1% of Americans own more wealth than 40% of all other Americans combined

[lovbyts]

My question is this, who really gives a fvck?

Why do people get so worked up over who is rich, what they have or how they made it?

Every once in a while I get pulled into a FB post where there are people crying about how the RICH are taking from the poor, forcing them to work in sweat shops and how people need to rise up, riot and protest.

I get slammed because I always say I pretty much dont give a fvck how much someone else has or what they have or how they live. For the most part it does not effect me or most anyone else IMO.

Sure there are those who have made millions by the exploration of others but I think it's far and few in between compared to what some people tend to think. There will always be some bad people. There will always be rich and poor. Sorry but not everyone is equal or deserves equal pay.

Still, there are a lot of things that do need fixed in the good ole USA but taking from the rich is not going to fix any of it.

[Euroholic]

Agreed!!! Alot of People suffer from "tall poppy syndrome" As far as im concerned in a capitalist world people should be praised and looked upto for hard work. Alot of self made men are good inspirations.

[oldenred]

If yoi want money get off your arse and make it! Don't sit on your arse while living on my money in govt housing eating off of food stamps with free medical and free cell phone and bitch and riot because life isn't fair. My $.02

[Euroholic]

If yoi want money get off your arse and make it! Don't sit on your arse while living on my money in govt housing eating off of food stamps with free medical and free cell phone and bitch and riot because life isn't fair. My $.02

I like Free health care. Its good for the community.

[Fllifter]

I like Free health care. Its good for the community.

Nothing's "free".

[derekkpapa1]

Nothing's "free".

Welfare.

[lovbyts]

Welfare.

And where does the money come from? Taxpayers. If we didnt have to pay out so much to those who want instead of those who do we would be paying a lot less in taxes.

[oldenred]

Welfare.

That isn't free, comes strait out of my check every week so lazy people can keep being lazy. Messed up country we live in, govt. wants hundreds of billions a year for welfare people and illegals but squawk when needing a couple billion for veterans healthcare and compensation for injuries caused during war. Talk about a messed up world.

[diesel101]

The sad part is the lazy people outnumber the hard working people.

[Oki-Des]

I am getting sick of reading that crap on Facebook too. I think they are simply trying to find someone out there who feels the same way they do; and I am not one of them. We all have problems and we all have great things in our lives. I wish people could appreciate what they have and stop bitching about what others have that they don't. Many of the richest of the rich did not even earn it. Their families did generations ago. And if your grandparents were billionaires and left their money to you, wouldn't you take it too if they left it to you? And for the others who did earn it, especially those in the US, they did it while paying the highest taxes in the industrialized world. Congrats to them!

[GirlyGymRat]

I am getting sick of reading that crap on Facebook too. I think they are simply trying to find someone out there who feels the same way they do; and I am not one of them. We all have problems and we all have great things in our lives. I wish people could appreciate what they have and stop bitching about what others have that they don't. Many of the richest of the rich did not even earn it. Their families did generations ago. And if your grandparents were billionaires and left their money to you, wouldn't you take it too if they left it to you? And for the others who did earn it, especially those in the US, they did it while paying the highest taxes in the industrialized world. Congrats to them!

Well said!

[derekkpapa1]

I did I say welfare yet?

[jesse4466]

The sad part is the lazy people outnumber the hard working people.

Agreed and those people represent the majority of the violent crime. It amazes me how quickly people complain about others yet have no ambition to get any job, no education, hold no values, no morals, and live nothing of a positive life. The real complaining should be directed towards these idiots and what a drag they are on society.

[derekkpapa1]

Anyone receiving state help (welfare ect..) should be drug tested (hard drugs like crack method ect..) and if they are arrested there help should be voided.
Also they should be somehow limited to amount of kids they can pop out (get more money on welfare for each kid they have).
I understand everyone at some point has hard luck but we need to limit the way people take advantage of it and it ends up costing tax payers more.

[Mp859]

Sure there are those who have made millions by the exploration of others.

Is that a porn reference?lol

It all boils down to jealousy. Someone who doesn't have anything would rather try to figure out how to take away the wealthy mans dollar. Trying to make your own money and being forced Off the governments penny just takes to much effort.

