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Sharp wealth disparities tend to have political implications over time.
People who believe they have little chance of moving up in the income ranks gradually become more favorable toward government policies which benefit them in the form of social welfare. That's only natural.
One of the reasons that so many Latin American countries had sham democracies or outright autocracies for so long was that the upper classes feared the policies that "the masses" might demand if their votes were actually counted properly, or if populist candidates were allowed to run unfettered campaigns seeking the votes of the lower classes.
This was actually a major worry in the US in the early 20th century, and several economic populists cropped up now and then. Huey Long would be one example.
However, this tendency was eased through two developments - the rise of a strong and prosperous middle class, and the need to distinguish American policies from that of the Soviet bloc.
But if wealth levels tip back to their former condition, and the middle class is increasingly squeezed out by rising debts, we could see the rise of economic populists once again.
I think that is the bigger issue here. And considering the decreasing amount of mobility between income classes, it is something that should be taken seriously.
I don't have a problem with other people's wealth. I'll just have to work hard and maybe I'll be a 1 percenter one day myself.
That's exactly what so many politicians want you think.
They want to help their corporate masters by helping them find all these loopholes in the tax code or cutting their taxation rate while at the same time these corporate masters are shipping jobs overseas.
Of course they want us to think we one day be 1% (even though I don't see how ...then it fails to be 1%).
In any case, America is losing it's middle class so I hope you have some great ideas as to how to get a bunch of money fast. Maybe you can work as a CEO of a bailed out bank and get a really big bonus.
There's nothing wrong with living in a country that far and away surpasses the living standards and opportunities ANYWHERE.....yet the left is so very focused on bringing us down. Our country has great opportunity and GIVES more money away to other countries every day than anyone else. Try to sell your myth of surpassing the living standards and opportunities ANYWHERE, to the many Americans who live in squalor because they are left with no safety net if they run into hard times. I was in New Orleans and gave money to Americans begging because they were homeless because of the "system". Too many in America cannot even get a decent education due to lack of funds. NO opportunities for them. Maybe these Americans do not come up on the Republican radar? Maybe America should give money to American's instead of funding a new health system and rebuilding Iraq for example. America IS the land of opportunity but only for those who can afford it.
The left just wants a socialistic republic. They sell it as "equality", but we HAVE equality. We have equality of opportunity No Equality if you are sick or poor in America.
Their "equality" means that everyone is lower class and equal, except the socialistic elite, which would be the leaders of the left. Have you any idea what Socialism is or are you just repeating hearsay from the right? You are confusing Socialism with Communism and they are totally different. There is much more "Elitism" in America today than in ANY socialist Country
People are just too stupid to look at history and see that this garbage has never worked. Anywhere. And your precious UK is a prime example of that. You're losing your rich history, have horrible health care and offer nothing to anyone.
Now you are sounding like a "stepford wife" Horrible or even NO healthcare is the norm for millions of Americans today. The UHC in Europe works well and works for EVERY Citizen. NO ONE in Europe goes bankrupt due to health Expenses yet this is the number ONE cause of bankruptcy in America. Around 26,000 Americans die every year due to no health cover. These are facts and it seems that the Right will never accept all Americans as being equal...Nothing new there. For a Country who had segregation due to colour only as far back as the 60's and today still refuse to give homosexuals equal rights, to talk about Equality is stupid or naive.
Now you are sounding like a "stepford wife" Horrible or even NO healthcare is the norm for millions of Americans today. The UHC in Europe works well and works for EVERY Citizen. NO ONE in Europe goes bankrupt due to health Expenses yet this is the number ONE cause of bankruptcy in America. Around 26,000 Americans die every year due to no health cover. These are facts and it seems that the Right will never accept all Americans as being equal...Nothing new there. For a Country who had segregation due to colour only as far back as the 60's and today still refuse to give homosexuals equal rights, to talk about Equality is stupid or naive.
No it's not. You're a liar and anyone that pushes that garbage is a liar. It's something that only became a crisis once this idiot got into office. UHC DOESN'T work well in Europe, and yes, I've spent a significant amount of my life there. 26,000 Americans DON'T die every year from lack of coverage. There's not even a way to prove that.
Take your lies and rhetoric elsewhere, because I'm not stupid enough to fall for it.
Hey, when the US has been through 2 bloody World Wars (in recent history) then get back to me about Europe. Most European countries are far more advanced than we are, believe it or not. Just take a look at their life expectancies, homicides and overall health and happiness compared to ours.
Were the wars our fault too?
Certainly we are not perfect, but you must understand that FRANCE's PRIME MINISTER said the same thing.
The person I was responding to must be a saint for having left Utopia on Earth to come to the US.
Its always been this way. They also pay most of the taxes;so i don't see the point really.
They are paying those taxes with your money
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