Financial Inequality

I know the world isn't perfect, I also know that many of you believe that capitalism is imperfect yet the best system going. But today is the 3rd day of a new year and many corporate CEO's in my country (Canada, that's right the land of hosers, backbacon and 5.0+% beer) have made more than the average Canadian income (around 40,000$ a year eh). Being a working class citizen struggling to support a family, I honestly find it disgusting. I understand that many CEO's of corporation are not evil and usually very smart and talented(my brother for example...brilliant man) but with all the poverty that exists on earth and the obvious corporate oligarchy that has formed in the western world, enough is enough. They are just humans of average or above average intelligence, they are not gods. They do not need that amount of money, no one does.

So how do we solve this problem? I honestly believe we need an income cap take the extra cash and give it back to the people. This is just my opinion though and I would very much appreciate my fellow Jedi's outlook and insights because I truly value many of your opinions. O and come to think of it a hoser who shoots a puck in the net doesn't need millions either, just sayin.

We are the 99% !!!!

http://occupywallst.org/

There is a movement that is picking up strength here in the States. We have gotten fed up with the elite treating us like cattle. Humanity deserves to reach its full potential, and we will never do that while being repressed. Knowledge and awareness of whats going on is your most powerfull weapon against tyranny.

I actually am involved in the movement here where I live. Its a beutifull thing to see the people united trying to improve the world around them. Everything starts with you and locally. If you want to see the agent of change, simply look in the mirror.

The city has actually cut the police and firemans pay by ten percent, yet interestingly the city council and mayor keep the same pay . Its a gorgeous thing seeing the police on your side for once. People are starting to wake up around the world I believe.

If trying to increase the living standards of everyone, then giving them more money isnt enough as that will just increase prices... I think a line might have to be drawn to people who cannot afford accomodation and food - so that government welfare programs can supplement income to meet realistic targets to ensure these things are met, everyone above that line needs to self adjust their lifestyles dynamically depending on their financial plans and living needs. It will not change that there is the rich, but at least wider welfare might mean there needn't be the poor.

Better regulation and oversight of banking might have stopped the most recent problems, but I agree how its been handled has left the people much more exposed then business. I understand why, because business is the engine and without the engine everything stops, but I cannot help think with so much money being thrown around that whats being lost in waste alone wouldn't be able to provide important welfare support to the worse off people. I still think the problem is with what the governments are doing and not business, even though business was implicit in causing the problem it was also governments that allowed the problems to occur, now its only the governments who can fix it.

It certainly makes one wonder if there does not exist a point where the government cannot regulate prices so tightly that personal wealth does not cause inflation, only growth. Then they could make everyone a millionaire with a pen stroke, but why would people do anything if they didnt have too..... they'd probably have to require and enforce government service in some capacity just to get stuff done to keep society going. You'd still offer wages for work but with everyone being self sufficient financially why would people bother!? Running a business might become difficult because while your motive to work is creativity, advancement of society and extra wealth, you'd have to have equally committed workers willing to spend their time doing something they didn't 'have' to, and as a result it might mean innovation and product diversity shrinks. It also puts all the power into one entity which historically has been dangerous. I dont think its impossible but it would need a lot of planning and safeguards and lots of democratic processes and transperancy. Heck, it might even be the answer to the third worlds problems if the first world completely stopped all production and had regulated prices and no workforce, because all production would have to occur overseas and as more and more countries reached this point of 100% wealth, then the poorer countries would step up as the producers. Eventually though we'd need robotics to handle all work as people would not need nor want to do any work at all!!!

So many reasons for the state of the economy.

The absolute worst thing to happen was during the President Carter term when he deregulated banks. That debate is too long for me to explain here but if you research the Carter era financial impact you will find the start of the US economic downfall.

Greed is everyone's fault. Everyone wants to get rich quick without really having to work for it. People are easily taken in by the ponsie schemes with the promise of wealth. Supply and demand is a great concept if the people with the goods have a honest moral fiber. THEY DON'T!! Unions want more because they see the owners of businesses making huge sums of money. Problem is... the owners made the deals with the unions but then decided to blame the unions to divert their shortsightedness. Plus other reasons in which the union is asking for funds they don't deserve. If you want to get rich start your own business and work for it.

