I’m not bragging or boasting, I’m stating a matter of fact here.
The median household income in America in 2007 was $48,000 a year. That’s what the average American family lives on per year… some make more… some make less, but if we put it all together, that’s what we collectively bring to the table. That said, I want you to remember a few things…
If you make over $100,000 a year, congratualtions, you’re in the to 10% of earners in the US.
If you make over $250,000 a year, then you’re doing it big and you’re in the top 5%.
If you are making over $500,000 a year, then you’re one of the most special people because you’re in the top 2%.
So, if income were a standardized test, American wages and salaries would be apportioned across the same bell curve that most grades are.
We are a nation of C students… that’s not a bad thing, but just keep in mind that average and normal set the overall trend.
That said, when I see John McCain get on TV and talk about wealth redistribution to cheers from crowds in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Ohio, I have to pause for a moment, look at everyone in the crowd, and think to myself, “How did they find this many wealthy people to put into one room?”
See, that’s the funny thing about this election and America as a whole… people who are securely average have this delusional belief that they’re somehow rich. And we’ve kinda done it to ourselves. Easy credit, floating debt, living beyond our individual means, and trying to keep up with the lifestyle we see on HGTV, Cribs, and The Hills has confused people into believing that somehow inflated spending power is equal to wealth.
Not exactly.
Look around your house. If you’re making payments on at least 50% of the items there, you’re not wealthy, you’re just a better breed of broke.
I’m not rich, but by matter of statistics, I’m in the top 25% of wage earners in America… yay me… But that comes with a severe caveat because I also lived in the 3rd largest city in America for seven years (Chicago), have a college degree (unlike 67% of Americans), and am a man (which means I make more than the 51% of my female colleagues, unfairly), so even my sense of average as compared to the rest of the country is skewed. I also pay a higher tax rate and higher insurance than many Americans because I’m single, so when it comes down to it, my increased wage earning is balanced by my increased cost of living.
I understand that… that’s how it is. Its capitalism.
So, when I hear Barack Obama say we need to “spread the wealth around” I get what he’s saying. Not a massive plan to give checks to the poor, but more tax breaks for people who are like me and make less than me so that they can actually afford their lifestyles without becoming slaves to debt.
Someone send the memo to the crowds in Pennsylvania and let them know that “spreading the wealth around” means they own their flatscreen TVs, actually can afford to purchase their cars instead of leasing, and don’t have to cringe at the Visa bill every month when they see their debt accrue and think about their diminishing savings.
There’s a reason why there are more Wal Marts than there are Sak’s 5th Avenues.
There’s a reason why Old Navy is huge and Gucci is small.
There’s a reason why your town has four or five Dodge dealerships but your county only has one Mercedes dealer.
Because most Americans aren’t wealthy.
Joe the plumber isn’t pulling down enough to worry about taking a hit on taxes… not that he’d even pay them… Neither is Roberta the teacher, Bill the cop, or even Corey the blogger.
We’re all sturdily middle class and trying to make it so we can make a few bucks that don’t belong to a creditor.
The middle class is deep. The pool of truly wealthy is shallow and hard to get into.
Its not a bad thing… hell, I drive a car that’s past its prime and isn’t luxurious… but so does Warren Buffett. The thing about America is that, if you work hard enough, you can move up a little bit or a lot more, but you still gotta pay your share.
So when you’re watching these rallys and you see folks get upset at “wealth redistribution” remember that these people are idiots.
And on that note, I’m gonna let Billy Paul take over and tell you what the government should do…