[Euroholic]

I am getting sick of reading that crap on Facebook too. I think they are simply trying to find someone out there who feels the same way they do; and I am not one of them. We all have problems and we all have great things in our lives. I wish people could appreciate what they have and stop bitching about what others have that they don't. Many of the richest of the rich did not even earn it. Their families did generations ago. And if your grandparents were billionaires and left their money to you, wouldn't you take it too if they left it to you? And for the others who did earn it, especially those in the US, they did it while paying the highest taxes in the industrialized world. Congrats to them!

Man usa has low tax rates compared to other countries.

[Euroholic]

A good idea is work based welfare schemes. Help people get back on there feet while they do local community works

[Hazard]

Man usa has low tax rates compared to other countries.

Yea..... Because we don't have "free" healthcare lol. As it was said before.... Nothing is free. Ur healthcare is one reason why ur taxes are high

[Metalject]

One of the main reasons IMO people tend to have this "it's not fair" outlook, the "fair share" idea is because we tend to look at money as a set amount...as in there's only so much and it's not fair that someone has a bigger piece of pie when there's limited pie. Why people cannot understand that you can make more pies, that's something I don't understand...and I'm not referring to printing money.

And to the guy that said taxes are higher in the rest of the world, the entire idea of the U.S. is to be unlike the rest of the world. Unfortunately, we continue to trickle into being like the rest. Human nature - create something awesome and then beat the hell out of it until you destroy it. This was Jefferson's biggest fear and something he felt would more than likely be inevitable due to people being, well, idiots.

[lovbyts]

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who is tired of all the whiners complaining about what someone else has and cant appreciate what they do have.

I cant believe some of them are saying things like there are a lot of people who think they are middle class where in fact they are poor. Really? So they want to liberate these people who think they are middle class and happy so they realize they are actually poor and should be unhappy? lol

I'm not very popular because I say things like, if you are poor, dont own a house or have to many bills then #1 cancel your cable, #2 cancel your cell phone, #3 get rid of the car you are paying payments on and only buy a car you can afford to pay cash for. #4 if you cant afford to pay cash for a car then utilize public transportation and save up until you can. #5 if you hate your job and it doesn't pay well then stat actively looking for another one.
People like this hate it when you put it back on them.
Some of the happiest people I have seen/know are those who have very little in materialistic stuff. That doesn't mean you cant be happy if you have stuff, just appreciate what you have.

[tarmyg]

Anyone who think taxes are high in the US have got to get around the world a bit more.

[pitweiler]

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who is tired of all the whiners complaining about what someone else has and cant appreciate what they do have.

I cant believe some of them are saying things like there are a lot of people who think they are middle class where in fact they are poor. Really? So they want to liberate these people who think they are middle class and happy so they realize they are actually poor and should be unhappy? lol

I'm not very popular because I say things like, if you are poor, dont own a house or have to many bills then #1 cancel your cable, #2 cancel your cell phone, #3 get rid of the car you are paying payments on and only buy a car you can afford to pay cash for. #4 if you cant afford to pay cash for a car then utilize public transportation and save up until you can. #5 if you hate your job and it doesn't pay well then stat actively looking for another one.
People like this hate it when you put it back on them.
Some of the happiest people I have seen/know are those who have very little in materialistic stuff. That doesn't mean you cant be happy if you have stuff, just appreciate what you have.

Took the words right out of my mouth

[Oki-Des]

I am not sure why you think this. It is a fact that the US has the highest taxes compared to any other industrialized nation. Let me know one country that you think has higher taxes and I will Google it and post the link showing how horrible it actually is here for people who work.

[Oki-Des]

Sorry, I think I need to clarify. The reason this is a touchy subject to me personally is because I am so stupid that I started a company that developed and released a medical product in the US that helps people. My first customer was the Department of Defense. My invention has appeared in the United States Patent and Trademark Museum as well as the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Under other circumstances I might have something to be proud of. But, corporate taxes, meaning taxes that corporations have to pay is the highest in any industrialized nation. But, aside from that, we also have an additional tax for medical products based on sales rather than profits, which also gives me a good kick in the nuts after already having the pay the highest taxes. But then, any money I give to myself as a salary gets taxed. So just because I invented something that helps people forces me to be triple taxed; which I promise ends up being worse than any tax bracket that could even be imagined in another country. Sorry for the rant, but I did want to clarify my personal feelings towards US taxes.