Municipalities gave police and firemen good pensions because the average lifespan of a fireman and police officer is 15 years after retirement. The police and fire departments have high rates of cancer, divorce, suicide, and line of duty deaths. The deal was made by the municipalities to compensate for these devastating problems. When the States and the Courts allowed municipalities to use the pension money to supplement funds, municipalities, the State and other government agencies decided they did not want to pay it back. The issue is not that police and fire want more...we just want what they promised us, what they negotiated for. If we didn't pay our part of the pension we would be fired but they have no checks and balances with no oversight.

EVERYONE IS AT FAULT!!!!


NO...We The People are at fault for electing the same crooks to the House and Senate. We the People, especially in my state (Illinois) act like cattle and sheep. The state with the highest amount of politicians in jail and they allow these "sith" to rule.

WHOA... sorry about the soapbox thing. I kind of get psychotic about politics. All I ask is that what ever country your in, and no matter what else you do, VOTE and make your voice heard. Vote out every incumbent in 2012 and research the best candidate for the health of your government. Don't just skip over the judges ballot, VOTE them out!

p.s. The above is just a very small part and just a snapshot of all the problems we have. I don't have all the answers or the whole grasp of the issues,but at least I'm paying attention.

The reason capitalism works is that people are greedy. And so are you Brinus. you wish the wealth you don't have ends up in your pocket, instead of the pocket of the rich suits.
"I'm #1 so why try harder" says it all. Trying harder is the only way we can get any real growth. The advantages outweigh the disadvantages... And if you think people will let the government take their money, think again. they'll find a way to make more, cap or no cap.

'You know, it's often said that a person finds true happiness not because they are blessed, but because they have found it in their heart.' Taro mentioned, in his very Miyagi-sensei sort of way. Jack blinked, owlishly, at him, as did James, Akitaro, and Kendalina.

'Y'mean like 'Life isn't about getting dealt a good hand, it's playing a bad hand well?'' James asked, finally. Taro's face went red and he started to stammer. Jack had the impression Taro had gotten it from a book.

"Or it could just be a way of saying 'Why do you need so much money?' After all, having a lot of expensive stuff doesn't do you any good, not as a person or as a Jedi." Jack managed, "So, ultimately, if you really sat down and did the math, your own standard of living might not be as bad as you first thought it to be."

'He might also be thinking about worldwide poverty.' Akitaro mentioned, rereading the original post, 'And, possibly, a solution to the problem.'

All of them grinned at Jack, who rolled her eyes.

"Well, the income cap is a good idea... problem is, we'd never get it enforced -- just short of a dictatorial takeover of government, no first world civilization's populace would actually agree to LIMIT how much they could earn. Really, the idea behind reinstating taxes and then using those funds for foreign aid programs and so forth would be the best compromise of realistic and effective that we could pull off..."

'So, maybe the way to start is from the bottom and work our way up.' Taro put back in, building back up in enthusiasm, 'In leading by example, not becoming part of a material culture, we pass on to others and the next generation not to repeat those mistakes and it would change the world for the better...'

'Girly-girl! Two-for-one cocktails at the bar!' Kendalina interrupted. Jack bolted out of her chair after Kendalina, leaving Taro alone in the room.

'...Or not...'

Brinus wrote: I also know that many of you believe that capitalism is imperfect yet the best system going.

Don't call the system we have something it isn't. I assure you that we have nothing at all like capitalism. We have a mix of socialism and phony capitalism, an example of which is bailing out the banks. That is perhaps the least capitalist thing to be done in the name of capitalism in quite a while.

Brinus wrote: I honestly believe we need an income cap take the extra cash and give it back to the people

That is such an unbelievably awful idea it's hard to comprehend really. Sorry if that sounds offensive but that is my completely frank and honest opinion.

I absolutely guarantee you, that if you did that then those people WOULD just move to a different country. I would if I earned more than that amount, because I would find such a law insulting.

