Displaying 1,441 To 1,470 Of 2,133 Comments Excellent article by Joseph Stiglitz. It’s no use pretending that what has obviously happened has not in fact happened. The upper 1 percent of Americans are now taking in nearly a quarter of the nation’s income every year. In terms of wealth rather than income, the top 1 percent control 40 percent. Their lot in life has improved considerably. Twenty-five years ago, the corresponding figures were 12 percent and 33 percent. One response might be to celebrate the ingenuity and drive that brought good fortune to these people, and to contend that a rising tide lifts all boats. That response would be misguided. While the top 1 percent have seen their incomes rise 18 percent over the past decade, those in the middle have actually seen their incomes fall. For men with only high-school degrees, the decline has been precipitous—12 percent in the last quarter-century alone. All the growth in recent decades—and more—has gone to those at the top. In terms of income equality, America lags behind any country in the old, ossified Europe that President George W. Bush used to deride. Among our closest counterparts are Russia with its oligarchs and Iran. While many of the old centers of inequality in Latin America, such as Brazil, have been striving in recent years, rather successfully, to improve the plight of the poor and reduce gaps in income, America has allowed inequality to grow. Economists long ago tried to justify the vast inequalities that seemed so troubling in the mid-19th century—inequalities that are but a pale shadow of what we are seeing in America today. The justification they came up with was called “marginal-productivity theory.” In a nutshell, this theory associated higher incomes with higher productivity and a greater contribution to society. It is a theory that has always been cherished by the rich. Evidence for its validity, however, remains thin. The corporate executives who helped bring on the recession of the past three years—whose contribution to our society, and to their own companies, has been massively negative—went on to receive large bonuses. In some cases, companies were so embarrassed about calling such rewards “performance bonuses” that they felt compelled to change the name to “retention bonuses” (even if the only thing being retained was bad performance). Those who have contributed great positive innovations to our society, from the pioneers of genetic understanding to the pioneers of the Information Age, have received a pittance compared with those responsible for the financial innovations that brought our global economy to the brink of ruin. Some people look at income inequality and shrug their shoulders. So what if this person gains and that person loses? What matters, they argue, is not how the pie is divided but the size of the pie. That argument is fundamentally wrong. An economy in which most citizens are doing worse year after year—an economy like America’s—is not likely to do well over the long haul. There are several reasons for this. First, growing inequality is the flip side of something else: shrinking opportunity. Whenever we diminish equality of opportunity, it means that we are not using some of our most valuable assets—our people—in the most productive way possible. Second, many of the distortions that lead to inequality—such as those associated with monopoly power and preferential tax treatment for special interests—undermine the efficiency of the economy. This new inequality goes on to create new distortions, undermining efficiency even further. To give just one example, far too many of our most talented young people, seeing the astronomical rewards, have gone into finance rather than into fields that would lead to a more productive and healthy economy. Third, and perhaps most important, a modern economy requires “collective action”—it needs government to invest in infrastructure, education, and technology. The United States and the world have benefited greatly from government-sponsored research that led to the Internet, to advances in public health, and so on. But America has long suffered from an under-investment in infrastructure (look at the condition of our highways and bridges, our railroads and airports), in basic research, and in education at all levels. Further cutbacks in these areas lie ahead. None of this should come as a surprise—it is simply what happens when a society’s wealth distribution becomes lopsided. The more divided a society becomes in terms of wealth, the more reluctant the wealthy become to spend money on common needs. The rich don’t need to rely on government for parks or education or medical care or personal security—they can buy all these things for themselves. In the process, they become more distant from ordinary people, losing whatever empathy they may once have had. They also worry about strong government—one that could use its powers to adjust the balance, take some of their wealth, and invest it for the common good. The top 1 percent may complain about the kind of government we have in