Quote:Here's an article from today that I think can add to the discussion:

<a class="bbc_url" href='http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-08-06/the-1-may-be-richer-than-you-think-research-shows.html'>http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-08-06/the-1-may-be-richer-than-you-think-research-shows.html</a>


Now, about 40% of the entire pie is going to just 1% of the ultra wealthy. They don't pay taxes hardly at all. You talk about capitalistic democracy when the facts indicate an oligarchy by definition. Money is power, after all, I think we can all agree on that.


I'm all for working hard, but I like working smart better. There are less stressful ways of going about living; other countries are allowing for it now. The "free market" needs--just like any market needs-- people with disposable income, i.e. a strong middle class, to spend their money. If almost half of all the available money is being swirled around Wall Street, benefitting a woefully small percentage of this country, then the economy is never going to come close to reaching its potential value for 99% of the people.

Money is power if you allow it to be. Killing the super pacs and lobbying would go a long way. I have no idea why it's legal to buy politicians.


If the rich hardly at all pay taxes, then who does? It's certainly not the poor. The reality is that the rich pay almost all of the taxes, but catch grief for using loopholes that allows them to pay less. It's not the rich's responsibility to support the American government. It isn't anyone's responsibility.


We agree that power needs to be displaced, at least. I just view the federal government as having too much power in addition to big money.

---