29 Jul 2014, 10:59 am
Kraichgauer
Veteran
Joined: 12 Apr 2010
Gender: Male
Posts: 47,794
Location: Spokane area, Washington state.
29 Jul 2014, 11:07 am
29 Jul 2014, 11:09 am
Kraichgauer wrote:
Raptor wrote:
Kraichgauer wrote:
1024 wrote:
A good indicator of the impact of income inequality on the middle class is the difference of the mean and the median (50th percentile) income. It is around 20% in the US and 10-20% in most countries.
This means that the most typical middle class people would only benefit from a communist system based on complete equality if it decreased the total earnings by less than 20%. Considering a social democratic system that would halve the inequality, they would only benefit if it decreased the total earnings by less than 10%. The US economy is more than 20% ahead even of most social democratic Western European counrties, let alone countries that have ever tried communism.
It is easy to say that the middle class is shrinking (everyone feels poor as they could easily spend more income), but it's not backed up by data.
This means that the most typical middle class people would only benefit from a communist system based on complete equality if it decreased the total earnings by less than 20%. Considering a social democratic system that would halve the inequality, they would only benefit if it decreased the total earnings by less than 10%. The US economy is more than 20% ahead even of most social democratic Western European counrties, let alone countries that have ever tried communism.
It is easy to say that the middle class is shrinking (everyone feels poor as they could easily spend more income), but it's not backed up by data.
Say what you will, but most Americans do not enjoy the prosperity of their parents.
I'm not sure that's even the case as much as you think. Besides, did people's parents carelessly throw money around like people do now?
Quote:
Home ownership is rarer and rarer, and people are struggling without getting anywhere. Maybe we're ahead of other western countries economically, but that doesn't mean that many Americans haven't lost ground with no apparent hope of regaining it.
China and other Asian nations are where most consumer goods are made now. End of story.
Read again what we talked about before \/
Kraichgauer wrote:
Raptor wrote:
/\ I'd like to see most all of our stuff made in the USA but I think it's too late for that. We gotta start thinking outside the box and figure out how to make lemonade out of the lemons we've unwillingly inherited. People arent going to take well to having to pay $2000 for an American made TV all the sudden that used to cost $600 when it was made in China. When people stop buying stuff we're back to square one. I myself can keep using my TV until it falls apart but I'm not everyone.
My God, there must be a blue moon! Because I find myself agreeing with you!
Just because I agreed with you that electronic stuff are made in China and other neighboring countries hardly means that it's a good thing. I agreed that we need to think of another approach to getting Americans high paying jobs again.
I used TV's only as one example.
Having all that manufacturing shift oversees like it did may not have been a good thing but it's the reality nonetheless.
Also, some foreign manufacturing entities have moved operations from across the pond into the US.
To name a few:
Toyota
Nissan
Honda
VW
Mercedes
BMW
Siemens
etc.....
29 Jul 2014, 11:17 am
29 Jul 2014, 11:27 am
29 Jul 2014, 1:03 pm
sonofghandi
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Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Age: 45
Gender: Male
Posts: 3,540
Location: Cleveland, OH (and not the nice part)
29 Jul 2014, 1:15 pm
29 Jul 2014, 1:52 pm
Sweetleaf wrote:
The current system cannot sustain itself and is likely to collapse....may as well sit back, have a beer and watch the show
If the present trend continues, then the "collapse" will likely take the form of wages not keeping up with inflation, tax increases, and benefit cuts.
The standard of living will slowly decline.
Kraichgauer
Veteran
Joined: 12 Apr 2010
Gender: Male
Posts: 47,794
Location: Spokane area, Washington state.
29 Jul 2014, 2:26 pm
Kraichgauer
Veteran
Joined: 12 Apr 2010
Gender: Male
Posts: 47,794
Location: Spokane area, Washington state.
29 Jul 2014, 2:29 pm
Raptor wrote:
Kraichgauer wrote:
Raptor wrote:
Kraichgauer wrote:
1024 wrote:
A good indicator of the impact of income inequality on the middle class is the difference of the mean and the median (50th percentile) income. It is around 20% in the US and 10-20% in most countries.
This means that the most typical middle class people would only benefit from a communist system based on complete equality if it decreased the total earnings by less than 20%. Considering a social democratic system that would halve the inequality, they would only benefit if it decreased the total earnings by less than 10%. The US economy is more than 20% ahead even of most social democratic Western European counrties, let alone countries that have ever tried communism.
It is easy to say that the middle class is shrinking (everyone feels poor as they could easily spend more income), but it's not backed up by data.
This means that the most typical middle class people would only benefit from a communist system based on complete equality if it decreased the total earnings by less than 20%. Considering a social democratic system that would halve the inequality, they would only benefit if it decreased the total earnings by less than 10%. The US economy is more than 20% ahead even of most social democratic Western European counrties, let alone countries that have ever tried communism.
It is easy to say that the middle class is shrinking (everyone feels poor as they could easily spend more income), but it's not backed up by data.
Say what you will, but most Americans do not enjoy the prosperity of their parents.
I'm not sure that's even the case as much as you think. Besides, did people's parents carelessly throw money around like people do now?
Quote:
Home ownership is rarer and rarer, and people are struggling without getting anywhere. Maybe we're ahead of other western countries economically, but that doesn't mean that many Americans haven't lost ground with no apparent hope of regaining it.
China and other Asian nations are where most consumer goods are made now. End of story.
Read again what we talked about before \/
Kraichgauer wrote:
Raptor wrote:
/\ I'd like to see most all of our stuff made in the USA but I think it's too late for that. We gotta start thinking outside the box and figure out how to make lemonade out of the lemons we've unwillingly inherited. People arent going to take well to having to pay $2000 for an American made TV all the sudden that used to cost $600 when it was made in China. When people stop buying stuff we're back to square one. I myself can keep using my TV until it falls apart but I'm not everyone.
My God, there must be a blue moon! Because I find myself agreeing with you!
Just because I agreed with you that electronic stuff are made in China and other neighboring countries hardly means that it's a good thing. I agreed that we need to think of another approach to getting Americans high paying jobs again.
I used TV's only as one example.
Having all that manufacturing shift oversees like it did may not have been a good thing but it's the reality nonetheless.
Also, some foreign manufacturing entities have moved operations from across the pond into the US.
To name a few:
Toyota
Nissan
Honda
VW
Mercedes
BMW
Siemens
etc.....
But I thought you conservatives are always harping about how we should only buy American products, and support American business. Hell, I'm a liberal, and I take pride in buying American!
29 Jul 2014, 8:47 pm
01 Aug 2014, 12:52 pm
02 Aug 2014, 12:06 am
Kraichgauer
Veteran
Joined: 12 Apr 2010
Gender: Male
Posts: 47,794
Location: Spokane area, Washington state.
02 Aug 2014, 12:17 am
Sweetleaf
Veteran
Joined: 6 Jan 2011
Age: 34
Gender: Female
Posts: 34,469
Location: Somewhere in Colorado
02 Aug 2014, 1:21 am
LoveNotHate wrote:
Sweetleaf wrote:
The current system cannot sustain itself and is likely to collapse....may as well sit back, have a beer and watch the show
If the present trend continues, then the "collapse" will likely take the form of wages not keeping up with inflation, tax increases, and benefit cuts.
The standard of living will slowly decline.
It already is.
02 Aug 2014, 5:32 pm
