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Rich-Poor gap widening

SE102 said:
To have a substandard living?
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So everyone back then had a substandard living? Huh, and I thought that standard of living was improving after leaving the feudalist economy. I guess I was wrong, we were really regressing from subsistence farming.
 
phattonez said:
Yet we grew at a higher rate before those rules came about.
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We were younger. Easier to do.


What evidence?
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Well, I mentioned two books.

However:

1874 to1879 -workers not allowed to speak to each other in factories

1875 - workers fed up with conditions and pay in factories
1877 - Columbia Bicycles - Founded in 1877 by Col. Albert Pope. Mass production began at the Weed Sewing Machine Company factory on Capitol Avenue. The company is now headquarted in Westfield, Mass.


1880 - New Haven still has horse trolleys; late 1880's electric trolley in Hartford1880's - people working 14 to 16 hrs a day at average pay of $1.75 a day
1883 - Industry becomes bigger and more mechanized; skilled craftsmen become obsolete
1884 - The Strong Fire Arms Company was organized in February of 1884 making parade cannons.

1800's Connecticut - American US History - CT Timeline

1880s5 September 1882 (United States)
Thirty thousand workers marched in the first Labor Day parade in New York City.
1883 (Canada)
The Trades and Labour Congress of Canada (TLC), a Canada-wide central federation of trade unions was formed.
1884 (United States)
The Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions, forerunner of the American Federation of Labor, passed a resolution stating that "8 hours shall constitute a legal day's work from and after May 1, 1886."
1885 (United States)
Ten coal-mining activists ("Molly Maguires") were hanged in Pennsylvania.
March 1886 (United States)
The Great Southwest Railroad Strike of 1886 was a labor union strike against the Union Pacific and Missouri Pacific railroads involving more than 200,000 workers.
1 May 1886 (United States)
Workers protested in the streets to demand the universal adoption of the eight hour day. Hundreds of thousands of American workers had joined the Knights of Labor.

Timeline of labor issues and events - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

By the late 1800s, states and territories had passed over 1,600 laws regulating work conditions and limiting or forbidding child labor. In many cases the laws did not apply to immigrants, thus they were often exploited and wound up living in slums working long hours for little pay.

Throughout America, local child labor laws were often ignored. On a national level, progress to protect children stalled as the U.S. Supreme Court ruled several times that child labor laws under question were unconstitutional. A subsequent attempt to pass an amendment to the U.S. Constitution failed.

In 1904, the National Child Labor Committee was organized by socially concerned citizens and politicians, and was chartered by Congress in 1907. From 1908 to 1912, photographer Hine documented numerous gross violations of laws protecting young children. At many of the locations he visited, youngsters were quickly rushed out of his sight. He was also told youngsters in the mill or factory had just stopped by for a visit or were helping their mothers.

The History Place - Child Labor in America: About Photographer Lewis Hine
 
We just ended our chapter of this 'wealth/poor gap' in my Social Problems class - Professor Petray said "The rich keep getting more wealthier and the poor keep getting more children"
 
Aunt Spiker said:
We just ended our chapter of this 'wealth/poor gap' in my Social Problems class - Professor Petray said "The rich keep getting more wealthier and the poor keep getting more children"
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That's not new.
 
$0.00

.....if you want People as close to $0.00 as possible.......vote Liberal

....if you want People as far away from $0.00 as possible.....vote Conservative
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Badmutha said:
$0.00

.....if you want People as close to $0.00 as possible.......vote Liberal

....if you want People as far away from $0.00 as possible.....vote Conservative
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Every single freaking Liberal could vote Conservative and it wouldn't change their lack of wealth at all.

People who are wealthy tend to vote in favor of measures that will CONTINUE to preserve their wealth.
 
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lots of libs whine about this fact but what are the rational solutions? punish the rich?
here is the problem
if the rich don't get richer the economy has collapsed

if I make 100K a year and only spend (taxes, food, shelter etc) 75 K a year that means I have 25 left over. I can blow it on trinkets, booze etc or invest it. and if I invest 25k every year the only way I don't get richer is if that investment fails to make money

so in the course of 40 years of working, I will have invested a million dollars and when I retire I have more than a million dollars

while if someone else who has say 50K of income and spends almost every cent-in 40 years they won't have anywhere near what I have

so libs-tell me what your solution is

and what happens if there are two people with the same income and expenses-one guy saves and invests, the other spends every cent he has-how do you formulate a tax policy to punish the first guy because he invests?
 
Aunt Spiker said:
Every single freaking Liberal could vote Conservative and it wouldn't change their lack of wealth at all.

