America Has Now Become An Aristocracy Of Elites

dmcowen674

No Lifer
Oct 13, 1999
54,894
47
91
www.alienbabeltech.com
8-20-2012

http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/dail...tocracy-elites-chris-hayes-133824134.html?l=1

America Has Now Become An Aristocracy Of Elites



One of the most important trends in America over the last three decades is the rise of extreme inequality: The wealth gap between the "1%" and the "99%" is now higher than it has been in 70 years, since the latter half of the 1920s.


In connection with this, argues MSNBC host and author Chris Hayes in a new book called Twilight Of The Elites, America has become a self-perpetuating aristocracy, in which the small percentage of Americans who benefit from the power and wealth imbalance do what they need to do to ensure that they and their friends and families cling to power.


But it's just as insidious in terms of removing the meritocracy that is part and parcel of the now-rare "American Dream" and replacing it with what amounts to an old-world aristocracy. Even President Barack Obama, Hayes argues, succumbed to this trend when he gained power. Although his own story represents the epitome of the old American dream, Obama's policies now seem designed to preserve the power of the elites, a class in which he is now firmly entrenched.


So how do we fix this?


In Hayes' view, we should start by raising taxes on high incomes and raising the minimum wage.


Back in the 1950s, 60s. and 70s, Hayes notes, the country's highest tax brackets were vastly higher, and this helped produce not only a more equal society, but--contrary to popular wisdom--one in which American business thrived.



The business strength was a result of the strong middle class, which collectively represented vast purchasing power.
 

Matt1970

Lifer
Mar 19, 2007
12,320
3
0
Equal misery is acceptable but unequal prosperity is not. Raising taxes without responsibility in Government only feeds the government beast. Government employment has many starting positions, much like the private sector, that start well below the national average and not much higher than minimum wage. Don't run around here like big Gov is going to be the answer when they are just as guilty of what you see as travesties as the private sector is.
 

Pr0d1gy

Diamond Member
Jan 30, 2005
7,775
0
76
8-20-2012

http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/dail...tocracy-elites-chris-hayes-133824134.html?l=1

America Has Now Become An Aristocracy Of Elites



One of the most important trends in America over the last three decades is the rise of extreme inequality: The wealth gap between the "1%" and the "99%" is now higher than it has been in 70 years, since the latter half of the 1920s.


In connection with this, argues MSNBC host and author Chris Hayes in a new book called Twilight Of The Elites, America has become a self-perpetuating aristocracy, in which the small percentage of Americans who benefit from the power and wealth imbalance do what they need to do to ensure that they and their friends and families cling to power.


But it's just as insidious in terms of removing the meritocracy that is part and parcel of the now-rare "American Dream" and replacing it with what amounts to an old-world aristocracy. Even President Barack Obama, Hayes argues, succumbed to this trend when he gained power. Although his own story represents the epitome of the old American dream, Obama's policies now seem designed to preserve the power of the elites, a class in which he is now firmly entrenched.


So how do we fix this?


In Hayes' view, we should start by raising taxes on high incomes and raising the minimum wage.


Back in the 1950s, 60s. and 70s, Hayes notes, the country's highest tax brackets were vastly higher, and this helped produce not only a more equal society, but--contrary to popular wisdom--one in which American business thrived.



The business strength was a result of the strong middle class, which collectively represented vast purchasing power.

Good luck getting the idiots in here to accept these FACTS. @-@-,
 

Juddog

Diamond Member
Dec 11, 2006
7,852
6
81
Seems a bit of a no-brainer. Record deficit, both sides want to bring the deficit down, simple solution: tax the rich like we used to, back when this country wasn't so f'd up. Pretty simple really, not sure how the topic can possibly be twisted.
 

diesbudt

Diamond Member
Jun 1, 2012
3,393
0
0
Seems a bit of a no-brainer. Record deficit, both sides want to bring the deficit down, simple solution: tax the rich like we used to, back when this country wasn't so f'd up. Pretty simple really, not sure how the topic can possibly be twisted.

The problem isn't taxing the rich more. As they do have hefty taxes to pay. The problem is more that there is many ways of reducing the tax owed or whiping it all together through clever business money schemes and charity donating and etc.
 

tydas

Golden Member
Mar 10, 2000
1,284
0
76
Apparently, the elite are not tolerant of the 12% or 15% they pay..they won't be happy until its zero...as a matter of fact..they are so smart and beautiful we should be paying them...
 

Vdubchaos

Lifer
Nov 11, 2009
10,411
10
0
OP, read up on American History and you will quickly learn that SOME of this has been a status qua for 100s of years (since the begging).

Nothing new here.....
 

Juddog

Diamond Member
Dec 11, 2006
7,852
6
81
OP, read up on American History and you will quickly learn that SOME of this has been a status qua for 100s of years (since the begging).

Nothing new here.....

The difference is that the gap has gotten bigger, and the middle class that was carefully constructed during the middle of the 1900's is starting to die off. How many more cycles of this crap will Americans have to go through to wake up, or is 70 years too long for people to remember?
 

Texashiker

Lifer
Dec 18, 2010
18,811
197
106
Apparently, the elite are not tolerant of the 12% or 15% they pay..they won't be happy until its zero...as a matter of fact..they are so smart and beautiful we should be paying them...

