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Ben2World 
Group: Members
Posts: 23906
Joined: Jun. 2005
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Posted on: Jan. 25 2013, 3:59 pm |
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Saw this graph on the current issue of The Economist:
This chart compares national income inequality using the "Gini Coefficient". A "0" means perfect equality and a "1" means one guy owns everything. All countries fall somewhere in between.
It's a real irony that "communist" China has a significantly higher income inequality that we do. And sadly, I think it equally ironic that we are more unequal in our income distribution than the country we often use as a poster child for income inequality: India.
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The world is a book and those who do not travel read only a page. -- St. Augustine
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| Post Number: 2
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Land Rover
Group: Members
Posts: 6529
Joined: Sep. 2006
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Posted on: Jan. 25 2013, 4:06 pm |
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You communist.
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| Post Number: 3
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Land Rover
Group: Members
Posts: 6529
Joined: Sep. 2006
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Posted on: Jan. 25 2013, 4:06 pm |
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Sorry, I mean envious, class-warefare fighting socialist.
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| Post Number: 4
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Lamebeaver
trail? I don't need no stinkin trail!
Group: Members
Posts: 16198
Joined: Aug. 2004
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Posted on: Jan. 25 2013, 5:01 pm |
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BCPete1
Group: Members
Posts: 503
Joined: Jul. 2006
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Posted on: Jan. 25 2013, 5:16 pm |
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I'm mildly surprised that Canada is that different than the US in this regard.
I imagine that's a result of universal healthcare, and perhaps a more generous social safety net (welfare, old age security, etc)?
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| Post Number: 6
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Dennis The Menace
Group: Members
Posts: 8461
Joined: Apr. 2007
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Posted on: Jan. 25 2013, 6:37 pm |
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I'm not surprised at all about Canada. Supposedly Cananda didn't have the banking/finance
problems we did too either(Great scenery(especially BC) combined with the right amount of
government involvement apparently seems to make Canada a very attractive country)
as far as China goes obviously they are only communist in name only since their economy
doesn't have much to do with Communism. The only thing about China that has much do with the
communism of the past is that they aren't democratic and how they repress some parts of the
population(maybe a few other similarities).
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if you first punch someone and then that someone punches back and then you complain to
someone else that you were punched, then you're a silly fool
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| Post Number: 7
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Land Rover
Group: Members
Posts: 6529
Joined: Sep. 2006
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Posted on: Jan. 25 2013, 6:42 pm |
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It's a huge problem and unless we address it will lead to the decline if not outright collapse of America over time.
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| Post Number: 8
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Land Rover
Group: Members
Posts: 6529
Joined: Sep. 2006
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Posted on: Jan. 25 2013, 6:58 pm |
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It would be interesting to see the trend here. Tough likely to be behind china in say the past two or three decade I would imagine that America has one of the worst trend lines out there.
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Ecocentric
Group: Members
Posts: 3805
Joined: Jun. 2009
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Posted on: Jan. 26 2013, 10:59 pm |
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History would suggest that when inequality becomes too great, revolution results. Which is better, a redistribution of wealth through violence, or a little social engineering through taxation and economic regulation? Tea baggers might want to take off their tri-cornered hats and think on this a bit.
I'm all for a peaceful investment in our civilization by those that can most afford it. Democratic rule is essential, as is justice. Freedom may be the most abused word in our language, because you have very little if you don't have transportation, health, or rewarding work.
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"Travel suggestions from strangers are like dancing lessons from God." -Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
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| Post Number: 12
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Drift Woody
Group: Members
Posts: 5299
Joined: Feb. 2006
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Posted on: Jan. 26 2013, 11:20 pm |
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The Teapartiers decry "Obamacare" as an onerous infringement on their freedom (despite the fact it was conceived by conservatives and mostly helps more people buy private insurance). The Affordable Care Act didn't even have a watered down public option, let alone the Single Payer universal health insurance the Left wanted and most advance nations have.
But the point I'm trying to make here involves the concept of freedom. How many Americans who worked hard and played by the rules all their lives were bankrupted or lost their homes due to lack of adequate health insurance? Loss of freedom aside from death or imprisonment doesn't come much harder than that. How many citizens who would like to change careers or start a small business dare not do so and remain chained to a dead-end job because they can't risk losing their employer-based insurance?
Those who see the solution to our government's fiscal deficits in terms of reducing "entitlement" programs or taking from the rich and giving to the poor are limiting themselves to two-dimensional thinking.
I think we need to start with the premise of what constitutes an advanced society, and that should form the foundation of any solution. Income inequality is very much a part of the problem, and simple redistribution merely treats a symptom.
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We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.
-- Native American proverb
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Survival Skills 101 • Eat Better
