Have the Rich Gone to War Against the Poor and Middle Class in America?

[Sunstone]

Middle class millionaires have replaced the middle class. You either have to move up or fall behind.

So you think that millions of people forced into poverty is justified in order for a relatively handful of people to become millionaires? That's right, Rick. The American dream is for the few to rape the many.

Just because people want to tighten their belt in no way implies they are unamerican.

The rich have become a predatory class. Whether you think that's American or not depends on your understanding of America.

 

[dust1n]

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The rich have become a predatory class. Whether you think that's American or not depends on your understanding of America.

My understanding of America would confirm that this is extremely American.

 

[Sunstone]

My understanding of America would confirm that this is extremely American.

After reading Howard Zinn, I would think you have a point. However, the situation of the middle class in America is far worse now than it was in the 50s and 60s. The middle class is being wiped out -- which wasn't happening in the 50s and 60s.

 

[dust1n]

After reading Howard Zinn, I would think you have a point. However, the situation of the middle class in America is far worse now than it was in the 50s and 60s. The middle class is being wiped out -- which wasn't happening in the 50s and 60s.

After reading Howard Zinn, the middle class was only allowed to exist because it's existence hindered the lower class from essentially overthrowing the rich.

 

[Alceste]

“There’s class warfare, all right, but it’s my class, the rich class, that’s making war, and we’re winning.” -- Warren Buffet

Is Buffet right? Have the rich gone to war against the other social classes in America? Why or why not?

I agree with Buffet and certain economists that what we have in America today is "socialism for the rich". Moreover, we are seeing a massive transfer of wealth out of the middle class and into the pockets of the wealthy. Consequently, the middle class is being destroyed.

It seems to me that the old fashioned sense of social responsibility which once might have been found motivating some wealthy individuals in this country is largely gone now and replaced by a sense that of us versus them. Today's rich no longer care about the country -- if they ever did -- and instead care only about their own interests. Perhaps this is a result of the "Me generation" coming into its own.

It's wishful romanticism to believe the rich have ever been anything but selfish and ruthless. That's a prerequisite for the job. Us versus them is the inevitable consequence of an insupportably wide and worsening chasm between the rich and poor. It has always been this way since the dawn of civilization. It always ends with the rich having their heads chopped off (or being otherwise usurped), since they are nearly always ridiculously outnumbered and too arrogant and ignorant to be aware of their tenuous position. Then, having deposed their ruthless masters, the previously poor become the rich and the cycle begins anew.

 

[Alceste]

After reading Howard Zinn, I would think you have a point. However, the situation of the middle class in America is far worse now than it was in the 50s and 60s. The middle class is being wiped out -- which wasn't happening in the 50s and 60s.

Yes, and when they finally realize they've been screwed all hell will break loose. That's how it always goes.

 

[Magic Man]

People who aren't successful have a tendency to find an external cause. We have this idea of what it takes to make it rich. People say "hard work and determination are all it takes" and people think all they have to do is put in 40 hours a week and they'll be CEO or whatever. When that doesn't happen, some people re-evaluate and say "i'm not going about this right", and other people find something to blame their lack of success on.
It's happened in about a jillion different forms; blaming various ethnic/national/religious/whatever groups. The popular trend on the internet right now is to blame the rich. "I can't get rich because the rich won't let me". People don't get that becoming rich is hard. That doctor that is so selfishly expecting hundreds of dollars to treat you went through hell for most of a decade to be allowed to do that, and doesn't live en easy life even now. J.K. Rowling spent years jotting notes down on napkins trying to write Harry Potter. Given what it takes to distinguish yourself enough for people to pay you enough to be rich, it doesn't surprise me at all that so few people ever do it.

Wow, that was a whole lot of nonsense. Is that you, Rick? What did you do with Gunfingers?

 

[Magic Man]

The American dream is for the few to rape the many.

Most people wouldn't say it in so many words, but that's pretty much it. The American dream is to make as much money as you can, regardless of who you have to hurt in the process.

