Wealth inequality in U.S.A.

[TecNoir]

This is just awful. What are we going to do about this? Tell me your thoughts on this Newgrounds. What do you think is going to come from this in the future, say 50-100 years from now.

Wealth Inequality in America

If you don't want to watch the video, basically the wealthy are making well over 100 times what even the upper middle class are making. The 1% alone holds 24% of the wealth of the United States.

[o0-0o]

It sucks but really what can you do about it?

Money is power. The majority is powerless.

You say amass and revolt because there are power in numbers.

By the time that happens the rich will own armies of drones and robots(think Terminator).

Forget about the rich.

[Tony-DarkGrave]

the illuminati has won!

Victory is ours!

[TecNoir]

At 3/7/13 08:36 PM, o0-0o wrote: It sucks but really what can you do about it?

Money is power. The majority is powerless.

You say amass and revolt because there are power in numbers.

By the time that happens the rich will own armies of drones and robots(think Terminator).

Forget about the rich.

"Forget about the rich"

What does that mean? Just walk away?

[Cynical-Charlotte]

The United States is well on its way to becoming a plutocratic state masquerading as a democracy. One could argue we are there already. However, while this is certainly damning evidence of the decline of American society, I am more concerned about future events that will take place as a result of a disproportionate number of lower class citizens. It is not beyond reason to suggest that the nation is undergoing the beginning stages of a civil unrest or revolution (unfortunately, not peaceful), as peasant uprisings plagued the feudal era.

Another predicament is the instability of American currency. As it stands now, USD is the most central piece of global economic affairs. Upon a hypothetical world conflict that inhibits or prevents the transportation of fossil fuels, we will most certainly see something apocalyptic at the NYSE - almost directly resulting in the second American Civil War when food, medical supplies, and other necessities become extraordinarily expensive to transport across the states. Moreover, the fall of the American economy will certainly cause an instant domino effect around the world... specifically in Europe and Asia. If these events are not results of WWIII, they will be causes.

The good news is, a global income catastrophe will lead to new forms of trade - probably solely based on electronic devices as we are beginning to see. The developed world will see a unified, digital currency designed to prevent future events of similar magnitude.

The question is, how long will we survive before this solution can be implemented? If we haven't dissolved into complete anarchy, there may be a new feudal system in the United States lead by the surviving elite who have access to supplies. If this is the case, we will most definitely not see the return of what was once a great and thriving nation founded on human rights and value systems.

If I make it through the next few decades, I will be searching for small communities of likeminded individuals, who will be the least affected by the global collapse.

[BumFodder]

America innit

[All-American-Badass]

I don't think wealth inequality is as big of a deal at some people are making it out to be.

[BumFodder]

At 3/7/13 09:31 PM, All-American-Badass wrote: I don't think wealth inequality is as big of a deal at some people are making it out to be.

Thats true in most developed countries, but it isnt true in America. Theres not one place I can think of in this country thats like the ghettos in some USA cities.

[T3XT]

I think the gap we should worry about is not between the rich and poor but male and female.

[KatMaestro]

At 3/7/13 09:41 PM, T3XT wrote: I think the gap we should worry about is not between the rich and poor but male and female.

inb4 feminists talking.

[All-American-Badass]

At 3/7/13 09:41 PM, T3XT wrote: I think the gap we should worry about is not between the rich and poor but male and female.

nope

[Havegum]

At 3/7/13 08:49 PM, Cynical-Charlotte wrote:

Interesting points

However, you'd think the 1% would do everything in their power to keep the economy at the state it's currently at. At some point, the increasing inequality would directly affect the people on the bottoms ability to live - and in turn do work. Now this is probably the point where such a collapse would happen.

Unless they try to stabilize it to the point where anything below high class are basically drones in a sort of pseudo-communistic state. People being offered free health insurance, transport to work, means to live; all while the top 5% are having their cocktail parties and the 1% is buying a continent.

Well, that chain of thought got a little out of hand - would do nice as a cliche book though.

Obviously an economic collapse is preferable to slowly turning into a developing country, but who's to say a collapse will result in a more stabilized graph?

[satanbrain]

At 3/7/13 08:29 PM, TecNoir wrote: basically the wealthy are making well over 100 times what even the upper middle class are making. The 1% alone holds 24% of the wealth of the United States.

Unjustly? I did not think so.

[TracyJacksonTAW]

My family is sorta part of the 1%, but we are not rich at all. compared to the truly wealthy people, my parents' combined income is just a drop in a bucket. In fact, any household who make a combined income of over just $700,000 is of the top 1% of the income tax bracket...so that really isn't much.

[TheGrim]

Well, welcome to democracy. Nobody gives a flying fuck about the minority- it's only the super-rich who matter.

And any attempt on taxing them more results in "UNFAIR TREATMENT OF THE RICH OBAMA IS A TYRANT DOWN WITH OBAMA HITLER HE'S RUINING AMERICA COMMIE SOCIALIST SCUM."

So the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

God Bless America!

