There’s class warfare, all right. But it’s my class, the rich class, that’s making war, and we’re winning.
Warren Buffet—November 2006
Poor people are poorer than anyone thinks—rich, poor or otherwise, according to this chart showing what people think is the distribution of wealth in America vs. the reality. Most people think the richest 20% of people in America have only 60% of this country’s wealth. The reality? The richest 20% of people here have 85% of the wealth.  And most people think the bottom 40% control 10% of our country’s wealth. The truth is much sadder: the poorest 40% of Americans have less than 1/3rd of 1% of this country’s wealth.  Why income distribution can’t be crowd-sourced. - By Timothy Noah - Slate Magazine

Poor people are poorer than anyone thinks—rich, poor or otherwise, according to this chart showing what people think is the distribution of wealth in America vs. the reality.

Most people think the richest 20% of people in America have only 60% of this country’s wealth. The reality? The richest 20% of people here have 85% of the wealth. 

And most people think the bottom 40% control 10% of our country’s wealth. The truth is much sadder: the poorest 40% of Americans have less than 1/3rd of 1% of this country’s wealth. 

Why income distribution can’t be crowd-sourced. - By Timothy Noah - Slate Magazine

Snark

I’m feeling snarky today. Likely because the day began with a trip to the high desert, which should set any sane person on edge. I mean, the high desert is kind of… ew. But then I return from my lengthy trek to find news that there’s been a coup in Honduras and that Billy Mays died. Which I ordinarily wouldn’t get too worked up about (Billy Mays’ death – political coups I absolutely do care about), but how to break the news to my son?

For some inexplicable reason, my son absolutely loves Billy Mays. Next to that random banana singing the secretly awesome “It’s Peanut Butter Jelly Time!” and an even more random video about Ninja Tech graduates who go “ninja in the night” (that I confess I also find secretly awesome because of my own latent desire for ninjahood while I decry the inapproriateness of the video to my son), the plethora of Billy Mays commercials are his most watched YouTube videos. Yes, I realize this entire paragraph probably signifies a parenting fail on my part.

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE! (Too much? In poor taste?)

On top of that, I also find an excellent post in Daily Kos about medical bankruptcies and homelessness, which is what finally sent me over as it reminded me of how some douchey bank destroyed a brand new housing complex in Victorville because it was cheaper to do that than complete the ones unfinished and sell them. I mean, really? That is the solution? Even as the rates of those living in poverty and unemployment – and homelessness – soars? That is the best we can do? What a lack of innovation and vision, one that totally brings to mind the adage poverty in prosperity while underscoring the idea that the problem isn’t a lack of resources, but of distribution. That kind of thing makes me feel so downright misanthropic that I find myself wanting to follow @neighborsdog on Twitter. Greedy mofos.

Seriously.

The solutions to these problems are not rocket science. Affordable housing. Living wages. Less spending our government dollars on stupid bullshizz (like reto wars, etc) and spend it on *gasp*choke*ohnoes*teheevilsocialism* common sense things like healthcare. Education. Housing. Jobs. You know, ensuring your citizens are well cared for. Like other industrialized nations do. That whole life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness thing. Supposedly, these are unalienable rights. But really, how alive or free or happy can one be when they don’t have a place to live, or enough food to eat, or on top of being freaking ill the costs of trying to get better has bankrupted them?

It’s so messed up. Which is why I’m currently drowning myself in the relentless optimism of 311. If Nick, P-Nut, et al. cannot temper the snark, then maybe I might have that chat with the neighbors dog afterall. Lol.