People who are wealthy tend to vote in favor of measures that will CONTINUE to preserve their wealth.
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people who are wealthy generally have made smart choices and have worked hard
 
Aunt Spiker said:
We just ended our chapter of this 'wealth/poor gap' in my Social Problems class - Professor Petray said "The rich keep getting more wealthier and the poor keep getting more children"
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breeding irresponsibly is a major reason for people being poor.
 
Aunt Spiker said:
Every single freaking Liberal could vote Conservative and it wouldn't change their lack of wealth at all.
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"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work"

........the opportunity to change that lack of wealth is what they would be voting for.

People who are wealthy vote in favor of measures that will CONTINUE to preserve their wealth.
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....as would anyone with a penny in their pocket.......
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TurtleDude said:
people who are wealthy generally have made smart choices and have worked hard
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:rofl

The only person in my husband's family who EVER lifted a finger to do hard work in their entire wealth-building history was Great Grandfather Hauna who bought land in California and had a winery for quite some time - and during that time he also started a plumbing business and patented a few items here and there.

The family has lived for 3 generations off of only one mans innovation, initiative and hardwork. They're scummy lowlife rednecks injecting and snorting his inheritence away. They have his wealth - but they don't have his work ethics or values.
Do you think this is an unsual story? Nope, it's not.

They'd be homeless drug addicted bums if the property of his near Fremont, Ca wasn't worth a fortune when they sold it 10 years ago or so.

You only THINK that all those who are well off somehow did something in their life to earn it - when really it's mostly just an accident of birth. There are very FEW wealthy individuals who actually built their fortunes FROM nothing and WITH hardwork and perserverance. Most haven't done a damn thing for it.
 
liblady said:
or their ancestors did.
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We know that the wealth gap in this country is widening. We also know that social mobility in the United States is on the decline, which really makes it hard to believe that most wealthy Americans are of the "rags to riches" type. Most likely they inherited a certain degree of wealth, or at least were accorded better resources (better primary education, personal connections leading to job opportunities, etc.) This isn't to say that those who are wealthy didn't earn it or aren't hard workers, but it can't be denied that many who are wealthy had a step up from the rest. In the real world, wealth is derived from capital and assets, and these are handed down through generations. The wealthiest people are making money even when they're sleeping, the money makes itself.
 
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Aunt Spiker said:
You only THINK that all those who are well off somehow did something in their life to earn it - when really it's mostly just an accident of birth. There are very FEW wealthy individuals who actually built their fortunes FROM nothing and WITH hardwork and perserverance. Most haven't done a damn thing for it.
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There are many who live off the hard work of relatives or distant relatives who are spoil bitches and bastards, of that there's no doubt. I draw the distinction between self made wealth and inherited wealth - but that's not to say that some who inherit are all lazy either. Some wealthy do raise their kids right and do not spoil the hell out of them. I don't know any personally but I do know of them, and the one family I know of - their kids didn't know their parents had millions until they were in their mid teens. They lived modestly and didn't show it off at all.... that's the way to go.
 
Aunt Spiker said:
:rofl

The only person in my husband's family who EVER lifted a finger to do hard work in their entire wealth-building history was Great Grandfather Hauna who bought land in California and had a winery for quite some time - and during that time he also started a plumbing business and patented a few items here and there.

The family has lived for 3 generations off of only one mans innovation, initiative and hardwork. They're scummy lowlife rednecks injecting and snorting his inheritence away. They have his wealth - but they don't have his work ethics or values.
Do you think this is an unsual story? Nope, it's not.

They'd be homeless drug addicted bums if the property of his near Fremont, Ca wasn't worth a fortune when they sold it 10 years ago or so.

You only THINK that all those who are well off somehow did something in their life to earn it - when really it's mostly just an accident of birth. There are very FEW wealthy individuals who actually built their fortunes FROM nothing and WITH hardwork and perserverance. Most haven't done a damn thing for it.
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your personal issues mean nothing

your claims are bs and ooze envy. most millionaires in the USA are first generation. but if someone has a wealthy father who cares ?? they at least aren't costing you any money and you should have no right to demand their wealth just because you aren't as lucky

many top professional athletes are that way because of the talent they get from their parents. many of the top ladies tennis pros for example are the daughters of world class athletes. Kim Clijsters father was a world famous soccer player, her mom a world class gymnast. Svetlana Kutznova is the sister of an olympic medalist and the daughter of a 6 time world cycling champ
the current world #1 Caroline Wozniacki is the daughter of a professional soccer star, and former wimbledon semi finalist alexandra stevenson is Dr J's daughter Division one B-ball is full of the sons of pro players

so how are you gonna handle that legacy?
 
