" For reasons others have highlighted (and that the article highlights), I agree that NOBODY, no matter how "rich," should claim that it's possible for all members of society to obtain meaningful wealth through dedication and hard work. A society takes all kinds, and it cannot support an entire population of fat cats. People get paid what the market will bear, and I'm mostly alright with that. White collar people with the attitude that they work harder than everyone else and thus deserve more should be shot. Despite their massive collections of possessions, they do nothing more for the benefit of society than the lowly ditch digger. In many cases, I think it's safe to say that more people benefit (in real ways) from the work of hard laborers than from high wage earners. "

Not bad, in fact rather well done. The last sentence is a weak link though. High wage earners ( not inherited wealth ) in business and primarily small business make the jobs that laborers utilize. You can plow up stats and crap pro and con but it is a relationship that has been around a long time.

Now as a union pensioner I say the discussion should not be about how much you snatch from the high wage earners but rather what is the fair share of the profits from the businesses that hire the laborers. I give a bloody whack less if the CEO of the corporation I worked for made millions a year. No big deal, well that last SOB was a idiot and nearly sunk the boat, as long as our wage package reflected a reasonable division of profits between share holder / labor / management.

When the average earner continues to lose ground to inflation, higher costs of food,health care, child care, education, housing, meds, gas, transportation and just about every other thing in their lives all the while those in the top 1% bracket continue to gain wealth at an increasing pace and they get to pay lobbyists, lawyers and politicians to promote more tax cuts that will contribute to this excess then it is time to look at the playing field.

Nobody that lives in this country made their money in a vacuum! They relied on people, places and things that are paid for out of the public coffers and they should pay for that privilege.


Fishy

Whilst I realize you're just a phvcking clueless idiot you sound like a slave owning communist.

Hate to break it to ya' kiddo but even rich people pay taxes, hence they pay for that privilege.

I'm neither, I have owned and run a very successful business and paid for that privilege dearly. Now that I am no longer in that business I see that there are needs out there that have been over looked.

While its easy to run your mouth and make pointed derogatory comments without actually talking about the problem at hand, I will continue to address the topic at hand.

Look into it at any length and you will see that average wages have stagnated and the cost of living has increased thereby Decreasing the standard of living for the common earner.

Meanwhile those in the investment classes have made some of the largest and fastest gains in history mostly because of the tax breaks.

I know the truth hurts but suck it up.

Fishy

http://money.msn.com/investing/the-worlds-top-billionaires-2012


Somewhere in the piece is how much they lost in one day

http://money.msn.com/business-news/article.aspx?feed=BLOOM&date=20120306&id=14866981


Ditch diggers they are not. Those who dream of digging ditches, are not setting their goals high enough. Perhaps they are unwilling to do more to get more. The trouble with some kids, is that they believed the old man, when he told them they would'nt amount to [Bleeeeep!]. You cant get there from a jail cell or a coffin.

Define "there".

for a lot of people (including myself) this is very true. The dollar is worth less, and the price of everything is going up....

You're so much better than those lowlifes that dig ditches, aren't you?

The best part of this whole conversation is the large contingent of the American electorate who believe the ultra-rich when they tell them that they, too, will get to join their club if they keep voting for the people and policies that keep them rolling in cash.

What a bunch of delusional dimwits...they use you guys worse than slaves...because you do it willingly.

Fish on...

Todd

Todd, you hit this one out of the park!!!!


Fishy

I could switch out the ultra-liberal for ultra-conservative but since it came from Todd ultra-liberal seemed more useful.

"Rich corksoakers run both parties and use them as a distraction, while you guys fight with each other over inane meaningless issues, the ruling class walks off with all the money."

great line FP! gay rights, guns, abortion, etc.

I dont measure people by that standard. Its usually how they treat other people. Years ago, I had one apologize to me for being such an Ahole. He said he had been doing a lot of cocaine, when we worked together. Shortly after that, he banged his friends wife.

I know several guys who could dig ditches, but sitting on an excavator digging ditches does not interest them. Its called "Dirt work" Any excavator work pays pretty good. Been on a couple myself and towed a few to the job site. The guys who pick up a shovel are not low lifes. They usually just end up with bad backs. Thankfully, I dont have pickup a shovel every day.

Maybe if you knock the chip off your shoulder your attitude would improve.

You just did, stupid.

So his friend had a slutty wife... or maybe the friend was tired of banging the bitch, himself. So what?

Evidently the guy was a terrible judge of character when it came to friends and wives. Nobody's fault but his own.