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The American middle class no longer the world's richest

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Perspicuo

Veteran Member
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Jan 27, 2011
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Costa Rica
Basic Beliefs
Empiricist, ergo agnostic
NYT: The American Middle Class Is No Longer the World’s Richest
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/23/u...ass-is-no-longer-the-worlds-richest.html?_r=0

The American middle class, long the most affluent in the world, has lost that distinction.

While the wealthiest Americans are outpacing many of their global peers, a New York Times analysis shows that across the lower- and middle-income tiers, citizens of other advanced countries have received considerably larger raises over the last three decades.

After-tax middle-class incomes in Canada — substantially behind in 2000 — now appear to be higher than in the United States. The poor in much of Europe earn more than poor Americans.
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Perspicuo said:
NYT: The American Middle Class Is No Longer the World’s Richest
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/23/u...ass-is-no-longer-the-worlds-richest.html?_r=0

The American middle class, long the most affluent in the world, has lost that distinction.

While the wealthiest Americans are outpacing many of their global peers, a New York Times analysis shows that across the lower- and middle-income tiers, citizens of other advanced countries have received considerably larger raises over the last three decades.

After-tax middle-class incomes in Canada — substantially behind in 2000 — now appear to be higher than in the United States. The poor in much of Europe earn more than poor Americans.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Are these figures meaningful if they don't take into account the value of the services paid for by the taxes?

Based solely on what I have read online, average Canadians get more from their taxes than people in the US. If that was also the case in 2000, it might mean that they were better off then, even if their post-tax income was lower. eg if Canadians are paying for their healthcare via taxation, then you need to compare their post-tax income with post-tax income in the US, less the cost of buying health insurance.
 
You lot may not like what is in the OP, but it does need to be taken seriously. The US has a number of people who are rich and getting richer. The rest of its population as a rule is not getting any richer.

Since 1975, practically all the gains in household income have gone to the top 20% of households. Since 1996, dividends and capital gains have grown faster than wages or any other category of after-tax income.
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Ref: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/us.html
 
We can't really get angry at the Republicans for this, because this is exactly what they want: the top 0.1% getting much wealthier at the expense of everyone else. I mean, what's the point of establishing a new overclass if they don't have peasants to rule over?

No, I'm mad at the DLC Democrats for this crap. I've had it up to here with their "I'm a social liberal, but an economic conservative" "third way" nonsense. Both the Clinton and Obama administration have utterly failed to alter the economic policies that are hurting the vast majority of American families all so that 400 families can become even wealthier.

Fuck you, DLC Democrats. Fuck you and your corporatist whoring. Fuck all of you.
 
But boss. You are taking my hand and putting it in a thumb screw so I can't attach buttons to shirts any more with it. Whoa boss? did you know your friend took my left foot from me because I walked past his house? Now I can't do button attaching with that foot either, nor, can I get to work on time since it'snow hart to walk. But, boss I told you why I was making fewer button attachments? Why are you cutting my salary to the point I can't sustain myself to work for you? Golly boss, do I need to die because I can't make button attachments for you?

Sir why are you throwing us into prison. Our dad is dead so we can't make money or live in a house. Why is it so important that you keep us off the streets. But, sir, all we wanted was some food in this prison? Why are you going to kill us?

...and so concludes the age of enlightenment, the age of humanism, and begins again another age of darkness and religious purity.

The civilizing processes are back in place, rigid adherence, punishment, domination by the powerful. Isn't it wonderful to have hearsay back as our route to knowledge?
 
fromderinside said:
But boss. You are taking my hand and putting it in a thumb screw so I can't attach buttons to shirts any more with it. Whoa boss? did you know your friend took my left foot from me because I walked past his house? Now I can't do button attaching with that foot either, nor, can I get to work on time since it'snow hart to walk. But, boss I told you why I was making fewer button attachments? Why are you cutting my salary to the point I can't sustain myself to work for you? Golly boss, do I need to die because I can't make button attachments for you?

Sir why are you throwing us into prison. Our dad is dead so we can't make money or live in a house. Why is it so important that you keep us off the streets. But, sir, all we wanted was some food in this prison? Why are you going to kill us?

...and so concludes the age of enlightenment, the age of humanism, and begins again another age of darkness and religious purity.

The civilizing processes are back in place, rigid adherence, punishment, domination by the powerful. Isn't it wonderful to have hearsay back as our route to knowledge?
Click to expand...

Why do you hate America? What's so great about commonism?
 
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