278 replies to this topic

[Topaz]

A report out today says the ultra rich are getting richer, no kidding. The rich are getting richer while the middle-class is fighting for every penny in North America. One only has to listen to politicans in both countries, the US and Canada to know the answer. In the US, Obama wants a tax cut for the middle-class, while the Republicans want it for the rich(themselves) too. Here in Canada, its a bit of confusion, yes, the Tories lowered GST, but BC and On are paying more. More Canadians are without jobs, which certainly doesn't make you richer. Canadians personal debts are up, and when is the last time the middle-income earners got a rise in pay? http://www.winnipegf...-111096344.html

[RB]

I don't get it, the rich will have to take from someone in order to get rich and the middleclass hardworking people striving to get to the top seem like the only exploit.

Edited by Charles Anthony, 10 December 2010 - 07:00 PM.
deleted re-copied Opening Post

[GostHacked]

I don't get it, the rich will have to take from someone in order to get rich and the middleclass hardworking people striving to get to the top seem like the only exploit.

It is how society is built, on the backs of the middle class.

[M.Dancer]

I don't get it

Obvioulsy.

[RB]

It is how society is built, on the backs of the middle class.

What? this sudden outpouring of righteousness is so hypocritical. The poor is depleting the system more.

Here is my simple scenario, let me know who you would wish to support - on the backs of the middleclass:
- an executive who lay a foundation, toiled, sweat, risk much but also has the smarts to paved the way to the top, as the article points out is now deemed rich.

- the poor who has plenty of opportunities not to become homeless, weighing on luck, think the rich owe them something for the injustices of being poor, sit around the corner with outstretched arm accessing your hard earn dollars that you keep giving. Imagine an entire poor family putting both arms out for your alms.

Edited by RB, 02 December 2010 - 08:08 AM.

[bloodyminded]

What? this sudden outpouring of righteousness is so hypocritical. The poor is depleting the system more.

Here is my simple scenario, let me know who you would wish to support - on the backs of the middleclass:
- an executive who lay a foundation, toiled, sweat, risk much but also has the smarts to paved the way to the top, as the article points out is now deemed rich.

- the poor who has plenty of opportunities not to become homeless, weighing on luck, think the rich owe them something for the injustices of being poor, sit around the corner with outstretched arm accessing your hard earn dollars that you keep giving. Imagine an entire poor family putting both arms out for your alms.

Yes, that the poor are causing all the "more deserving" people to suffer is the ancient claim by the class warriors. The top-down class warriors that is, the only kind that have any real influence.

[Bonam]

I don't get it, the rich will have to take from someone in order to get rich

No, that's not how it works. By far the majority of rich people in the West are those who created wealth (or whose parents or grandparents did). For example, did Bill Gates get rich by taking from others? No, he got rich by coming up with a new idea and making it available to people, who saw the value of it and bought it in vast numbers. He used the power of his mind to create new wealth, new value, where none existed before. That is how our economy grows, through innovation and the creation of new wealth. It is right that those who contribute most to this process also reap the greatest rewards.

[blueblood]

No, that's not how it works. By far the majority of rich people in the West are those who created wealth (or whose parents or grandparents did). For example, did Bill Gates get rich by taking from others? No, he got rich by coming up with a new idea and making it available to people, who saw the value of it and bought it in vast numbers. He used the power of his mind to create new wealth, new value, where none existed before. That is how our economy grows, through innovation and the creation of new wealth. It is right that those who contribute most to this process also reap the greatest rewards.

Outstanding!!!

You forgot individuals/companies taking risks on other individuals/companies by offering to finance their growth.

No guts no glory.

[Shwa]

No, that's not how it works. By far the majority of rich people in the West are those who created wealth (or whose parents or grandparents did). For example, did Bill Gates get rich by taking from others? No, he got rich by coming up with a new idea and making it available to people, who saw the value of it and bought it in vast numbers. He used the power of his mind to create new wealth, new value, where none existed before. That is how our economy grows, through innovation and the creation of new wealth. It is right that those who contribute most to this process also reap the greatest rewards.

This explains automobiles, the rise of suburban sprawl, big box malls and the gasoline price gouging nicely. Because "vast numbers" of people buy gasoline thanks to those innovators who came up with the automobile a hundred years ago.

I hardly find the sentiment that those who contribute the most to this process also reap the greatest rewards as convincing. Because that doesn't really explain the ridiculous wealth of some oil barons or some bankers for example.

[Shady]

Outstanding!!!

You forgot individuals/companies taking risks on other individuals/companies by offering to finance their growth.

Exactly. The tired old phrase of the "rich getting richer" makes little sense. Unless of course one expects the owner of a business to fire themselves.

Newsflash. Anyone who makes more money than you is always getting so-called richer. My boss makes more than me. Each year we work, he gets richer than I do. But we have different jobs, different responsibilities, and different positions within the business. Why should I be making the same amount of money as the owner of the business I work for? This type of nonsense talk is retarded, and goes against logic and reason. But it sounds good to say I guess.

[bloodyminded]

Exactly. The tired old phrase of the "rich getting richer" makes little sense.

It's really about relative wealth, and the meteoric rise in disparity that has occurred in a virtual historical page-flip.

Totally aside from one's analysis, beliefs, or feelings on the matter, it's objectively the case. Like saying "we have troops in Afghanistan" is accurate no matter how one feels about the matter.

[bush_cheney2004]

The "ultra rich"...eh? That would be you and I compared to many others in the world.

I never got a job from a poor man.

[M.Dancer]

The "ultra rich"...eh? That would be you and I compared to many others in the world.

I never got a job from a poor man.

True....trying going to a panhandler and asking if he can give you something...best you will get is a communicable itch

[maple_leafs182]

I think the big bankers have it the best, they control the economies of the world and if they make a bad bet like Goldman Sachs did with AIG, it doesn't matter because they just charge their loss to the people. Society has no choice but to comply, if the banks fail society as we know it would collapse, we have become so dependent on the banks that we are willing to give up our wealth too support them.

Debt, probably the best disguised form of slavery yet.

[Moonlight Graham]

Debt, probably the best disguised form of slavery yet.

debt is self-induced. Going into debt, in most cases, is a choice. It's not slavery if you chain yourself to the fence.