Yes they are getting richer faster. But as long as every group is getting richer that's hardly a major problem.
BS. That's pure, unadulterated garbage. That's arrogant, let-them-eat-cake BS you are spewing.
"Let-them-eat-cake" was likely not meant completely seriously. If it was it reflects a profound degree of ignorance, and a belief that cake was somehow universally available even to peasants who lacked bread and other basic staples. Whether it was meant as a serious (if ignorant) proposal, or some sort of put down of the peasants, or as a signal of lack of concern, it doesn't have much relevance to the idea I expressed.
It wasn't actually cake.......it was a brioche; a fairly sweet bread. It was claimed that Marie Antoinette made that comment but apparently that's not true. What it has come to symbolize is a kind of attitude; that whatever the poor get that's good enough, reflecting a rather superficial understanding of what it means to be poor in this country. The statement below......one that you made in your post to me........reflects that attitude:
"Yes they are getting richer faster. But as long as every group is getting richer that's hardly a major problem."
By your own omission, the lowest quintile is not even mentioned by Reynolds/Henderson and that's probably because those people do not make a living wage. And the second lowest quintile is hardly much better. And yet these are the slowest growing income groups out of a total of 5, meaning they are probably not keeping up with inflation. But that's okay with you because their incomes are growing albeit not quickly but that's better than not growing at all.
Tim, once again, I must ask.......do you ever think with your heart? Have you ever tried to experience empathy?
Non-wealthy Americans aren't starving peasants, they can and do get bread, and cake, and any number of other types of food, and on the whole they are both currently, and over the long run getting wealthier. If things are getting better for most people that isn't a fundamental injustice or a horrible crisis, and pointing that out doesn't resemble "Let them eat cake". Also it isn't double speak. Its clear, specific, and relevant. It neither equivocation or evasion, but rather a direct statement of opinion. It might in your opinion be wrong, but in addition to the fact that I don't agree with your opinion, I would point out that "incorrect", doesn't equal double-speak.
Do you know any poor people? I suspect not.
Let me tell you about one I met tonite. I was gambling at a local casino. Early in the evening, this guy sat down next to me at a blackjack table. He was with a friend.....and he smelled badly. That was pretty surprising.....rarely do you meet an American who does not shower regularly. As we played the game, we started to talk. It turns out that in late November he was laid off from his job. Since he lives paycheck to paycheck, he couldn't pay his December rent. So he moved into his car. He finally landed a somewhat permanent temp job in a warehouse about two weeks ago. However, at the rate he is paid, he figures it will take two months to get up the security deposit and first month's rent. He doesn't want to have to live in his car that long. Meanwhile one of his friends bought him a lottery ticket for XMAS. As luck would have it, he won $500 with that ticket. He decided to take $30 from it and try his luck at blackjack. He knew it was crazy but he's feeling a bit desperate. Fortunately, his friend and I helped him with his game, and when he had a nice pile of chips, his friend and I encouraged him to leave. He won $350. That coupled with the $500 he won from the lottery plus some of his old security deposit that he saved, will give him enough money to put a deposit on a studio apt.
The guy was really thin but did not look awfully unhealthy. I don't think he has an alcohol or drug problem. I do think he's probably of average intelligence....slow to learn. He may well have learning disabilities. He has no family. His story is not unusual. Many of the poor are like him......one mistake.....one slip up.....one bad break and they are on the street. Some are drug and/or alcohol dependent but not nearly as many as many middle class Americans would like to believe. Some of them have learning disabilities because their mothers drank and/or did drugs while they were pregnant. Others are unstable because they grew up in less than stable home environments. Still others have no families to support them at all. Very few were born screwups.
And yet we don't care and we make up stories like the one you created which is that their lot in life is improving and that's more than good enough, ignoring the fact that the rich who already have very satisfying lives are moving up much faster. Frankly, from experience, I know its not good enough. There are 37 million Americans whose lives are marginalized because people like you feel its abhorrent to create a safety net for them but its more than okay to blow a trillion dollars on an Iraq.
I have very little patience left for people who care so little about their fellow man, Tim. I don't understand why people have to be living the way they are living in one of the richest nations on the earth. How this guy was able to keep up his positive outlook was beyond me. However, I do know that every time he lands on the street the more damage he does to his body and his well being. Dental apptments become non existent. Illnesses are ignored.....until one day he can no longer keep up. Eventually, he will become one of the permanently homeless. I have seen too many scenarios like this one in the land of the home and the brave, and its not good.
As for a sense of guilt why should I (or the people I've quoted or linked to) feel a sense of guilt over the fact that while all broad segments of society are getting richer over time, some are getting richer faster then others?
Yeah, I can understand how you might feel that way, scrooge. Why don't you go look for a Tiny Tim to kick. You will feel much better afterwards I am sure. |