Now I am from England and the situation here is a lot different and I recognise that. The US is really quite a screwed up country (no offence to you guys). I don't know if any of you are aware, but corporations are actually considered individuals which has a massive effect on lobbying and other areas etc...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate_personhood

There are many ways in which you can improve the situation in America without resorting to just greater taxation, money doesn't fix everything you know. America spends more on education than every other country in the world per pupil, but I would hardly say that the education system was the best...

Now the Occupy movement doesn't really have a clear concise message or more importantly a valid solution, which is why it will probably remain ignored by a large majority. But as such I don't know your views 100% accurately so please don't think that everything I say is directly aimed at yourself.

I will mention this to people, I am not one of the 1%, I am more of the 0.5% on the bottom end of that scale. I live on, including benefits, maybe £7000 a year maybe £8000. I just want to say that so none of you think I'm a rich boy insulting everyone, I honestly am not. But I would just mention that I am very happy with my life.

I just want to say that so none of you think I'm a rich boy insulting everyone, I honestly am not. But I would just mention that I am very happy with my life.

At last. Someone who appreciates what he's got.

The US is really quite a screwed up country (no offence to you guys).

To be honest Akkarin I think the UK only does well right now because the US wont allow it to fail... (The UK owes a lot to the US, if the UK gets downgraded {by US agencies}, it wont be able to borrow more to reimburse the US, if the US doesnt get their money they go bust too) The inflation is high, too high, the external debt (the privately held debt from individuals and corporations) is ENORMOUS (we're talking twice that of france or germany), and it's going up. People live on credit cards, and now that things are getting harder, they live even more on credit cards. People with a full time job can't afford to pay their rent, bills, car and insurance and their kid's nursery... Also, the taxpayer has liabilities through PFI which do not count as government debt. (this essentially means the gvt debt is bigger than it seems) And considering the way they've been abused in the UK, and the fact it's actually a complete rip off, I'd say that average Joe is really screwed. And believe me, I know... I used to rent MoD owned facilities to the NHS. I told them they were stupid, yet they quite happily allowed me to rip them off. needless to say, that specific hospital, like many other trusts in the country (which should never have become trusts to begin with), is going bust.

You know, my husband and I make a considerable amount of money and we give about a quater o it to charity. We do philanthropy all year round. We spend money to cycle it back into the economy. And the more we do those things, the better our finanacial situation becomes. I see so many of our peers live pay check to pay check and I don't get it. I'm only 21 years old and am better off than most 40 year olds who've been working for 20+ years. I can certainly understand support a family. And all the things that come with life that cost the big bucks. But I also see how stupid choices make it harder for you financially in the long run.

For example: I choose to keep my driving record clean and clear because i'm so young. So automatically, i'm being charged MORE for insurance based off of age becuase statistically speaking, my age group has the most accidents. But by keeping myself OFF of the legal radar, keeping my nose clean, not drinking and driving, not running stop signs and red lights and (generally) obeying traffic laws...i pay $600 LESS than most of my peers in car insurance. And that's WITH driving a brand new car (which by the way jacks up the price a bit to).

Chris and I are enlisted military. We make a modest living (and since we are married, yes we PAY for everything, the government does not house us, or feed us anymore). I don't understand why everyone complains about big cat corporations making all the money, when the little money you DO make can be managed and spent to increase your gain and wealth. I watch everyone spend and waste their money on habits like smoking, and drinking and gambling. By not doing any of those things, we save THOUSANDS a year. And all that money we save, we give back to the community by shopping local, supporting friend owned business's, and doing philanthropy work internationally.

We are not millionaries, but I'm greatful that we both manage our money wisely enough to be ABLE to help the less fortunate and continue to increase our fortune monthly. I honestly wish more people would take up that kind of additude about money because you would not only help yourself, but help others along the way.

Well, I choose not to give in to the insurance rip-off and be driven around as it's so insanely high for me (1 year of insurance, even just third party, is significantly more expensive than the car,no idea why) that it's cheaper to be driven around. And put it on the company. Corporations pay less tax than real individuals so you can put everything on expenses.

And WB, you're a civil servant. That extra cash you choose to redistribute, you took it from them to begin with...:whistle: