As Inequality Worsens, Millionaires Are Pulling Up the Drawbridge Behind Them

[xchrom]

http://www.alternet.org/world/politics-class-warfare-sydney-washington-gulf-deepening

When I became a partner in a law firm, something strange happened at the bank. Our relationship deepened. I became a premium client with premium needs.

I was introduced to my customer relationship manager. Soon after I realised I didn’t have to queue in a bank branch again. If I had a problem, he could sort it out. I received a discount on the bank’s advertised variable interest rate. Other bank employees contacted me to discuss "wealth management", "exciting investment opportunities" and "great insurance deals".

Then a financial advisor came to see me armed with a voluminous folder containing an investment strategy for my super fund. He said I should aim for a $10,000,000 nest egg for retirement. With apologies to The Graduate, the strategy could be boiled down to one word: "timber". Actually, four words: "tax deductible timber plantations". I passed it up.

I was referred to an accountant who suggested that paying tax for someone in my position was a life choice. My skin crawled. I passed on that too.

[phantom power]

1. There is a club. We are not in it.

[Javaman]

5. less a club than a exclusive society entered into by birth.

clubs people can join, but the real "club" to be in is the one that is only allowed by birth.

there are lots of really wealthy people and, sure, you can say they are in a club, but for the obscenely wealthy, the kind that makes the word "wealth" sound down right poverty-like, well those folks only get in that society via genetic birth lottery.

the "hard-work" types who were born in the CEO's office and think they worked their way up to owning the team. All the other, the "poverty-like" wealthy, they are still playing ball and being born on home-plate and third base.

the rest of us, we are not only not in the dugout, not only not in the stadium, but we are the guys looking for change on the pavement in the parking lot.

[CrispyQ]

8. This:

"Wealth is passed down from generation to generation, you can't get rid of wealth. Rich is some shit you can loose with a crazy summer and a drug habit."
~Chris Rock

[dreamnightwind]

9. something Chris Rock said

A Neil Young song (I forget which one) references something Chris Rock said, always wondered what it was, maybe this?

[eggplant]

12. "don't bring no more candles, no matter what you do"

Chris Rock said what Neil says in the next line "don't bring no more candles
no matter what you do" in the aftermath of 9/11, thousands upon thousands
of people brought candles down there and they just kept coming; it was
making it just more difficult for the clean up crews ...

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/rust/conversations/topics/153655?var=1

[dreamnightwind]

18. Thank you!

Sorry for the delay responding, hopefully you catch it, anyway the song is No Wonder from Prairie Wind and somehow it never occurred to me it was the next line in the song. I don't remember ever hearing Chris Rock say that in the first place or it probably would have been obvious.

[japple]

13. George Carlin said much the same thing. "It's a big fucking club and you ain't in it."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023398509

Watch it again.

[seveneyes]

15. We are not even breaking the rocks used in the parking lot

We are the tar and spooge holding them in place.

[maddiemom]

6. So true. I once got a brief taste with a former husband who was quite successful early on.

At first, plenty of free meals (with sales people) at good restaurants, and a lot of free booze and other goodies. Tickets to major pro and college (when his alma mater, Penn State, played) athletic events. World Series and Super Bowl tickets when in the PA area. He was not yet at a level to be flown too far away for major games, BUT, private plane flights for western hunting trips, southern vacations with the wife. A free, good vacation/ entertainment life in terms of what was actually
jokingly referred to as "graft." OK. My ex was a high level manager with a once prosperous industry. He hadn't even attained the vice-presidential corporate level at the time we divorced. Coming from a blue collar (but middle class, growing up) I admit enjoying it myself---but, thought enough to throw a party or two myself for the venders who treated us.

[maddiemom]

7. Oh, can't forget actually watching hockey from a private luxury box

where our kids were included, sitting outside on a "balcony," while the adults feasted and drank and watched the action on multiple screens. Again, far below CEOs, just high level management being treated.

[Kablooie]

10. A CEO at my company years ago had a private box at the Hollywood Bowl.

He would let employees use it for performances he didn't go to.
We could sign up.

[progressoid]

2. Big fucking angry rec!

[jsr]

3. They need to build taller walls

[valerief]

17. They have their space stations now. nt

[riqster]

4. Size 13 steel-toed kick.

[Egalitarian Thug]

11. Thank you so very much for posting this. This is the kind of thing that the 99%

don't have any clue about. They read watch things that tell them that the parasites live in a different world, but never imagine that it is literally true.

I think you should repost this, and as many other accounts of the world the parasites live in as you can find, every day. Several times a day, even.

Chris Rock has spent years trying to get this through their skulls with little effect. Perhaps that can be changed if dozens of them were constantly shoving their privilege in their faces.

[daleanime]

14. K&R....

[packman]

16. Reminds me

of the Monty Python skit,
"Who's that?"
"Dunno, must be the King"
"Why's that?"
"He Hasn't got shit all over him"

The rich, they are different and they will do anything to protect their life-style.