[Euroholic]

I am not sure why you think this. It is a fact that the US has the highest taxes compared to any other industrialized nation. Let me know one country that you think has higher taxes and I will Google it and post the link showing how horrible it actually is here for people who work.

Man you clearly have no exposure to the world. usa is not even the top 10.

Aruba has the worlds highest income taxes then Sweden.

[Times Roman]

money cannot buy you long term happiness.....

....but poverty sure as shit don't buy it either!

[Euroholic]

Sorry, I think I need to clarify. The reason this is a touchy subject to me personally is because I am so stupid that I started a company that developed and released a medical product in the US that helps people. My first customer was the Department of Defense. My invention has appeared in the United States Patent and Trademark Museum as well as the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Under other circumstances I might have something to be proud of. But, corporate taxes, meaning taxes that corporations have to pay is the highest in any industrialized nation. But, aside from that, we also have an additional tax for medical products based on sales rather than profits, which also gives me a good kick in the nuts after already having the pay the highest taxes. But then, any money I give to myself as a salary gets taxed. So just because I invented something that helps people forces me to be triple taxed; which I promise ends up being worse than any tax bracket that could even be imagined in another country. Sorry for the rant, but I did want to clarify my personal feelings towards US taxes.

For corporations The United States does have the highest statutory rate among developed countries. However, the United States’ corporate tax rate is not the highest once deductions and other exclusions are taken into account.

[lovbyts]

For corporations The United States does have the highest statutory rate among developed countries. However, the United States’ corporate tax rate is not the highest once deductions and other exclusions are taken into account.

Besides corporate and income tax everything we buy not only has a general tax but also tax built into the price per state and per county. We really have tax upon tax upon tax that is not recorded as such publicly to the world so it looks like we have lower tax than other places. Besides all our taxes if you are a home owner things that should or use to be covered by tax are not and you are billed separately such as sewage treatment, storm drain cleaning and no they dont clean them or keep them clear. There are highway taxes to build roads or bridges that even after the bridge is built and paid for the tax never goes away, even if they end up tearing down the bridge and building a new one you are paying for both. Same with football stadiums.

It really is a lot bigger mess over here than what most people know or realize.

[DrewZ]

I applaud the 1%, American dream baby.
People should be ashamed to take a hand out from the Govt.

[< <Samson> >]

. People should be ashamed to take a hand out from the Govt.

I have been a cog in the machine long enough. Time to get some pay back - if I don't do it someone else will.

The real issue to me is that the govt isn't just gonna give u a ton of $. It's more a supplement to something else that's supposedly inexistent.


So, I do what I can with what I got. - that's squeeze every nickel out of our "government" while getting myself & my family ahead. - simple as that


Is it my fault on this & that? Well yeah, but knowing loopholes to get myself by while actually completing my education is pretty solid IMO.


This is all about to run out for myself, since most of my classes are done before I need to transfer to a university level - which of course I have no way to afford. I don't take out student loans, root of all evil - one of the only loans you can not discharge in a chapter 7 BK

So where am I trying to get a job? None better than the city



Don't knock the hustle till you live it. And sadly thanks to the poor, living off the government folk is who I make the majority from.


It's like the money leeched from the government goes an very long way through the non tax paying community.

[GirlyGymRat]

I have been a cog in the machine long enough. Time to get some pay back - if I don't do it someone else will. The real issue to me is that the govt isn't just gonna give u a ton of $. It's more a supplement to something else that's supposedly inexistent. So, I do what I can with what I got. - that's squeeze every nickel out of our "government" while getting myself & my family ahead. - simple as that Is it my fault on this & that? Well yeah, but knowing loopholes to get myself by while actually completing my education is pretty solid IMO. This is all about to run out for myself, since most of my classes are done before I need to transfer to a university level - which of course I have no way to afford. I don't take out student loans, root of all evil - one of the only loans you can not discharge in a chapter 7 BK So where am I trying to get a job? None better than the city Don't knock the hustle till you live it. And sadly thanks to the poor, living off the government folk is who I make the majority from. It's like the money leeched from the government goes an very long way through the non tax paying community.

You seem proud that you are sticking it to those who don't. :/

[< <Samson> >]

You seem proud that you are sticking it to those who don't. :/

Their choice

There's no one certain way to succeed with shit in life. It took me a long time to come to this point - not working, yet having more than anyone who does work around me.

Fvck working yourself to the point if misery - and people do it every day just because they can't see past the world that they stuck themselves into.


