he said intrigued me. During a debate over the healthcare issue, Maher said, "... it's the Bob Dole plan of 96".
So I did about 3 minutes of research and found this:
http://www.dolekemp96.org/agenda/issues/health.htm
Folks, it is a mirror image of what "ObamaCare" (as the Rs have lovingly dubbed it) looks like.
Now, the Republicans could argue that the economy was stronger in 1996 than it is today and "we could've afforded it back then" (no, really, I can literally hear Boehner saying this in my mind) ... and to that excuse, I would say ... DUUUHHHHHHH!
<<< Thank you for allowing me to get this off my chest on this thread >>>
I also hope this fact comes up on the TRMS.
I don't think making 15.00 an hour is poor. Matter of fact both my parents make 25.00hrly. THe problem with making 9 15 or even 25 an hour really doesn't allow you to do much these days. By the time you get finished paying bills you have nothing left. I think we should be looking at the cost of things going up for no reason... FOr instance, why are we being charged 850 a month in rent when we can get a house to rent for the same price. An apartment complex shouldn't be charging that much. Its the cost of living that is gouging the American people and not the pay. I would be fine working at 9 15 or 25 an hour if my monthly bills would go down.
Amen, Emerald. One whole paycheck each month goes to my robber landlord, that crook Comcast, Quest and my power bill. Glad to have the money to pay it, but agree rent is a gouger, and all this means I will depend on social security next year. bummer
Wonder what Boehner spent on that toupee? It's really not a very good rug I have never seen anyone try to part their hair under their hair NICE.
I just wish some good liberal democrat would nail Boehner on all his nonsensical ducking of issues. Perhaps we should just refer to him as "His Coyness!"
Do the math.
The million dollar income "collector" gets a lower tax rate, because they might donate to charity or have some ability to claim credits and shelter more income fro taxes. They have the ability to hire an accountant an advisor.
OK, there is no "punishing" wealthy people. It boils down to fair taxation. Time and time again, the wealthy folks use the public systems, sometimes MORE than their share. They moan about only getting to keep $830,00.00 of their million dollar income. That is 17% tax rate.
A person with an income of $50,000.00 may be taxed at 25% (usually MORE than 25%) pays $12,500, leaving them $37,500.
Give 2% (Make it 23%) back to the $50K income, they will spend it.
Have a million dollar income pay the extra 6% (make it 23%) and they still keep $770,000!!!
This does NOT equate to punishing. I know flat tax will never happen, but they get to keep more of a percentage.
Bottom line, fair taxation.
People are angry about taxes, well look at how UNFAIR it is. Yes, allow the middle-lower income to have taxes cut and get some more credits! Let the wealthy pay their fair share.
Why does someone deserve lower taxation because they HAVE SO MUCH?
They use the public services, the corporations also use the public services paid with taxes. The higher income does not equate to jobs. If someone brings jobs the U.S., fine, but there is no logic in the myth that corporations hire Americans, no logic that higher incomes spend money on U.S. products or increase jobs. There was a majority voting to raise taxes for those that hire overseashttp://money.cnn.com/2010/09/28/news/economy/Outsource_jobs_bill_dead/
There is no doubt there would be incentive to hire U.S. workers, a majority voted for the bill, it says here, it's dead. WHY can't we pass a bill with a majority?
The filibuster is being ABUSED and it needs to be addressed!
Buy the Dave Ramsey book. Live within your means. Work hard, save your money. Stop blaming rich people. They're rich for a reason. They're probably smart people that sell something people need. They already pay plenty of taxes. More than you and I will ever pay. It's not their responsiblity to make sure the rest of us are living great.
Nobody is blaming rich people. But it is good to live within your means. Giving in to putting a false image out there (keeping up with the Jonses) will bite you.
Republicans would have us believe that the democrats tax plan is class warfare. In reality, we have had warfare on the middle class going on for thirty years now.
Ever since the "actor" became president, taxes have gone down on the top 2 percentile (under the assumption that they would invest in jobs). The results of this experiment? Bubble and burst economies, the virtual death of the manufacturing industry, and ultimatly the systematic destruction of the middle class!
Its pretty obvious that rich folks have little interest in gracing other americans with trickles of there wealth. Its time now, to put a more simple and fair tax plan in place.
You don't have to be very rich to afford any food you desire, a comfortable bed, nice looking furniture, a house with a view, a luxurious car. If you are rich, what do you do with extra money beyond that? It is just a game. You compete with other rich people to see who has the most money.
Even if the rich had to pay 99% in taxes, it would not change the relative game rankings. So there is no need at all to coddle/stimulate the super rich. They play flat out to compete with each other. It is in their genes. They scream about taxes and lobby, bribe and cheat as just part of the money game, not because of any actual need. We take their whining, as relayed via Repubilcan candidates, far too seriously.
If you wanted to stimulate a horse to get out and find some grass, the best way to do it is not to force feed it like a Strasbourg goose. The same applies to billionaires when you want to encourage them to get off their asses and get out and make money by hiring people. You have to make them a bit hungry.