In NYC, the top fifth make a dollar for every 2 cents the bottom fifth make. Same as in Namibia.
Bush’s poll numbers are dropping fast.
What did Jesus say about getting a camel through the eye of a needle?
Billy
I am not really sure about the disparity. I’d say most of the people in this area are doing pretty well, that’s why I moved here. I am by no means in the high end of housing in my area, in the middle I would say.
As for opportunity, I’d say it is pretty equal. While some choose to watch or be on Jerry Springer, I was putting myself through college with two-three jobs. I can’t remember the last time I only had one source of income. While some bitch about working 40 hours a week, I average 60-70. Sometimes I work less. Very few people are born into money, most who have it worked hard, while others were playing. Wanting what I have without being willing to do what I did to earn it is greed. There are a lot of people who have a whole lot less than me, who are truly greedy.
Interesting that you would choose to quote Jesus to me. Not sure what you were really trying to say by doing that. Like to enlighten me?
I get the impression that my desire to make sure that myself and my family will never be a financial burden on others, that my desire to pull my own weight in society and bring as many people on that journey with me is somehow a negative thing. Am I wrong?
Re: Bugman: How’s the income disparity in your area?
damn
bugman got pwned
Is there some way I can keep out of this fight? …humm… there was the bait -I could be a catylist- that could be fun… or I could hang back and wince at the rationalizations made in support of emotional positions.
Oh, Damn- my internal dialogue became external again. Well, while I’m strutting around out here, let me wish both the contenders well on what promises to provide some really delightfully parabolic twists of logic.
Now, who was next?
strange, i’ve been wondering the same thing myself
u’ve been frightfully quiet in recent times
is this your first post in a while?
[edit: oops, just did a search …]
You disgust me! 
Corporate welfare makes the rich a burden, not you.
According to a census article yesterday’s NYTimes (p. 33): In Manhattan, the top fifth now make 52 times what the bottom fifth make, $365, 826 compared with $7,047. This represents a substantial widening of the income gap. In 1980, the top fifth made 21 times what the bottom fifth made. By 1990, 32 times.
With regard to Jesus, I just heard a sermon Sunday morning which talked about Jesus’ various preachings against the Jerusalum Temple status quo, where the rich were said to be “blessed.” The point was not that the rich are damned, but it seems to matter what they do with their wealth.
Bush’s tax breaks for the wealthy do create problems for the poor. To some extent, the wealthy gain from corporate welfare, and are a burden on the rest of us. You are not a burden.
Still, I’d be interested in the disparity in your area.
80% of Americans believe they are in the top 50% of wealth.
Billy
Re: Corporate welfare makes the rich a burden, not you.
I dsagree with your definition of corporate welfare. Allowing people to keep more of their own money, the money they worked hard to earn, is anything but welfare.
Tkaing money from those people with the threat of a gun or jail time in order to give it to someone else is welfare. If it wasn’t the government it would be theft.
I like to decide when and where I donate my money. Because I have worked hard and smart, I have more to give to those I feel have earned it. Personally I am more inclined to donate to people or organizations that help people who are suferring through no fault of their own. Research for MS, Diabetes, Leukemia, etc… I am the first house in the neighborhood kids come to when raising funds for school. I have already given a considerable amount to help families that are homeless from Katrina. I have no problem giving were I want to give. I do have a problem with someone taking from me to give to someone they think needs it. I guess it could be argued that giving is giving, but I would say it is important to be a good steward of your money, and giving it to someone unwilling to earn it, is poor stewardship.
As for earning, I have beeen through the pay scenario before, but everyone that works for me make a lot more than they could doing similiar jobs for similiar companies. They start with three weeks of vacation, (if they are willing to take at least two of them between Nov and Feb) They have on three day weekend a month. They work every other Saturday, but always have one day off a week. In other words they work 4 days one week and 5 the next. I buy them lunch at least twice a week. We have bottled water, Powerade on hand for free. They are able to buy products from the store at cost. They have free health insurance. They don’t pay one cent. I have only had one employee leave ever, and we did what we could to make it happen. He was a family member of my business partner, and probably shouldn’t have been hired. The person that we hired to replace him isn’t really any better, and I was against him being hired, but I was out of town at the time. He will likely move on in the next year. Hopefully.
Billy, you sucker- Bugman is obviously a bot Gilby has running; no real person could be simultaneously so consistantly defensive AND self congradulatory. I can’t believe you fell for that.
How clever.
Doh, and I thought the AI stuff I was working on was getting good. 
Re: Re: Corporate welfare makes the rich a burden, not you.
Bugman,
You HAVE to be an anti-tax guy. That’s the only way to explain your response. You don’t mind when the taxpayers pay to build the infrastructure for Wal-Mart, where more money goes into the CEOs pockets than 200 minimum wage jobs puts back into the community.
Corporate welfare is when the taxpayers subsidize big business–happening more and more under Bush. Do your own search of corporate welfare.
