Yesterday on CBS Sunday Morning News they had an article about the financial struggle of the middle class. What it boiled down to is that the cost of living and paying also paying for a nest egg, and your children’s college adds up to more than the average family brings in. So, the average middle income family has to make some choices which is more important to them.
And to dash a little salt in the wound they said that the wealthiest 10% had a 140% increase in their income last year and the middle class had 4%, which didn’t even keep up with inflation.
And they didn’t talk about the facts and figures of the bottom 10%, they probably didn’t have the stomach.
Because it is Income Tax due time I guess now is the time the media likes to point out how financially bleak things for most of us. The Sunday Atlanta Journal and Constitution’s Parade magazine pointed out different people in different professions and how much money they were bringing in. Most of the CEOs mentioned was bringing in (I won’t say earning) over 10 millions. Most sports. Movie and TV Stars mentioned between 2 and 10 million. Surprisingly some office mangers were making only 40k, and the incomes get lower.
It seemed the more your job is in the spotlight the more you make and the more essential your job is the less you make. For instance a police officer and a Postal carrier both made under 50k – however, remembering that CEOs made up in the millions, which job is more essential? If all the CEO’s wanted to show how much you depended on them, and all suddenly went on strike, do you think your life style would change? I doubt it, you probably would not know it, unless you are a person that keeps up with the news. On the other hand, if all the cops and postal carriers went on strike would you notice it? I speculate Yep, and very quickly.
And the lower you go on salary chain to the most essential jobs… people who cleanup and pick up garbage, would you miss them?
And the lowest on the food chain, food pickers. People who pick food for a living. If they all quit for better paying jobs and no food were picked to be processed do you think they would be missed?
Something an’t right.
Something ain't been right for years.
ReplyDeleteJudy,
ReplyDeleteYep, something an't right when the idle rich get rich and the producers get poorer.
The gap between those of us who have and those of who have not is widening, but the gap between those of us who have and those of us who run the world and F**K it up is even worse. It seems like there isnt a lot of concern for the truly poor any more, doesnt it? Thoughtful post, Ed.
ReplyDeleteSteve,
ReplyDeleteThanks.
Yes, I'm afraid the people have nothing are only thought of when someone wants to put on a fancy charity ball in their behalf, but of course, they would not be invited, they wouldn't have anything to donate would they, and besides they would not have the latest fashion to make a statement.
Are you suggesting that Paris Hilton does not deserve her money more than people who actually work for a living?!?! I am shocked and horrified.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, this very afternoon I was walking home and thinking that I don't think there is a middle class in NYC any more. There are 4 classes: the super wealthy, the wealthy, the struggling, and the struggling even harder.
Suzanne,
ReplyDeleteYou are right! Paris Hilton paid her dues, she deserves every cent she wastes by she is wasted.
Those 4 classes you spoke of about sums it up - no in between.