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.