The most enduring contribution of the almost memorable Occupy Wall Street movement to the American lexicon is . . . the notion of the 1% vs. the 99%. You know -- that is the notion that 99% of Americans suffer because the 1% has all the wealth and repress the poor 99%.
Now, suppose you have worked hard, as well as been lucky, and you are now a member of the 1%. That means, according to Kiplinger, you have income of about $400 thousand yearly. This is about six times the $68 thousand average pay of the 99%. You did well! You are now one of the top 1.5 million Americans!
Now, suppose you look at the rest of your new peer group, i.e., the 1%. You'll find it is even more stratified than the great, unwashed 99% that you just escaped.
The average pay of the top 1% of the 1% is $23 million yearly, which is over fifty times more than you make each year. In other words, you make six times as much as the average American but only 2% of what the top of your peer group makes.
You can object to the unfairness of the "system" that they make 50 times what you make. You could advocate for greater taxes on them.
Or, you could curse your bad luck and resign yourself to permanent "victim-hood."
Or, you could just count your blessings and go help somebody that needs you . . .
Now, suppose you have worked hard, as well as been lucky, and you are now a member of the 1%. That means, according to Kiplinger, you have income of about $400 thousand yearly. This is about six times the $68 thousand average pay of the 99%. You did well! You are now one of the top 1.5 million Americans!
Now, suppose you look at the rest of your new peer group, i.e., the 1%. You'll find it is even more stratified than the great, unwashed 99% that you just escaped.
The average pay of the top 1% of the 1% is $23 million yearly, which is over fifty times more than you make each year. In other words, you make six times as much as the average American but only 2% of what the top of your peer group makes.
You can object to the unfairness of the "system" that they make 50 times what you make. You could advocate for greater taxes on them.
Or, you could curse your bad luck and resign yourself to permanent "victim-hood."
Or, you could just count your blessings and go help somebody that needs you . . .
