I think we need to talk about who exactly we are talking about here.

The wealthy who were the driving force behind that wealth likely worked harder, and almost certainly worked smarter.
The ones who simply got it by inheritance did neither just like those who won the lottery didn't.

_________________
You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

In that case, we have to be able to agree that "successful" is not a synonym for "wealthy". I think the scorn is quite fair, as those at the top go deeper and deeper into crony capitalism and using their vast sums to create favorable laws that assist them in amassing more and more of the world's resources.

_________________
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

Where are you sitting?

http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2012/07/ ... icans-earn

_________________
favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

Or they had the right friends. I guess you might say that making such friends is "smart".

_________________
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

hey JORR, will you be my friend ?

Don't we all plan to leave our money & worldly possessions to our Children? I believe that as a parent, it is my responsibility to not spend all of my money foolishly so I can help my kids. The 1% just have a lot more to give. It's not their kids fault that their parents were smart enough to build wealth. God bless 'em.

_________________
CSFMB 2014 Nascar Pick 'em Champion

We don’t have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven’t taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much. — Ronald Reagan

Joe may be making some decent points. It just does not concern me in the slightest bit that there may be people who make more money than I do. I control my life, and my life alone, to the best of my ability.

_________________
1923-1927-1928-1932-1936-1937-1938-1939
1941-1943-1947-1949-1950-1951-1952-1953
1956-1958-1961-1962-1977-1978-1996-1998
1999-2000-2009
----------
XXI - XXV - XLII - XLVI

Although a lot of them didn't really "earn" it, I'm not a proponent of taking it away from them.
------
I just wish more of them had a clue. A lot of the guys that actually did earn it are really just savants at wealth generation with little in the way of broader life experiences and lacking in "emotional intelligence." A little introspection really is beyond the ability of these people.

I mean, who makes a lot of money? Mostly people who really really love money...people who's identity is defined by how much they have. Typically not someone you'd want to be around.

_________________
Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

I really think along these lines. I just don't get the resentment to the rich that leave tons of cash to their kids as well as use the system that we are stuck with to further their position. As long as said person is operating lawfully and more importantly ethically as well as giving something back to society in some form leave them alone.

_________________
Elections have consequences.

Furthermore, I never once hear any people here say things about our modern mega rich athletes and entertainers. Only business people. Why is there no disdain to cap their wealth and force them to give back?

_________________
Elections have consequences.

I know I have mentioned about "reality" stars making millions for no apparent reason. I'm still trying to figure out how Oprah became a billionare from syndicating a daytime talk show.

_________________
favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

I don't care how they made it really. They sure as shit get left out of the 1% arguments though.

_________________
Elections have consequences.

Many times its not ethical and they are not giving back to society.

But I think its a slippery slope into Family Dynasties. That's part of why we left England, right?

What?

Were you out of the country in 1994 and since 2001 when A Rod signed his deal?

And the 1 percenter term is wrong. You can make 400K a year and you are a 1%. I dont think that is what people mean.

But the 85 people who have as much money as half the planet? That seems to be a bit much

Yeah but they pick and choose there as well. Kennedys good. Other 1% dynasty bad.

_________________
Elections have consequences.

Sure in baseball particularly with that Arod contract there was some hand wringing. I am talking about the actual real hatred and anger I see toward rich people.

_________________
Elections have consequences.

Well, the hatred should be for the politicians who make laws allowing such a system.

Problem is, the wealthiest can buy lobbyists. Its hard to separate.

_________________
favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

I agree. I try to be happy with what I have, which is really far more than enough.

_________________
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

We're friends already, aren't we, Bagels?

_________________
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

Why? So your kids don't have to work hard? I get so confused talking to Republicans! Is hard work virtuous or not?

_________________
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

It has nothing to do with not working hard. A good parent instills good work ethic in their children long before they get any of Mom & Dads money. It's all about helping them get on their feet...buy a house...start a family. Surely you will do this for your kids, no? Maybe not.
Democrats don't leave their money & worldly possessions to their Children?

_________________
CSFMB 2014 Nascar Pick 'em Champion

We don’t have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven’t taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much. — Ronald Reagan

Here is a MAJOR issue! Maybe the biggest issue in the country today. Almost Everything can be traced back this.

And yes, POTUS has this as a major issue and he did very little to curb this. he raised the fees to be a lobbyist, so they people who could no longer afford to be lobbyist had to close up shop. Well, those are not the people being given big money. So, he then takes credit for decreasing lobbyist by over 2,000 during his term, essentially eliminated the smaller opposition for many causes. Nice work.

"THE BUSINESS OF GOVERNMENT"

_________________
"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

I'm just trying to understand your philosophy. You seem to like to point out how the lower classes need to work hard. As if that's some kind of virtue unto itself. Arbeit macht frei. And yet, you would hand an opportunity to your own children that allows them to skirt around that same hard work you prescribe as the answer to all others? What kind of kids do you want to raise? Do you respect people who work hard or people who happen to have money?

_________________
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

Too soon.

_________________
1923-1927-1928-1932-1936-1937-1938-1939
1941-1943-1947-1949-1950-1951-1952-1953
1956-1958-1961-1962-1977-1978-1996-1998
1999-2000-2009
----------
XXI - XXV - XLII - XLVI

Do you have kids? Would you help your kids financially? Who would you rather give your money to instead of your kids? You don't think that it is incumbent on you to help your kids if they need it? I mean I know that you are arguing just to be contrary, but I'm asking anyway.
You act like leaving ones money & worldly possessions to their Children is a new revolutionary idea. It isn't!. Its been done for years!
And to be clear, I believe that all classes of people should work had, but those in the lower class may need to work harder to get out of the lower class.

_________________
CSFMB 2014 Nascar Pick 'em Champion

We don’t have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven’t taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much. — Ronald Reagan

I'm not arguing just to be contrary. I think, like most people- including myself much of the time- you're just bouncing along through your own life without much thought of the larger picture. The big difference between you and me is that I'm not sitting in judgment of everyone else. There's a lot of "should" in your political and economic posts, if not explicitly, then certainly by implication. As in what those less fortunate than you "should" be doing.

If, as a society, we find work to be virtuous and want to reward those who work hard, how can we justify the automatic award of the fruits of a parent's labor (a parent who ostensibly worked hard and is thus virtuous) to a child who worked not at all?

_________________
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

So you aren't interested in answering any of my questions?

_________________
CSFMB 2014 Nascar Pick 'em Champion

We don’t have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven’t taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much. — Ronald Reagan

Apparently as much as you are interested in answering mine.

_________________
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

Who said anything about leaving money to a child who has worked not at all? I said that it is a parents responsibility to instill good work ethic in their children. I'm not sure that I would leave everything to a child of mine if he/she was a lazy bum. Then again you would be ok with the government giving the same person money, right?

_________________
CSFMB 2014 Nascar Pick 'em Champion

We don’t have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven’t taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much. — Ronald Reagan