[HollowedPumkinz]

Crying, crying everywhere. I go to work and get paid and go home and pursue interests like video games and friends and surfing the web. Do you know how many shits I give about the guy who makes 500 times what I make? None. I really really don't care, as long as there are foreign markets and thousands of different millionaires to make the other millionaires compete and give lower prices than I don't give a shit if I have no control over the economy.

The government should stay the fuck out of business, they aren't good at it and taxes do nothing but drive up prices and give the government the money that goes to social program and people who can't do jack all for the economy. You guys have taken a Macro Economics class, yes?

[Sekhem]

At 3/7/13 11:53 PM, HollowedPumkinz wrote: You guys have taken a Macro Economics class, yes?

you mean a neoliberal propaganda class

[YellowisCOOL]

Everything should be for free.
Money shouldn't exist.

[HollowedPumkinz]

At 3/7/13 11:54 PM, Sekhem wrote:

At 3/7/13 11:53 PM, HollowedPumkinz wrote: You guys have taken a Macro Economics class, yes?

you mean a neoliberal propaganda class

If one starts to assume that everything that the educational system feeds you is propagandized than one could also assume figures like Abraham Lincoln and George Washington are fictional characters to fuel patriotism who really knows? The things taught are well founded economic principles for free market countries, supported by most all developed free market countries, its not the only way to do business, its just one of the most efficient. But by all means, sure, I'm just another blind fool in the flock of sheeple, oh enlightened one.

[Seasons]

At 3/7/13 08:49 PM, Cynical-Charlotte wrote: The United States is well on its way to becoming a plutocratic state masquerading as a democracy.

I think we've already won that race...

One could argue we are there already.

Indeed!

However, while this is certainly damning evidence of the decline of American society, I am more concerned about future events that will take place as a result of a disproportionate number of lower class citizens. It is not beyond reason to suggest that the nation is undergoing the beginning stages of a civil unrest or revolution (unfortunately, not peaceful), as peasant uprisings plagued the feudal era.

Oh? What evidence do you have, or for what reasons do you believe that America is "undergoing the beginning stages of a [unpeaceful] civil unrest or revolution"

Another predicament is the instability of American currency.

I agree.

As it stands now, USD is the most central piece of global economic affairs.

OK.

Upon a hypothetical world conflict that inhibits or prevents the transportation of fossil fuels, we will most certainly see something apocalyptic at the NYSE - almost directly resulting in the second American Civil War when food, medical supplies, and other necessities become extraordinarily expensive to transport across the states. Moreover, the fall of the American economy will certainly cause an instant domino effect around the world... specifically in Europe and Asia. If these events are not results of WWIII, they will be causes.

Woah, woah, woah. You're making some pretty big semantic leaps here. Are you related to Noam Chomsky?

The good news is, a global income catastrophe will lead to new forms of trade - probably solely based on electronic devices as we are beginning to see. The developed world will see a unified, digital currency designed to prevent future events of similar magnitude.

This is quite sensible.

The question is, how long will we survive before this solution can be implemented? If we haven't dissolved into complete anarchy, there may be a new feudal system in the United States lead by the surviving elite who have access to supplies. If this is the case, we will most definitely not see the return of what was once a great and thriving nation founded on human rights and value systems.

There you go again, you big silly you.

If I make it through the next few decades, I will be searching for small communities of likeminded individuals, who will be the least affected by the global collapse.

See ya there!

At 3/7/13 11:53 PM, HollowedPumkinz wrote: Crying, crying everywhere. I go to work and get paid and go home and pursue interests like video games and friends and surfing the web.

Sounds like a man with true priorities!

Do you know how many shits I give about the guy who makes 500 times what I make? None. I really really don't care, as long as there are foreign markets and thousands of different millionaires to make the other millionaires compete and give lower prices than I don't give a shit if I have no control over the economy.

That's the spirit!

The government should stay the fuck out of business, they aren't good at it and taxes do nothing but drive up prices and give the government the money that goes to social program and people who can't do jack all for the economy.

Yeah! Fuck public transportation! Fuck paved roads! Fuck student loans! Fuck public education! Fuck the libraries! We've got video games to play and a web to surf after all. Oh, and, government money going to "people who can't do jack all" for the economy? You were just describing someone of that nature... I'm trying to remember who it was...

You guys have taken a Macro Economics class, yes?

No, but you clearly have, using all these technical terms like "Macro" and "Economics" and whatnot.

[Sekhem]

At 3/8/13 12:03 AM, HollowedPumkinz wrote:

At 3/7/13 11:54 PM, Sekhem wrote:

At 3/7/13 11:53 PM, HollowedPumkinz wrote: You guys have taken a Macro Economics class, yes?

you mean a neoliberal propaganda class

If one starts to assume that everything that the educational system feeds you is propagandized than one could also assume figures like Abraham Lincoln and George Washington are fictional characters to fuel patriotism who really knows? The things taught are well founded economic principles for free market countries, supported by most all developed free market countries, its not the only way to do business, its just one of the most efficient. But by all means, sure, I'm just another blind fool in the flock of sheeple, oh enlightened one.

you've never studied political philosophy, have you

macroeconomics completely brushes off legitimate marxist and socialist critiques of global capitalism and "pretends" to be objective, while really being "not even wrong"

nice attempt to insult me, too

it's not a surprise that a moron like yourself supports the u.s. govt

"semper fidelis" lol

[GrizzlyOne]

And any attempt on taxing them more results in "UNFAIR TREATMENT OF THE RICH OBAMA IS A TYRANT DOWN WITH OBAMA HITLER HE'S RUINING AMERICA COMMIE SOCIALIST SCUM."