America, but in truth they like it just fine: too gridlocked to re-distribute, too divided to do anything but lower taxes. » Posted By Abbyrose86 On April 12, 2011 @ 9:19 am They sort of know what is going on politically…in the Rush Limbaugh viewpoint anyway, but they truly don’t really understand how everything works, so…they are easy dupes for the Rush Limbaughs and Fox news crowd.. I can’t even talk to them anymore. Seriously. I get so aggravated. » Posted By Abbyrose86 On April 12, 2011 @ 9:11 am I felt the need to share this with you all: You know of those silly polls on facebook, the ones where you vote on something or acknowledge a particular belief? Well this morning, I saw a voting poll on whether you self identify as a ‘righty’ or a ‘lefty’ . A friend of mine, who I know VERY VERY well…answered righty. Now here is the interesting part, this person is in NO way shape or form conservative, based on their lifestyle, YET She and her fiance both identify as ‘conservative politically’. Mind you both are recreational drug users and heavy partiers; she has had numerous abortions, the couple lives together, and have two children out of wedlock. SHE is divorced and has 3 children from a previous marriage…mind you she was married at 16 and dropped out of high school. She is on welfare and both of them, are blue color workers. Neither one is well educated and neither one really understands money and finance. THEY are always broke and can’t handle their own budgets. YET these two think they are republicans and listen to Rush Limbaugh. EGADS!!!!!! I am utterly perplexed! » Posted By Abbyrose86 On April 12, 2011 @ 8:36 am I’m really really confused. I truly do not understand the right wing obsession with the abortion issue or with planned parenthood. WHY, do they care so much if the average woman has access to abortion or birth control? I mean…it’s not like the rightwing really CARES about people as a whole, and especially non wealthy people who are already ALIVE, BREATHING, and in need of basic human necessities, such as food, shelter, medical care, money, etc. I mean, for the most part, the far right has shown they don’t care about the needs of people who are already alive. As a matter of fact, they show utter contempt for any person who is not wealthy. So what really is the motivation for them to restrict abortion OR access to birth control? It would seem to me, since they don’t really like or care for most people, other than rich people, they really wouldn’t care if the masses limit their reproduction. Do those on the right REALIZE that fetuses, become BABIES, who grow up to become children and then ADULTS? Children who need food, shelter and EDUCATION and then as Adults they will need jobs, housing, food, healthcare, retirement, etc. etc.? Based on most of the economic ideology espoused by the right wing and their unwillingness to share…it would seem they would like the concept of LESS people being born and using up resources that they want for themselves. I just don’t get their logic. » Posted By Abbyrose86 On April 11, 2011 @ 6:43 pm I know the numbers. AS I said. I DO know VERY much about this subject. AS stated, I was married to one for 21 years! So please. This is not something that I haven’t dealt with personally. On the contrary. And as your numbers show, the relapse rate is very high…ergo the programs don’t work that well. Sorry. And as I said, while some DO eventually succeed, just as many don’t. While, I am happy to see people deal with it and move on and fix their lives, many more don’t and I don’t know if the problems are so much the ‘addiction per se’ as the underlying issues that led to the addiction and therefore, I believe that most of the programs are treating the symptoms not the real problems. After having experienced the way rehab works, with both my ex husband and my boyfriend, both a very expensive private program and a state sponsored one…I’m not impressed nor do I buy in to the way the programs work as they are all based on a one size fits all approach, that deal with the symptoms and not the real problems of the individuals. » Posted By Abbyrose86 On April 8, 2011 @ 6:46 pm I don’t agree with your take on this subject Kilgore. Let’s look at this argument logically. WERE those people who are NOW addicts, once children?? YES…no one is born an adult. ALL adults were once CHILDREN! ALL addicts were once CHILDREN! WE all are a product of our genetics AND our upbringing, as well as the culture in which we were raised. NONE of us, not one single solitary sole on this planet, became an adult without being influenced by WHAT is around THEM. It is disingenuous to claim otherwise! SO with that being said…everyone of us, is a product of both the good and BAD influences that we encountered. Its how those influences manifest themselves in the individual that is different to each individual. Addiction is no different. I’ll give you an example…I am a smoker. I grew up in a family of smokers. EVERYONE around me smoked. Is it no surprise I grew up and smoked as well? Studies also show that a child