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In reply to the discussion: A light came on for me this morning, while watching ... [View all]DirkGently
(12,151 posts)52. It's what people do, not who they are.
Being "in the 1%" is a cultural identifier, like race, religion, or gender. It may make it hard for someone to empathize with people who encounter a different set of problems, but it's irrational to judge someone just on the basis of their wealth.
It's a good theme, though, because it threatens an implied conservative argument to the opposite: that wealth is a sign of competence and hard work and moral uprightness. They don't like any stigmatizing of the wealthy, because what they'd really like to scream from the rooftops is that rich people are the rightful owners and rulers of the world, and everyone else should just be greatful they don't swim off to their solid gold Ayn Rand islands and leave us all bereft of hedge fund managers and real estate speculators.
It's why conservatives ASSUME we're saying wealth itself is a bad thing. That's why they think they can undermine, say, OWS by pointing out that protesters own computers or cellphones. They think the argument is that having or owning anything is bad, when in actuality the argument has always been that wealth does not entitle people to disproportionate power, particular given that power is frequently abused to make the rich richer and the poor poorer.
Because they're stupid that way.
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It is just that might be considered Far left - I despise the Third Way and Corporatism - and it
djean111
Jul 2014
#5
I think that's a good characterization of the problem, and it denotes an acceptance
Erich Bloodaxe BSN
Jul 2014
#3
The GOP is appalled that we have any sort of boat at all, and is trying to hand out a Titanic-sized
djean111
Jul 2014
#6
does she pay more taxes than rmoney?does she think her taxes should go UP!
pansypoo53219
Jul 2014
#17
Missed it? The point is, those who oppose Clinton do not oppose her because of her wealth.
Enthusiast
Jul 2014
#37
GOP 1% want to pay LOWER tax rate than 99% vs Dem 1% want to pay HIGHER rate than 99%....
ErikJ
Jul 2014
#30
Well said. That's exactly the issue. When someone's wealth depends on someone's
valerief
Jul 2014
#31
If you value job creation, you should be against free trade deals like the TPP.
Enthusiast
Jul 2014
#48
It's crystal clear, actually, and I posted elsewhere about how Clinton is making Mitt's mistake
Warpy
Jul 2014
#55
I have strong concerns about Hillary - but how much money she has is not one of them
Douglas Carpenter
Jul 2014
#63