It's not even about working for the man. It's about how you run your internal finances that run life into crap. The standard issue black & white, go to work & pay your taxes will not get many far in life at all.

It's kinda the reason why the rich stay rich & the rest - well, stay the rest.

[Juced_porkchop]

I do think there is alot of evil and greed at the top, but not all and no one should be hated on for being rich or poor, it should be their actions or the journey they took that should be focused on.

[lovbyts]

I do think there is alot of evil and greed at the top, but not all and no one should be hated on for being rich or poor, it should be their actions or the journey they took that should be focused on.

Sure there is but there is a lot of hate and greed in the middle and at the bottom. No one should have what is theirs taken away just because they have a bad spirit or soul and they are not nice/good people unless they are breaking the law or hurting someone.

I know a lot of people seem to feel they are being hurt if they do not get their fair share or not it really doesnt matter because most of these people will complain as long as anyone has more than them.

I think it's funny (not haha) that people will complain about the rich and how they get out of crimes because of money but they are the first ones who are willing to take a monetary payout from them if they are wronged vs prosecuting them in court. lol

[jimmyinkedup]

I agree you make your own and blaming others accomplishes nothing.
That being said there is an injustice being done when ceos of large corps are being paid ridiculous salaries in the millions and millions and the workers are being paid minimum wages keeping them at the poverty level. Then said companies are filing bankruptcy. It is not right. A ceo making 78 million and half of his salary would save the company and provide a higher mean wage for the employees but no they file for bankruptcy? Its BS.

[Metalject]

I agree you make your own and blaming others accomplishes nothing.
That being said there is an injustice being done when ceos of large corps are being paid ridiculous salaries in the millions and millions and the workers are being paid minimum wages keeping them at the poverty level. Then said companies are filing bankruptcy. It is not right. A ceo making 78 million and half of his salary would save the company and provide a higher mean wage for the employees but no they file for bankruptcy? Its BS.

When you talking about a large corporation or company you're talking about something that is a private entity. If you created a business and built it into this massive machine of business, if you want to pay your CEO's and other executives ridiculous sums of money that is your right to do so. And as for the day to day employees, if you want to pay them very little, again that is your right...no one is making them work there. The value of their job is low when and if they are easily replaceable. That's just life and a position most of us have more than likely been in at some point in our life.

Now getting bailouts and things like that, things that come at the expense of the tax payer, that's a different story and should not be allowed. In any sensible world, GM would be out of business.

[jimmyinkedup]

When you talking about a large corporation or company you're talking about something that is a private entity. If you created a business and built it into this massive machine of business, if you want to pay your CEO's and other executives ridiculous sums of money that is your right to do so. And as for the day to day employees, if you want to pay them very little, again that is your right...no one is making them work there. The value of their job is low when and if they are easily replaceable. That's just life and a position most of us have more than likely been in at some point in our life.

Now getting bailouts and things like that, things that come at the expense of the tax payer, that's a different story and should not be allowed. In any sensible world, GM would be out of business.

I def agree with your last point but to your first. You are correct they have every right to do so. However what has happened to Business Ethics? Is there such a thing anymore? Paying a ceo 78 million and filing for bankruptcy (or seeking bailouts) lets be for real for a second. There is also something to be said for you get what you pay for. That holds true for employees as well. a simple $1/hr increase and a better level of employee may change the companies financial position all together. Its a complicated issue. Overall I agree and dont go for the whining and feel you do make your own in this world it is just sad to me that in this day and age the term "business ethics" means less than it ever has. There is a basic premise of what is right and wrong, there are examples of companies that recongnize this and are doing well as a result but the examples on one like I stated far outweigh them in number.

[jesse4466]

many of that 1% are just the really conservative people who save money over generations.

Take this example:

Invest $500k into a retirement fund

Expect an 6-8% return annual

You should expect a double every 9 years.

So over 63 years you would have over $70 million if you didn't touch anything.

[Honkey_Kong]

If I were part of that 1%, I'd use my wealth to make myself richer at the expense of the 99%. The problem with money is if everybody had lots of it, nobody would be wealthy. And so the only way to remain wealthy is to hold others back. Make them your wage slaves because you have to protect your status.

I would argue that I was made that 1% due to divine intervention. We try to pretend that it's not the case, but what we have here in this world is a glorified feudal system anyways.