that grows up in a house of smokers is more than likely to BECOME a smoker. Smoking IS an addiction. IT is legal, and it used to be socially acceptable It is horrible for one’s body and has severely negative effects on one’s body and to others who are in it’s proximity. IT no longer is acceptable. HOWEVER, many people are still ADDICTED to that drug. AND nicotine IS a drug. Alcohol isn’t much different, in that it is a legal drug, however it is STILL a socially acceptable one. SOME people who use it will end up addicted to it…others won’t. Smoking on the other hand, almost ALWAYS leads to addiction. NOW, we know that children who live with smokers are more likely to BECOME smokers themselves. WE know that…yet no one here will argue that parents who smoke in front of their offspring are NOT doing harm to their children. SO why are we arguing that other addictions may not come from the home??? WHY are you suggesting that the child’s family life may NOT have an influence on how that child behaves as an adult? WHY are you suggesting that the influences of childhood have no effect on whether that child The cumulative effect of a person’s upbringing coupled with that particular individuals genetic predispositions, and own personal beliefs, ideas and feelings ALL combine to influence what that individual will or will not do. NOW IF a child is raised with little discipline, a loose set of family values, is overindulged and is given little oversight, and not provided with solid boundaries,or unconditional love, I suggest that by adolescents that person is probably going to start experimenting with drugs, alcohol and with other socially unacceptable behaviors. Further to that, I suggest that by adulthood that same former child, will now be acting out and doing things that further their narcissistic endeavors. I also suggest that much of the using of such addictive substances and behaviors is a sign of a deeper issue and is usually tied to people ‘self medicating’ in an effort to not ‘deal’ with the issues that are really bothering them. AND My hypothesis is not just my own, but I’ve read similar from others who are experts in the field. Addiction and other destructive behaviors are usually part of something MUCH deeper. SO » Posted By Abbyrose86 On April 8, 2011 @ 5:24 pm Fair enough! 🙂 » Posted By Abbyrose86 On April 8, 2011 @ 4:38 pm Kilgore, I couldn’t disagree more. JUST because the parents aren’t addicted does NOT mean the child isn’t learning a behavior from their parents/ The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. » Posted By Abbyrose86 On April 8, 2011 @ 4:32 pm HOW in the world…does bad parenting lead to bad children…you got to be kidding! CAUSE and effect. People don’t magically just end up a certain way. WE ALL of us, are influenced by our families and the society around us. It is the parents’ job to be teaching their progeny to be ADULTS not overgrown children. 9 times out of 10, it IS the parent’s fault…whether society and the parents want to admit it or not. I am so sick of this not blaming the parents thing…and IGNORING the cumulative effect of lax parenting and a disconnected society for why children end up messed up adults. MAYBE, just MAYBE if we as a society, STOPPED pretending that how kids are raised doesn’t matter…unless of course, it is to accept accolades for when the child ends up doing well….WE would have a better society as a whole. May goodness, the cognitive disconnect on this subject is frightening. When children grow up well and end up in a positive situation, we are quick to acknowledge the family unit, the society they were raised in and the activities of the parents for said child’s success…but god forbid we suggest the opposite, that bad parenting leads to fucked up adults. WE, as a society, give lots of lip service to how important the job of parenting IS, unless the child ends up a mess, and then we blame everything but the parenting for the child’s failures. » Posted By Abbyrose86 On April 8, 2011 @ 4:29 pm Kilgore, there are those who go through the programs and succeed and JUST as many who go through the programs and DON’T. Sadly those who fall through the cracks or don’t make it, aren’t kept track of and the numbers aren’t as easy to ascertain. I am against, one size fits all approaches to ANYTHING. One size does NOT fit all…and while some DO succeed with such programs others don’t…and they count too. I, too, am a bit of an expert on this subject. NOT due to my own issues, but from living with people with these issues and having close friends and family with these issues. There is a joke in my neck of the woods, “I’m not a drunk…I’m just from Buffalo, NY”. This tongue and cheek reference is due to the high rates of alcoholism and drug addiction from the area I was born and raised. I know of many “functioning’ users who seemingly live very full lives…but do so constantly under the influence of drugs and alcohol. I also know many who have taken part in the programs and those who have played the system. Including my ex husband and ex boyfriend. I spent many years