"Highest earners making less, Social Security data show" by David Cay Johnston

[canoeist52]

"“The fundamental rule in our national life — the rule which underlies all others — is that, on the whole and in the long run, we shall go up or down together.” President Theodore Roosevelt

"Now why should the typical worker care about this trifecta of bad news for high earners? After all, just one worker in about 4,100 makes this kind of money. What does it possibly matter to ordinary Americans that bosses who make as much in a year as they may earn for a lifetime of labor are squeezed a bit?

It matters because falling pay at the top can become a powerful tool for change. U.S. representatives and senators may not care much what a typical constituent thinks, but they do care about what the highest-paid Americans think, because they donate to campaigns.

If those at the top come to see that they share the travails of most other Americans, it increases the prospect of government policy changes that will grow our economy. We need to invest in the future of America for our economy can grow, which will make everyone, from custodians to CEOs, better off."

http://america.aljazeera.com/opinions/2014/8/highest-income-earnerseconomicgrowth.html?utm_content=opinion&utm_campaign=ajam&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=SocialFlow

It's starting to hit the 1% when the peasants cant afford to buy what they're selling.

[el_bryanto]

1. I don't think that's the highest priority though.

There is an argument to be made here about our friends on the right basically pushing for a lot of programs that the wealthy find appealing (low taxes, austerity in government spending, low regulation, low minimum wage, no health care) but that are actually destructive to the economy and the long term interests of the wealthy. But I don't that argument will go to far; much of America's wealthy have earned their wealth by being good parrots and corporate shills or by waiting until their parents died - they aren't likely to wise up.

Genuinely self made wealthy can go one of two ways - either they can see these problems or they can, as Ayn Rand suggests, say to hell with the rest of the country so long as they get theirs.

Bryant

[davidcay]

2. did you read before you posted?

It is usually smart to read before you post to avoid assumptions that are wildly wrong, as you have done above, starting with describing me by reference as on the right.

The column linked to above is the second in a series from my analysis of pay using the most reliable data source there is and showing how these new facts can be used to build support for policies that will end the government policies which have produced huge returns to capital and shrinking returns to labor.

[el_bryanto]

3. I didn't imply that you were on the right

I stated that politicians on the right put forward a lot of suggestions that seem in the short term beneficial to the wealthy while in the long term not being well; I wasn't talking about you with that line.

Bryant

[davidcay]

4. sorry that I misreasd your...

.. not altogether clear line, but I see your intent now. Thank you.

[PowerToThePeople]

5. Not less enough, imo. n/t