The Root of Rising Inequality: Our “Lawnmower” Economy (hint: we’re the lawn)

STRAIGHT LINE LOGIC

In a global economy in which debt is the foundation (see Debtonomics Archive), it should come as no surprise that debt merchants have done better than most. It should also come as no surprise when myriad debt bubbles eventually pop and the global economy is put through the wringer. From Charles Hugh Smith at oftwominds.com:

This predatory exploitation is only possible if the central bank and state have partnered with financial Elites.

After decades of denial, the mainstream has finally conceded that rising income and wealth inequality is a problem–not just economically, but politically, for as we all know wealth buys political influence/favors, and as we’ll see below, the federal government enables and enforces most of the skims and scams that have made the rich richer and everyone else poorer.

Here’s the problem in graphic form: from 1947 to 1979, the family income of the top 1% actually expanded…

View original post 154 more words

How The U.S. Dollar Will Be Replaced | Activist Post

…The dollar was a median step towards a newer and more corrupt ideal. Its time is nearly over. This is open, it is admitted, and it is being activated as you read this. The speed at which this disaster occurs is really dependent on the speed at which our government along with our central bank decides to expedite doubt. Doubt in a currency is a furious omen…

via Activist Post: How The U.S. Dollar Will Be Replaced.

Why America is Devolving Towards Absolute Government Control | CFP

The relentless encroachment of socialism upon America’s economic, cultural and governmental landscape is like a bad dream to most red-blooded Americans.  When society changes it can seem like the ineluctable drift of evolution or chance. But in the case of America’s ongoing continued expansion of government powers, spiking taxes, and shrinking military, it’s all part of a planned elitist push into socialism. And one need not believe in secret conspiracies when contemplating this shift…

go here ->Why America is Devolving Towards Absolute Government Control at Canada Free Press

Just weeks after 17-day Hawaii holiday Michelle Obama takes daughters on ski trip to Aspen | Mail Online

FIRST LADY OF LUXURY TRAVEL:  THE COSTLY TRIPS

SPAIN: AUGUST 2010

• Michelle Obama and 40 of her friends paid for personal expenses, such as hotels and meals themselves.
• But the U.S. taxpayer would have paid for the 68-strong security detail, personal staff and use of presidential jet Air Force Two.
• Payment for the secret service team ran at around $281 each – nearly $98,000 for the duration of the summer break.
• Use of Air Force Two comes in at $149,900 for the round trip, not including time on the ground.
• Mrs Obama’s personal staff, of which there were an unknown number, should also be taken into account

HAWAII: DECEMBER 2010

Members of Congress Increased Personal Wealth 25% in Two Years

via AllGov – News – Members of Congress Increased Personal Wealth 25% in Two Years. Thursday, November 03, 2011

The rich in Congress have continued to get richer, according to a new analysis of lawmakers’ net worth by Roll Call.

Three years ago, the collective net worth all representatives and senators was $1.65 billion. By 2010, this amount had increased to more than $2 billion, representing nearly a 25% bump.

Roll Call also determined that almost 90% of the increase was enjoyed by the richest 50 members of Congress, who account for 80% of the total net worth even though there are 535 voting members of Congress.

Within the Senate, Democrats (the majority party) possess about 80% of the wealth. Meanwhile, House Republicans, who control the chamber, command 78% of the riches.

The numbers are skewed by the wealth of one Congressman, Michael McCaul (R-Texas), who is worth at least $294 million. Still, the median net worth for members of Congress, $513,000, is four times that of the median American household.

The wealth totals are, if anything, on the low side because they “vastly underestimate the actual net worth of Members of Congress because they are based on an accounting system that does not include homes and other non-income-generating property, which is likely to tally hundreds of millions of uncounted dollars,” according to the political magazine.

-Noel Brinkerhoff