dealing with their doctors, therapists and going to those meetings. EVEN the experts acknowledge that these programs don’t work for ALL situations and for everyone and that different approaches need to be considered for different situations. I also volunteer at a homeless shelter every week and see another side of this issue. There are many people who will NEVER get their lives together and the fact that their loved ones are not available to THEM, due to this advice, doesn’t help the situation, and actually probably makes it worse in some ways. The one size fits all approach is not working for ALL who suffer from addictions. And lastly, we don’t know enough about the particulars of this family’s situation to be judging any of this, truthfully. » Posted By Abbyrose86 On April 8, 2011 @ 4:17 pm Buddy, that is so true. We as a society, do ourselves no justice or good will, when we try to simplify or homogenize everything about the human condition. » Posted By Abbyrose86 On April 8, 2011 @ 4:05 pm And Kilgore, you yourself just said, we are opining without knowing ALL the particulars. WE don’t know IF the way the child was raised is part of the issue…we don’t. \ WE don’t know much of the particulars…so any comment as to what ‘should’ or should not be done, is not really helpful, without knowing ALL the details and the full history. » Posted By Abbyrose86 On April 8, 2011 @ 4:00 pm AND BDM…trust me, when I say…when the child ends up dead…which IS a likely scenario…the parent feels even worse. My mother in law, went through this. Her 22 year old son, killed himself and took two others with him. The family, my mother in law and father in law…rightly so, blamed themselves AFTER it all happened. AS they should have. They raised him wrong…they did…too permissive, and too interested in being his ‘friend’ during his formative years,but not so much LATER WHEN the problem really showed itself. At that point, they refused to accept blame for their lax parenting and blamed the school system, his friends, his peer group, HIM, etc…and then they did that ‘tough love’ thing. They listened to all the ‘experts’ who told THEM they weren’t to blame and HE needed to be cut off. Different people need different things, and different motivations. Different situations call for different measures. Sadly the experts and those of us, giving advice on line, don’t know ALL the particulars of any situation…we only know the perspective of those relating the story and tend to give generic advice. NOT all stories end up success stories. The parent in question needs to be aware of that as well. I can tell another one of a long time family friend, she had a heroin addiction. Her family and friends, TOO chose the tough love approach. She’s been dead now 7 years. She was 42 when she died. Yes, addicts on the whole, need to WANT to help themselves…HOWEVER, some addicts need to know there is something to come home to…and some don’t get that. Tough love is NOT always the answer. » Posted By Abbyrose86 On April 8, 2011 @ 3:57 pm Also, I don’t agree with the ‘enabling’ thing…I’ve heard the opinions of experts in the field and have dealt with people with addiction problems. I would suggest, that those who tried that and ended up with their child DEAD, may have a different opinion than the ‘experts’. I know of two families that took that approach and both ended up burying their child…neither feels that advice was appropriate. » Posted By Abbyrose86 On April 8, 2011 @ 3:39 pm I suggest Kilgore, she should have displined him when he was little. It’s too late now. And as someone who has seen a couple of different parent’s bury their disturbed children…I would suggest pushing to far isn’t the right answer either. » Posted By Abbyrose86 On April 8, 2011 @ 3:36 pm Again, as a parent myself (of young adults)….I have a completely different take on all this. A parent’s job is NOT to raise a child…but to raise an adult. And many, I would go so far to say, MOST parents today, don’t see the difference. They think it cute when their toddler doesn’t tow the line and shows moxie…and too often THEY (the parents) give in during the formative years. And then are shocked, shocked I tell you…when their little darlings turn out to be less than stellar adults. These precocious little darlings…turn into self centered adults…and who’s fault IS that? The parents and our society. We (our culture) encourage this ridiculous concept that children are ‘innocent’ and beyond REAL reproach…and then suddenly when said child turns a magic age…of 18 or 21…we expect those over grown children to suddenly behave like adults. I say bullhockey. WE, society and parents’, need to be honest about HOW we have raised these young adults…we didn’t raise them to be adults…but rather perpetual children. AND we are then shocked by the result? PLEASE! WE have no one to blame but ourselves. Which is what I suspect MAY be going on with your friend. She may have realized that SHE didn’t raise him as well as she should have. SHE may realize that she, indeed is part of his problem…and maybe THAT is why she