 

[dust1n]

The American dream is to make as much money as you can, regardless of who you have to hurt in the process.

Which is funny, because you generally have to hurt people to get money.

 

[Reverend Rick]

Yeah, Rick, they are all millionaires.

Phil, a million dollars does not buy all that much any more. :no:

I would say in a decade or two, we will have homeless millionaires. :yes:

You are correct about people sliding down out of middle class, but you failed to mention that many are climbing the class ladder as well.

It is not impossible. It is more about attitude than opportunity.

 

[Tiapan]

I thought this was the normal process that had been occurring for the last 150 years, whats different today, perhaps communication, so the middle class is becoming aware they have been misled.

Cheers

 

[Watchmen]

Phil, a million dollars does not buy all that much any more. :no:

I would say in a decade or two, we will have homeless millionaires. :yes:

You are correct about people sliding down out of middle class, but you failed to mention that many are climbing the class ladder as well.

It is not impossible. It is more about attitude than opportunity.

There's a wide disparity in the estimates of the number of millionaires in the country. Some peg it near 7%. Are you telling me the top 7% can't "buy all that much anymore?" If they can't buy that much...how much are the non-millionaires getting?

 

[McBell]

Phil, a million dollars does not buy all that much any more. :no:

I would say in a decade or two, we will have homeless millionaires. :yes:

You are correct about people sliding down out of middle class, but you failed to mention that many are climbing the class ladder as well.

It is not impossible. It is more about attitude than opportunity.

What a load of pure utter self serving bull ****.

You give me a million dollars and I would be more than set for life.
Of course, I do not have to have the private jets and $2000 dinners....

 

[KatNotKathy]

Phil, a million dollars does not buy all that much any more. :no:

I would say in a decade or two, we will have homeless millionaires. :yes:

You are correct about people sliding down out of middle class, but you failed to mention that many are climbing the class ladder as well.

It is not impossible. It is more about attitude than opportunity.

Haha look at this post. Just look at it.

 

[dust1n]

What a load of pure utter self serving bull ****.

You give me a million dollars and I would be more than set for life.
Of course, I do not have to have the private jets and $2000 dinners....

Yeah, a million dollars would be so easy to live off for the rest of your life, especially if you left America.

 

[DallasApple]

Today's poor no longer care about the country -- if they ever did -- and instead care only about their own interests. Perhaps this is a result of the "Me generation" coming into it's own with a sense of entitlement.

Yes..and the rich arent "no longer caring about the country and arent only into their own "interest"

Its the "poor people" who dont give a crap about the country and think me me me..Not the rich people..YOu ae a PRIME example of that.

Wait a minute..whats the country again?

Love

Dallas

 

[Alceste]

Yeah, a million dollars would be so easy to live off for the rest of your life, especially if you left America.

You could probably buy the whole city of Detroit for that kind of cash.

 

[dust1n]

You could probably buy the whole city of Detroit for that kind of cash.

At least fund the insurrection of it.

 

[dust1n]

Yes..and the rich arent "no longer caring about the country and arent only into their own "interest"

Its the "poor people" who dont give a crap about the country and think me me me..Not the rich people..YOu ae a PRIME example of that.

Wait a minute..whats the country again?

Love

Dallas

I know right.. all those damned poor people wanting more and more water, food, and shelter for themselves! While the rich just keeping hand it over to them, over and over.

 

[Magic Man]

Phil, a million dollars does not buy all that much any more. :no:

By my count, it buys a $300,000 house, two $30,000 cars and still leaves $740,000 for food, insurance, TVs, vacations, extra houses, and many, many other things. What kind of math are you using?

I would say in a decade or two, we will have homeless millionaires. :yes:

I would say I'd like whatever you're smoking.

You are correct about people sliding down out of middle class, but you failed to mention that many are climbing the class ladder as well.

Yes, for every 100 that slide down, 1 climbs up. That's pretty good odds.

It is not impossible. It is more about attitude than opportunity.

Nope. It's more about factors you can't control.