Yipes! NPR reports on Oxfam finding that the rich/poor divide is growing so fast there could be unrest (deservedly so, I'd say).

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From the article:

In the U.S., where the gap between rich and poor has grown at a faster rate than any other developed country, the top 1 percent captured 95 percent of post-recession growth (since 2009), while 90 percent of Americans became poorer.

"Oxfam is concerned that, left unchecked, the effects are potentially immutable, and will lead to 'opportunity capture' — in which the lowest tax rates, the best education, and the best healthcare are claimed by the children of the rich," the relief agency writes. "This creates dynamic and mutually reinforcing cycles of advantage that are transmitted across generations."

In other words, Oxfam says that if trends continue, the rich will get richer and the poor will get poorer.

"[People] are increasingly separated by economic and political power, inevitably heightening social tensions and increasing the risk of societal breakdown," the report says.

That's right, Oxfam is worried about societal breakdown. What the hell is wrong with big money people? Why do they seem to see no need to temper their greed? Or is it that being a non-rich person I just son't understand what it's like to have more money than I could possibly spend in my lifetime?

Yeah, I'm sure it would all make sense if I had more money than I could spend in my lifetime. Can someone hook me up so I can better understand this?

Thanks.

Krugman and Brooks can argue all day, but the way to save our economy is obvious.

Stowe Boyd, the guy behind Underpaidgenius.com recently posted something about a cat fight between economy-heads, David Brooks and Paul Krugman—however, the most important thing that was mentioned in the post was Boyd’s own commentary:

Only people like Krugman are telling us what’s actually going on: 75% of the Federal budget is going to war, social security and health care entitlements, and financing our debt.

What we should be doing is nationalizing health care and shutting down the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and continued stimulus to get the economy running on all cylinders again. Not ‘austerity now’ baloney.

I’m sure that 75% number isn’t exact, but if you are paying attention to what the USG spends its/our money on, you know it’s a very safe estimate. 

Essentially, what’s going on here is that, America is falling apart and the USG doesn’t want to practice the tough love that is clearly required to force the big corporations to actually give a crap about the folks that got them where they are today (us).

A child can understand the basics of how our economy works (if the child would be trusted with the truth, anyway).  The reality is simple: a strong economy means a strong dollar.  This means we must add value to the dollar by creating more inside the US.  This starts with jobs at companies that make stuff here or provide services here.

It’s really that simple.  What’s slowing us down? Companies that want to continue to make more with less.  It’s all about TheGreed at this point…