puts up with it…she also, probably loves him dearly and doesn’t WANT him to suffer. Mothers DO do that sometimes…sacrifice themselves for their children. That once considered a good thing…today, not so much. Friends don’t know the family dynamics and how things were in the household while the child was forming. Truly they don’t. Friends only SEE and hear one side of the story…and maybe basing THEIR own perceptions on their own limited viewpoints. I’m not saying the boy doesn’t need a kick in the ass…I’m saying it maybe too late as when he needed it, it wasn’t given. I’m also suggesting we reap what we sow. » Posted By Abbyrose86 On April 8, 2011 @ 3:34 pm I see that situation a little differently. As a mother of two myself and a step mother of two…there is Nothing I would not do to help those I love. NOTHING. If it means enabling them to some degree, so as to still have them in my life…so be it. Your friend’s issue is hers and her love for her son, may be the driving force behind her compassion for him. IF she loves him and doesn’t WANT him to end up in the gutter, SHE is doing what she believes is necessary….it’s called unconditional love. I can understand your concern for your friend, but her desire to want to protect HER child is stronger than her desire to want to protect herself. » Posted By Abbyrose86 On April 8, 2011 @ 3:22 pm THAT is very true. Perceptions drive the debate. » Posted By Abbyrose86 On April 8, 2011 @ 3:19 pm Adonai, truly I would feel just the opposite. NY is a very safe city….but many don’t understand the city, and thus feel intimidated and that show of fear is what criminals prey on, JUST like anywhere else. When people FEEL or show they are fearful, they are easy prey for those who wish to take advantage of them…that is NOT unique to any area. NYC has great poverty as well….the income inequality there is quite large. And poverty THERE is the reason for much of the crime there just as it is anywhere else. » Posted By Abbyrose86 On April 8, 2011 @ 3:18 pm Jkk….that sounds about how he’ll spin it.. {SIGH} » Posted By Abbyrose86 On April 8, 2011 @ 12:31 pm Thanks Kes….yeah…that sends up a flag all right! Yeesh. They aren’t even TRYING to conceal their contempt for the system and the people. » Posted By Abbyrose86 On April 8, 2011 @ 12:30 pm I thought this headline was kind of funny. in a sick, pathetic…NO DUH…kind of way. Wisconsin County Clerk Suspected Of Election Fraud http://www.addictinginfo.org/2011/04/08/wisconsin-county-clerk-suspected-of-voter-fraud/ Ya’all think???? What a world! » Posted By Abbyrose86 On April 8, 2011 @ 9:25 am Exactly Choice Lady. These people are beyond comprehension. I’m ill. » Posted By Abbyrose86 On April 8, 2011 @ 9:21 am @escribacat. I know exactly what you mean…the last couple of days, I’ve been actually getting ill over all this. There is something seriously wrong with these people. » Posted By Abbyrose86 On April 8, 2011 @ 9:20 am GAWD… I truly can’t find any nice words to say about any of those disgusting people. Selfish, self centered bullies and liars are ALL they are. I truly hope they all rot in hell. I am not normally a violent person or a mean one…but these people are devoid of normal humanity and thus are not deserving of any decency. Gawd….This Tom Graves of Georgia, who is on Lawrence O’Donnell right now….is an utterly disgusting liar. » Posted By Abbyrose86 On April 7, 2011 @ 4:58 pm You are right BDM…they American public DO need to be educated on this subject and many others. Sadly, most Americans are ridiculously naive and unaware of how many programs HELP them, their communities and society as a whole. This naivete about HOW things really work, is at the heart of many of our problems. AMEN….these ideas really ARE death panels. {sigh} » Posted By Abbyrose86 On April 5, 2011 @ 4:49 pm Sadly ADlib…there are too many people who just can’t see what is so plainly in front of their faces! {sigh} » Posted By Abbyrose86 On April 5, 2011 @ 4:33 pm Perfect Cher! » Posted By Abbyrose86 On April 5, 2011 @ 4:22 pm @2CCP….I know that calling them out can be dangerous. I’ve suffered at their hands before. The consequences to myself was economically devastating to me…I was blackballed for years, due to my ‘calling out’ one of those liars. HE was powerful and retaliated BAD. I’m just now starting, I hope to recover. » Posted By Abbyrose86 On March 30, 2011 @ 7:08 am @For America….I tend to agree that is where the bullies went and sadly, they have gained such ground. WHAT the f is wrong with our society?? I’m so saddened and tired of it….there has GOT to be a better way! 🙁 » Posted By Abbyrose86 On March 30, 2011 @ 7:05 amComments Posted By Abbyrose86
(now an adult) behaves? IT makes no sense!
How many parent’s drink in front of their kids? And don’t think anything of it?
They didn’t feel so certain at his funeral and 25 years later…she is still a mess. My children’s grandmother is a basket case and has been since her son died.
I seriously despise the GOP and those disgusting tea party creatures.
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