We are paying them, that is why they are the 1%
 

CycloWizard

Lifer
Sep 10, 2001
12,348
1
81
Capitalism requires both winners and losers. Historically, even the losers come out ahead as the standard of living increases due to innovations by the winners. Recently, losing has become unacceptable for those who were previously winning, AKA "too big to fail." This leaves the rest of us holding the bag. Those at the bottom see little hope of bettering themselves, so they don't even try (with exceptions, of course). Those in the middle cling to hope of self-improvement even as government erects an increasing number of barriers to keep them out of the winner's circle. Innovation from the middle class is handed to venture capitalists since no one in the middle class can afford to pay lawyers enough to deal with all of the regulatory red tape to bring their innovation to the masses. This ensures that those who have will continue to have more.

The solution is obvious to all but the most dedicated idealogues. Unfortunately, they are the ones pulling the strings.
 

hal2kilo

Lifer
Feb 24, 2009
23,279
10,192
136
8-20-2012

http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/dail...tocracy-elites-chris-hayes-133824134.html?l=1

America Has Now Become An Aristocracy Of Elites



One of the most important trends in America over the last three decades is the rise of extreme inequality: The wealth gap between the "1%" and the "99%" is now higher than it has been in 70 years, since the latter half of the 1920s.


In connection with this, argues MSNBC host and author Chris Hayes in a new book called Twilight Of The Elites, America has become a self-perpetuating aristocracy, in which the small percentage of Americans who benefit from the power and wealth imbalance do what they need to do to ensure that they and their friends and families cling to power.


But it's just as insidious in terms of removing the meritocracy that is part and parcel of the now-rare "American Dream" and replacing it with what amounts to an old-world aristocracy. Even President Barack Obama, Hayes argues, succumbed to this trend when he gained power. Although his own story represents the epitome of the old American dream, Obama's policies now seem designed to preserve the power of the elites, a class in which he is now firmly entrenched.


So how do we fix this?


In Hayes' view, we should start by raising taxes on high incomes and raising the minimum wage.


Back in the 1950s, 60s. and 70s, Hayes notes, the country's highest tax brackets were vastly higher, and this helped produce not only a more equal society, but--contrary to popular wisdom--one in which American business thrived.



The business strength was a result of the strong middle class, which collectively represented vast purchasing power.

Yea, the Walls' and the Kochs' are pretty elite.
 

Hugo Drax

Diamond Member
Nov 20, 2011
5,647
47
91
LBJ and his Vietnam and other polices led to the beginning of the fall, Then Nixon came along and help grease the wheels And from there you have it.
 

IGBT

Lifer
Jul 16, 2001
17,945
122
106
hay don't worry about it. Your obama wants to turn the country in to old East Germany all under the guise of environmentalism and "fairness". You get what you vote for.
 

Pr0d1gy

Diamond Member
Jan 30, 2005
7,775
0
76
hay don't worry about it. Your obama wants to turn the country in to old East Germany all under the guise of environmentalism and "fairness". You get what you vote for.

That seems like a super-highly sensationalized statement. Do you really think one of the most conservative Dem Presidents in the history of this country really is trying to turn us into East Germany or maybe you're just an ideaologist? This country is in better shape than it was when he got into office, period.
 

JKing106

Platinum Member
Mar 19, 2009
2,193
0
0
Wanna know what the problem with inequality in America currently is? The problem is free trade, otherwise known as legal slave labor. I call it treason. It cut blue collar America's throat, and made the rich obscenely rich. So, keep bitching about taxes being too high, Mexicans taking all the jobs, doing your part for your fellow man is communism/socialism/marxism/obamunism, or whatever other bullshit we're fed on AM radio and Fox. Our politicians sold us out. And us dumbasses keep picking a party to fight each other like it's a f**king football game, instead of realizing they're ALL liars and thieves on the payroll of billionaires and corporations. They think we're stupid, that we deserve to be robbed. They're right. So, go have a beer, watch your NASCAR/American Idol, and let them walk all over you. Wake the f**k up.
 

Pr0d1gy

Diamond Member
Jan 30, 2005
7,775
0
76
Wanna know what the problem with inequality in America currently is? The problem is free trade, otherwise known as legal slave labor. I call it treason. It cut blue collar America's throat, and made the rich obscenely rich. So, keep bitching about taxes being too high, Mexicans taking all the jobs, doing your part for your fellow man is communism/socialism/marxism/obamunism, or whatever other bullshit we're fed on AM radio and Fox. Our politicians sold us out. And us dumbasses keep picking a party to fight each other like it's a f**king football game, instead of realizing they're ALL liars and thieves on the payroll of billionaires and corporations. They think we're stupid, that we deserve to be robbed. They're right. So, go have a beer, watch your NASCAR/American Idol, and let them walk all over you. Wake the f**k up.

/this

'Murica, Fuck YEAH!!!!
 
Nov 29, 2006
15,592
4,038
136
hay don't worry about it. Your obama wants to turn the country in to old East Germany all under the guise of environmentalism and "fairness". You get what you vote for.

What country do you live in? He has never wanted to do any of those things LOL loon.
 

dank69

Lifer
Oct 6, 2009
35,176
28,168
136
What country do you live in? He has never wanted to do any of those things LOL loon.

Welcome to the modern republican in a nutshell. And they wonder why I call myself a former repub.
Don't mind IGBT. He is just like piasabird in that they can parrot talking points they heard but can't even interpret them enough to figure out where they would even apply in a conversation.
 

Matt1970

Lifer
Mar 19, 2007
12,320
3
0
That seems like a super-highly sensationalized statement. Do you really think one of the most conservative Dem Presidents in the history of this country really is trying to turn us into East Germany or maybe you're just an ideaologist? This country is in better shape than it was when he got into office, period.

Your boy is no where near a Conservative Democrat.