Billy
Corporate Welfare Information Center
“The $150 billion for corporate subsidies and tax benefits eclipses the annual budget deficit of $130 billion. It’s more than the $145 billion paid out annually for the core programs of the social welfare state: Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), student aid, housing, food and nutrition, and all direct public assistance (excluding Social Security and medical care).”
“After World War II, the nation’s tax bill was roughly split between corporations and individuals. But after years of changes in the federal tax code and international economy, the corporate share of taxes has declined to a fourth the amount individuals pay, according to the US Office of Management and Budget.” --Boston Globe series on Corporate Welfare
Corporate Welfare Basics
RACHEL’s Environment & Health Weekly newsletters:
#422: Corporate Welfare
#396: Unfunded Mandates (tax breaks)
Corporate Welfare Examples
Common Cause Reports:
Return on Investment: The Hidden Story of Soft Money, Corporate Welfare and the 1997 Budget & Tax Deal
Corporate Welfare Issues Page
Green Scissors Campaign - Environmentally-Damaging Corporate Welfare
Friends of the Earth – “Economics for the Earth” Reports:
Green Scissors 2000
Green Scissors '99 - $51 Billion in anti-environmental corporate pork
Green Scissors '98 - $49 Billion in anti-environmental corporate pork
Green Scissors '97 - $36 Billion in anti-environmental corporate pork
Green Scissors '96 - $38.8 Billion in anti-environmental corporate pork
Green Scissors report ('95)
(34 choice examples of environmentally damaging corporate welfare projects)
Dirty Little Secrets report
(15 of the most unfair and environmentally damaging tax breaks)
Road to Ruin Report
($10 Billion Worth of harmful, unneeded and environmentally damaging new highway projects)
Taxpayers for Common $ense – Publications/Reports
The Waste Basket – a weekly bulletin of wasteful government spending
Road to Ruin II (even more pork barrel highways)
Fossil Fuel Subsidy Factsheet
Blank Check: The Cost to U.S. Taxpayers of Creating a New “Takings” Entitlement
Citizens for Tax Justice – Giveaways to the Rich and Corporations
The Hidden Entitlements: Tax Loopholes from A to Z
Citizens for Leaders with Ethics and Accountability Now! (CLEAN)
Sports Stadiums
HUD Abuses
Corporate Welfare Mailing lists
Other Resources on Corporate Welfare
Take the Rich Off Welfare, Odonian Press, Zepezauer and Naiman.
191 pages; costs $9.00; available by calling 1-800-732-5786
A couple of the fine statistics covered are:
“If you cut 26 percent of the welfare now given to the rich you have instantly balanced the budget.”
“If you cut out wealthfare, you could pay off the national debt in 11 years.”
Sample Legislation to Reform Corparate Welfare
Getting Business Off The Public Dole: State and Local Model Laws to Curb Corporate Welfare Abuse
An Act To End Business Welfare Abuse: Proposed State Legislation
Re: Re: Re: Corporate welfare makes the rich a burden, not you.
If we did away with income tax, well for one thing the people with no income (other then the income given to them by taxpayers, without the taxpayers consent) might have to work, and we certainly wouldn’t have to worry about taxes building Walmarts.
Re: Re: Re: Re: Corporate welfare makes the rich a burden, not you.
What specific item or items that is paid for with your tax money did you specifically give your consent to? What form did you fill out giving this consent? To which government department did you send this form detailing those items you consented to having your tax dollars used for?
OK OK I’m not really that hardline. I truly believe there is a percentage of entitlements that are valid, but something like a consumption tax in lieu of an income tax would be more to my liking.
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Corporate welfare makes the rich a burden, not you.
Well when I went to the polls I looked for those who i felt would distibute my money in a way i thought showed good stewardship. I looked at the Democrat aisle - nothing, I looked at the Republican aisle - nothing. 
Ah well, c’est la vie
HA! rhysling took the bait, and made the discussion is even more emotional.
I have a solution to the income disparity problem. Just cap maximum earnings. Cap earnings through work or investments at something like 40 times minimum wage. Anything above that gets taxed at something like 95%. Problem solved. And it would give an incentive for the wealthy to raise the minimum wage.
If that doesn’t work then send the underachievers to Siberia.
What could go wrong?
yes, u are wrong
on that score u’re kewl
i may not agree with all your opinions but i’ve always respected the fact that u ‘aquired’ them and didn’t just mindlessly ‘inherit’ them
your very judgemental attitudes to people who aren’t in the same position as yourself may be a little out of line
telling a person caught in the jaws of poverty to ‘just get a job’ is right up there with telling a person suffering from depression to ‘just cheer up’, telling a person suffering from anorexia nervosa to ‘just have a meal’ or telling a person who’s legs have just been cut off by a speeding train to ‘just stop bleeding’
occasionally your very simplistic approaches to some issues seem at odds with some of your other very well-reasoned responses