Contributors

Friday, February 07, 2014

Inequality Myth #1


17 comments:

GuardDuck said...

That graph doesn't show the poor getting poorer.

Mark Ward said...

Right. That's why they call it a "myth." And why the word "false" is below it.

GuardDuck said...

I don't understand. Why you are calling your own position a myth? Have you stopped believing in zero sum economics?

Anonymous said...

He apparently is whether knowing or not. Of course, it is even better that he discover this (and other economic truths) on his own rather than us tell him because we can't be right.

Mark Ward said...

When did I ever say the poor were getting poorer? Stagnation is different than getting poorer. Obviously, with the rich getting richer and everyone else stagnate, inequality grows.

Let's see how well you do with the rest of the myths, 6 Kings. I'd like to see YOU live by your own words.

GuardDuck said...

Stagnation is different than getting poorer. Obviously, with the rich getting richer and everyone else stagnate, inequality grows.


But your own graph says the middle class income grew by 20%. That's not stagnation.

GuardDuck said...

When did I ever say the poor were getting poorer?


Capitalism can't thrive, most lose their percentage of the pie

phenomenon that Democrats have recently begun to address: the decline in middle-class incomes. It's time we deal with the reality that, for the first time in American history, middle-class American incomes have declined for almost a generation.

But what happens instead, is that when the glass is full, it magically gets bigger -- nothing ever comes out for the poor.

In the US, the wealthiest one percent captured 95 percent of post-financial crisis growth since 2009, while the bottom 90 percent became poorer.


Juris Imprudent said...

Dammit GD you can't really expect M to remember what he has said in the past when it contradicts what he is saying right now.

That isn't fair.

Mark Ward said...

Well let's see....

Bill Gross
Chuck Schumer
Pope Francis
OXFAM report

None of those are me, GD.

Take a look at the image again. What do you notice about the bottom four lines?

I put this image up for a reason and it wasn't just to illustrate income stagnation. You are missing several nuances and seriously lacking critical thought. Now, you guys have assured me repeatedly that I lack this trait and you have it in abundance. Thus far, you have not demonstrated that at all and are, not surprisingly, acting like adolescents and focusing on me. Focus on the data. What does this tell you?

Even more important would be why I would put up something like this.

GuardDuck said...

None of those are me, GD.


Oh, I'm sorry. Usually when people quote others to buttress or make their point then they are doing so because what the others said is compatible with what they wish to say.

But if you're telling me that when you post something to 'prove' your argument that whatever is posted bears no resemblance whatsoever to what you are trying to say then I will take it as the gibberish you are promoting now.

Mark Ward said...

So, that's a no on critically evaluating this data? Still focusing on me then? Don't worry, GD, there are 8 more myths coming in the next few days. Take your time:)

GuardDuck said...

So, that's a no on critically evaluating this data? Still focusing on me then? Don't worry, GD, there are 8 more myths coming in the next few days. Take your time:

Heh. Funny. You first focus on me, then ask why I'm focusing on you. Perhaps if you just made an argument rather than making us guess what your point is....

Larry said...

Markadaffiya, you uncritically quoted those sources, without noting any points of disagreement you might have with them, or even noting that it's presented without comment. But you actually expanded on some of the points. How in the world is someone who is not a mind-reader (as you like to pretend to be) supposed to know you're not in complete agreement if you don't fucking say so? Especially when you really do sound like you're in complete agreement at that time?

Mark Ward said...

That a no for you as well, Larry?:) I challenge you to critically evaluate the data I have presented here. Leave me out of it.

Juris Imprudent said...

Perhaps if you just made an argument rather than making us guess what your point is....

Somehow we seem to lack M's near omniscient ability to put things into other people's minds and mouths.

There is no argument anyway, just how he feels about something.

Larry said...

Then pretty much your words mean nothing? We're to pay no attention to what you post, what your added comments are, and most certainly if we draw a non-approved-by-the-host conclusion based on non-Marakdelphian knowledge and experiences, then we are lying. Right. Gotcha. Your words are shit and we are fools for believing they have any meaning past the moment. Everything you say has an expiration date just seconds away.

Larry said...

I wonder if a commenter started consistently posting quotes from Mussolini, Hitler, and their would-be successors, and expanding on then them with his own comments, whether Markahypocritia would ever, EVER critically evaluate the info and not immediately conclude that Commenter-X is a fascist, and probably racist, sexist, and homophobic to boot? Or from Marx, Lenin, Mao, and hangers on like Alinsky and Ayers, and not conclude they're a Communist or at least a fellow traveller? And would he be even be wrong? Personally, I don't think so.

I've uncritically examined the data, and I think the "problem" of "inequality" is far less of a problem than what the proposed cures are. A free people aren't going to have equality of results. Unfree people are going to have even more inequality in the long run, with no official billionaires, but a nomenklatura with perks and benefits out the ass. I think leftist "cures" are even worse over time than the "disease".