So the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

God Bless America!

why are you acting as if captalism is interchangeable to democracy

[HollowedPumkinz]

At 3/8/13 12:14 AM, Sekhem wrote:

At 3/8/13 12:03 AM, HollowedPumkinz wrote:

At 3/7/13 11:54 PM, Sekhem wrote:

At 3/7/13 11:53 PM, HollowedPumkinz wrote: You guys have taken a Macro Economics class, yes?

you mean a neoliberal propaganda class

If one starts to assume that everything that the educational system feeds you is propagandized than one could also assume figures like Abraham Lincoln and George Washington are fictional characters to fuel patriotism who really knows? The things taught are well founded economic principles for free market countries, supported by most all developed free market countries, its not the only way to do business, its just one of the most efficient. But by all means, sure, I'm just another blind fool in the flock of sheeple, oh enlightened one.

you've never studied political philosophy, have you

macroeconomics completely brushes off legitimate marxist and socialist critiques of global capitalism and "pretends" to be objective, while really being "not even wrong"

I can't support Marxism, I've read the Communist Manifesto and all that and I simply can't agree with Marx or his views on the proletariat and the bourgeois being adverse to one another. Surely it all makes sense but its just opposing view points on the basis of how economics should be run. There are several socialist ideas that I do care for, actually. I think the government is very important in the regulation of monopolies and the down turn of any kind of trust.

nice attempt to insult me, too

I made no such attempt, at most perhaps a nag at your assumption of propaganda like most people who assume the worst of capitalism who think some what highly of themselves. Really just a generalization, not personal I assure you.

it's not a surprise that a moron like yourself supports the u.s. govt

"semper fidelis" lol

And it would be you, sir, that would start with the Ad Hominems first wouldn't it? Also, Semper Fidelis mean "Always Loyal" in Latin, its not just the Marines motto, it's something I feel strongly about because I'm a very loyal person, as indicated by the heraldic images on my sig. Thanks for playing though, pick something from the second shelf.

[Halberd]

Things will probably/possibly stay the same.

Social activism hasn't been very effective so far.

[Haoie]

It's the worst in any developed nation, no?

[Seasons]

Forgive me for intruding on this duel that seems to be taking place between you two gentlemen, but...

At 3/8/13 12:14 AM, Sekhem wrote: macroeconomics completely brushes off legitimate marxist and socialist critiques of global capitalism and "pretends" to be objective, while really being "not even wrong"

^ Reading this felt like a breath of fresh air.

Reading the rest of your post felt like a punch to the face, however.

At 3/8/13 12:30 AM, HollowedPumkinz wrote: I can't support Marxism, I've read the Communist Manifesto and all that and I simply can't agree with Marx or his views on the proletariat and the bourgeois being adverse to one another. Surely it all makes sense but its just opposing view points on the basis of how economics should be run. There are several socialist ideas that I do care for, actually. I think the government is very important in the regulation of monopolies and the down turn of any kind of trust.

Reading the Communist Manifesto now a days is practically worthless. To really get to the core of Marx's ideas, you're going to need to do some scholarly research on dialectic (historical) materialism. Some whiny high school 'commy' would probably disagree with me; and, at the same time, claim that the best way to understand Marx is to read Capital, but those people will most likely amount to nothing more than a coffee shop revolutionary whose only true goal in life is to feel superior toward those who disagree with their ideals. These people like to hide behind walls of rhetoric and post on RevLeft.

Totally cool that you disagree with Marxist ideas (most people do) but I just wanted to let you know that the Manifesto is extraordinarily outdated and is really no longer pertinent in terms of present day Marxist/socialist/anti-capitalist/whateverthefuckyouwanttoca llit thought.

Cheers!

[Cyberdevil]

At 3/7/13 08:29 PM, TecNoir wrote: The 1% alone holds 24% of the wealth of the United States.

That makes me wonder what it's like in other countries, where you actually see the slum spread right next to rising skyscrapers. In Sweden that 1% holds 90% of all wealth.

[Feoric]

At 3/7/13 11:54 PM, Sekhem wrote: you mean a neoliberal propaganda class

Every econ 101 course is taught through the lens of the Chicago school?

[Tremulos]

Sure they have more money than I do, but I bet I could 1v3 any of them in a Mario Kart 64 battle match.

WHO'S THE 75% NOW

[supergandhi64]

wealth disparity is really bad and i think all people should have the same amount of money at all times . . . it's only fair if you think about it, don't be greedy

--supergandhi64