On Sep 29, 9:12*am, wrote:
On Tue, 29 Sep 2009 05:20:52 -0700 (PDT), wf3h
wrote:





i know, i know it's a shock!! but it actually happened. the rich, of
course, have only the best interests of the middle class at heart and
would never act out of greed. it's only the unworthy middle class that
takes everything and gives nothing in return, forcing the rich to live
on the scraps of the land:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33066877...s_and_economy/

WASHINGTON - The recession has hit middle-income and poor families
hardest, widening the economic gap between the richest and poorest
Americans as rippling job layoffs ravaged household budgets.

The wealthiest 10 percent of Americans — those making more than
$138,000 each year — earned 11.4 times the roughly $12,000 made by
those living near or below the poverty line in 2008, according to
newly released census figures. That ratio was an increase from 11.2 in
2007 and the previous high of 11.22 in 2003.

Household income declined across all groups, but at sharper percentage
levels for middle-income and poor Americans. Median income fell last
year from $52,163 to $50,303, wiping out a decade's worth of gains to
hit the lowest level since 1997.

Among other findings:

Income at the top 5 percent of households — those making $180,000 or
more — was 3.58 times the median income, the highest since 2006.

Twenty-one states and the District of Columbia had higher poverty
rates than the national average, many of them in the South, such as
Mississippi (21.2 percent), Kentucky, Arkansas and Louisiana (each
with 17.3 percent). That's compared with 19 states and the District of
Columbia that ranked above U.S. poverty in 2007.

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gee. the middle class had all its gains wiped out, but the rich, god
love 'em (and he DOES!!), did just fine

no wonder the right wing loves the current economic situation.

and the SOUTHERN states...with their GOP right wing mentality...are
among the poorest...

I find it interesting that DC is one of those "southern states" that
is racked with poverty.

I suppose most of this is due to the construction business going to
hell and manufacturing moving offshore (thank you Bill Clinton and the
NAFTA/GATT people) but I am not sure what happened to DC. The
government is still there isn't it? They sure are not laying off
anyone.
I will say those who adapted to change are still doing fine. My wife
is making more money than any time in her life (upper 5 figures) and
that ain't to shabby for a "girl" in Florida.
My investments are doing OK. I am out performing the idiots who manage
my 401k. * * * *I still say that is a scam and I am glad I am not
heavily invested in it. Unfortunately the same idiots manage my
pension fund.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

My wife's retirement fund is in vested company stock,w hich I'm really
not tickled about, but she's taking advantage of the low price. With
their matching her stock purchases, and investing up to 9% she's doing
a good job of hauling in the stock.

So when people in her company see the stock go down the always have
the knee-jerk "lose money" idea. But when It goes back up they never
brag about how well they are doing with all the extra stock they have.

Odd. People can't be glad for what they have.