StillBallin75 said:
We know that the wealth gap in this country is widening. We also know that social mobility in the United States is on the decline, which really makes it hard to believe that most wealthy Americans are of the "rags to riches" type. Most likely they inherited a certain degree of wealth, or at least were accorded better resources (better primary education, personal connections leading to job opportunities, etc.) This isn't to say that those who are wealthy didn't earn it or aren't hard workers, but it can't be denied that many who are wealthy had a step up from the rest. In the real world, wealth is derived from capital and assets, and these are handed down through generations. The wealthiest people are making money even when they're sleeping, the money makes itself.
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i don't begrudge anyone their money, even the the teachers who belong to the unions, unlike others here. equal opportunity is what i want for all of our citizens. i do not understand why so many here seem to have such disdain for poor or lower middle class people, indeed, even middle class people.
 
TurtleDude said:
or not keeping their legs shut at age 15
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The vitriol is strong with this one.

But yet when a single rich dick ****s up and he takes his entire corporation, all his employees, their families, and even whole towns down with them I never hear you complain.

TurtleDude said:
your personal issues mean nothing
your claims are bs and ooze envy. most millionaires in the USA are first generation. but if someone has a wealthy father who cares ?? they at least aren't costing you any money and you should have no right to demand their wealth just because you aren't as lucky
many top professional athletes are that way because of the talent they get from their parents. many of the top ladies tennis pros for example are the daughters of world class athletes. Kim Clijsters father was a world famous soccer player, her mom a world class gymnast. Svetlana Kutznova is the sister of an olympic medalist and the daughter of a 6 time world cycling champ
the current world #1 Caroline Wozniacki is the daughter of a professional soccer star, and former wimbledon semi finalist alexandra stevenson is Dr J's daughter Division one B-ball is full of the sons of pro players
so how are you gonna handle that legacy?
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We went from an article discussing a growing wealth gap - and you jump right back to the 'redistribution of wealth' thing.

Why do you always associate one with the other - can we not discuss 'a lot of people are filthy ****ing rich and a lot of people aren't' without people assuming that means we're all in favor of actually TAKINg form one and GIVING to the other?

We've discussed this before - you're hellbent on running 'the poor' into the ground and uplifting the rich.
All I want is for you to admit that 'being wealthy' doesn't mean you KNOW how to actually handle, make or manage and the power that goes with it any better than someone who doesn't even have any :shrug:

On that note - I SEE that just GIVING money to the poor doesn't help them out at all - that's like treating a headache with an aspirin without trying to figure out WHAT is causing the headache.

As I've stated - I don't support redistribution because i don't believe it's going to *stop* people from being poor and underprivileged.
 
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Aunt Spiker said:
The vitriol is strong with this one.

But yet when a single rich dick ****s up and he takes his entire corporation, all his employees, their families, and even whole towns down with them I never hear you complain.
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No ****!

I really don't know how to even respond to some of it.
 
Aunt Spiker said:
The vitriol is strong with this one.

But yet when a single rich dick ****s up and he takes his entire corporation, all his employees, their families, and even whole towns down with them I never hear you complain.
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that does happen-bernie maddoff for example. and I bashed him constantly. and I was against the bailouts

but the rich aren't the ones demanding others pay for the government services they use because the rich pay far more in taxes than what they use.
 
TurtleDude said:
that does happen-bernie maddoff for example. and I bashed him constantly. and I was against the bailouts

but the rich aren't the ones demanding others pay for the government services they use because the rich pay far more in taxes than what they use.
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Well, actually they are. Look up corporate welfare.
 
TurtleDude said:
that does happen-bernie maddoff for example. and I bashed him constantly. and I was against the bailouts

but the rich aren't the ones demanding others pay for the government services they use because the rich pay far more in taxes than what they use.
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lol...yes, the rich ARE demanding gov't services through corporate welfare.
 
Boo Radley said:
Well, actually they are. Look up corporate welfare.
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unions like that too-if a company fails not only do the owners and shareholders take a bath so do the people who have jobs there

the bailout of GM was a union benefit
 
TurtleDude said:
that does happen-bernie maddoff for example. and I bashed him constantly. and I was against the bailouts

but the rich aren't the ones demanding others pay for the government services they use because the rich pay far more in taxes than what they use.
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ENRON comes to mind as well... that happened before my time here but I don't know of anyone who didn't complain about those assholes.
 
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