A disgusting vat of filth that no self-respecting intelligent person would wade into.

[Penske_Account]

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
Sounds like a good speech by Bush yesterday:

• President Bush acknowledged Wednesday that there is growing income inequality in the United States . . . .
  
  "The fact is that income inequality is real -- it's been rising for more than 25 years," Bush said in an address on Wall Street. "The reason is clear: We have an economy that increasingly rewards education and skills because of that education." . . .
  
  Bush aides did not deny that Bush was seeking to address Democratic concerns, but they said income inequality has been on the minds of senior administration officials such as Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson Jr., who mentioned the subject in his first major address last spring, and chief economic adviser Edward Lazear.
  
  "It's something that obviously the administration has made note of," said presidential counselor Dan Bartlett. The president "understands that there are many Democrats who have spoken to this issue. It is an important time for the Congress and the American people to hear what he says," Bartlett said.
  
  Few economists would disagree that income inequality is real and getting worse. The gap between rich and poor has been growing wider since the 1970s. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the wealthiest 20 percent of households accounted for 45.4 percent of total U.S. income in 1979, but claimed 53.5 percent in 2004. Households in the bottom fifth dropped from 5.8 to 4.1 percent over the same period. . . .
  
  "The question is whether we respond to the income inequality we see with policies that help lift people up, or tear others down," Bush said. "The key to rising in this economy is skills -- and the government's job is to make sure we have an education system that delivers them."

WaPo

eta: Good piece on inequality here.

Get a second job or work harder. That will help those on the lower end close the gap.

[Penske_Account]

Originally posted by taxwonk
But could any of the "big boys" have made it to Molly's league? The only one I can think of who even comes close was Royko and he had Hizzoner Da Mare for inspiration.

Breslin would eat her up, spit her out and kick her to the curb.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally posted by Cletus Miller
Well, the number may not be particularly significant, but when adjusted for the amount of noise they make and the play they get in, for example, the WSJ, they are significant. I don't think it makes them more correct (or, if you prefer, less wrong), but it does make them significant--it's not as if it's three guys in the basement offices of the Econ department at Liberty University disputing the growing gap. They're ideologues, not wackos (per se).

I agree that there are some ideologues out there who deny that inequality is increasing. There are also Young Earth creationists who deny evolution. President Bush apparently is more willing to acknowledge inequality than evolution, and that's something.

And do those guys get play anywhere in the WSK other than the editorial pages?

[Penske_Account]

Originally posted by Replaced_Texan
Dear god, they're still humorless. Her obituary:

They're still too chicken to print the words "gang pluck"?

OTOH they published Jayson Blair's byline, which gives them some cred.

[Secret_Agent_Man]

Originally posted by Penske_Account
As for the rich comment, the assumptions in it and the assumptions that liberals frequently make regarding class are amazing.

In the context in which it was delivered, my comment was both perfectly appropriate and damn funny. These people were way over the top in both regards (public displays of both vast wealth and a certain kind of chest-thumping patriotism). You really had to be there.

Also -- Is it so hard for you to believe that people who benefit more from particular government policies might be more supportive of them and the politicians who enact them?

Originally posted by Penske_Account
If I am rich, which would be at the broadest characterization, that state has only occured since W came into office. the previous decades ranged from lower to lower/middle.

I never said it was easy for you -- you obviously work hard at your politics and are to be commended for it.

Originally posted by Penske_Account
I would tend to think that the foundations of my viewpoints were based in those first 30 or so years and derive as much from experiencing what not having economic means and working hard to get to a different level as they do from any current status.

Most people's political views do form during those tender years, and youths are easily led astray.

Originally posted by Penske_Account
Of course the liberals with their keen eyes for diversity, tolerance and non-bias would just classify patriotic americans as the evil jesus freak rich.

Don't be a jackass. Didn't mean to strike such a nerve.

S_A_M

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
I agree that there are some ideologues out there who deny that inequality is increasing.

Give it a decade.

I live in a small upper middle class suburb. My burb merges into a lower middle class suburb for middle school and HS. My son is a b-ball player, and is friends with several young black kids from the LMC burb. A high percentage of these kids have a strong mom and no dad. The moms are not college educated- some do have decent jobs.

From taking them to tournaments there are a half dozen I know very well, and am doing like a big brother kind of thing. I asked an assistant principal if he could help me and these guys identify potential minority scholarships- this guy, a black man, wasn't aware of any. WTF. How can anyone move up, realistically, not theoretically?

One nice touch happened last November- one kid is carrying a 3.2 GPA- enough to get him (with AA) into U of M or MSU- not enough w/o AA. I've been telling him he is golden for getting into schools. The last November the great people of my state outlawed AA.

Worse, these guys have a mom with enough on the ball to get them across 8 Mile road and out of Detroit schools. I have the sense that a high percentage of the kids in Detroit schools don't even have that.

I just see tons of poorer kids, white or black, heading into the future with little chance not to fall much further behind. Maybe not, and of course many will be fine, but shit it can get depressing.

There are also Young Earth creationists who deny evolution.

did i ever post on my theory about this?

[Secret_Agent_Man]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
I just see tons of poorer kids, white or black, heading into the future with little chance not to fall much further behind. Maybe not, and of course many will be fine, but shit it can get depressing.

Tell them to get a second job, or work harder. Penske did.

S_A_M

[Penske_Account]

Originally posted by Secret_Agent_Man
In the context in which it was delivered, my comment was both perfectly appropriate and damn funny. These people were way over the top in both regards (public displays of both vast wealth and a certain kind of chest-thumping patriotism). You really had to be there.

Soros?

Originally posted by Secret_Agent_Man
you .....are to be commended



S_A_M

Thanks.

Originally posted by Secret_Agent_Man
Most people's political views do form during those tender years, and youths are easily led astray.



S_A_M

I didn't leave the demo party, it left me.

Originally posted by Secret_Agent_Man


Don't be a jackass.

S_A_M

Originally posted by Secret_Agent_Man

Didn't mean to strike such a nerve.

S_A_M

Its not you, but, gnerally, the intolerant bias of the left just gets tiring sometimes.

[Penske_Account]

Originally posted by Secret_Agent_Man
Tell them to get a second job, or work harder. Penske did.

S_A_M

right on! words of wisdom indeed. And that one's a freebie for y'all.

[Sidd Finch]

Originally posted by SlaveNoMore
Unlike the deficit, which rapidly continues to shrink because of unanticipated tax receipts collected on the flood of cash released into the markets after the capital gains tax cut.

Yes, the Rs have a lot to be proud of when it comes to Bush's management of the federal fisc.




Man, I crack me up.

[SlaveNoMore]

Tyrone Slothrop
I agree that there are some ideologues out there who deny that inequality is increasing. There are also Young Earth creationists who deny evolution.

There are even some out there that think anti-war protestors wouldn't spit at a disabled vet.

[SlaveNoMore]

Sidd Finch
Yes, the Rs have a lot to be proud of when it comes to Bush's management of the federal fisc.




Man, I crack me up.

Me too. But probably unintentionally.

:sportswav

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by SlaveNoMore
There are even some out there that think anti-war protestors wouldn't spit at a disabled vet.

if you get sent to your own thread, I'll post there.

[Penske_Account]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
if you get sent to your own thread, I'll post there.

2. Also, I would subscribe to a blog from either of you.

[Penske_Account]

tonite, yes?