America's Distribution of Wealth -part 1 of 2

[crocfme]

Corporations 7% of America's wealth before tax, 3.5% after tax? 50% Tax rate?

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLO­LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!

[glitterandash154]

lol that is such a fake sounding English accent.

[randy95023]

Figures don't lie, but LIARS sure do figure...

[hamzah938]

We have come to the point in our society that Americans can't 'spell' worth I shit, I am 58 years old and think most of the population have been dummied down to the point where they can barely read.  Just say 'baa-aaaaaa-aaaa'

[mkrulic517439]

@hamzah938 "...that Americans can't 'spell' worth I shit,..." I think you mean worth 'a' shit. btw, profanity is the crutch of the inarticulate

[ThaCypher861]

this is classic 50's propaganda lol, 'why yes sally thats correct'*white guys 50's voice*....question randy, you state,'by late 80's i owned a new four bedroom home and wife'....so you bought your wife?.....

[donfolstar]

This propaganda is so unsophisticated compared to the high quality stuff we are accustom to nowadays.

[vijayanand875]

1% of households (the upper class) owned 34.6% of all privately held wealth, 40% of our nation's population owns less than 1% in USA. ..there is a solution... ZEITGEIST:ADDENDUM

[MaryJoMuser]

I love the commie dude lol

[StunnedByStupidity]

Its so ironic that at this time the US had a MASSIVE tax on the most wealth (i.e. THEY HAD SOCIALISM). Since Reagan this was reversed and the wealth has been MASSIVELY concentrated in the top 20%. It just stands reality on its head - which is TYPICAL of right wing ideology.

[pufferfish0567]

What this video failed to mention is the "non god-fearing" socialists, labor party, unions, and communist's contributions to the redistribution of wealth through the labor movement of the 30's. America would not have been the America of the 50's and 60's without their influence. Union membership in the 60's was around 8%.

Also what it fails to mention is the American model with current world population is not sustainable. The European model of mass transit and bikes my not be bad after all.

[dalecampbl9]

i have nothing against being "wealthy" but I have a problem when top 1% controls so much wealth that their spending or not spending that money affects the economy so much as to cause it to be destroyed or prosper. The rich should not control the means of this country's production and middle class creation. GOP are dangerous precisely because they allow wealth to hoard with any insight (or perpahs it's all on purpose) that it can destroy economy.

[plenty2see]

this guys a robot spouting mantra and doublethink... do people still beleive these myths

[2902ao]

This video is right on! This is why Capitalism is really the only way..........history has proven this time and time again.

[lozr0ckz]

@2902ao capitalism is very young, really...so its too early to say if it is THE only way.

[k1a1t1h1y1]

brainwashing that is what this is.

[elleJify]

" Our $ystem is morally correct " Nice actor. this is BUllshit propaganda shoved down the throats of the baby boomer generation. So kids ,don't blame yo mama.

[Hyvaerinen]

A lie > a major lie > statistics

[urbanverificationist]

What a blasphemous prick. Capitalism's only god is wealth. Its holy trinity, money, securities, and property rights.

When this video was made, nearly half of America worked under a Union Contract and Marginal tax rates for the wealthy were as much as 90 percent in the 1950s. These factors are what helped create America's "affluent" middle class of white folks.

[HopeForPeaceNow]

The Book of Acts puts wealth distribtion this way:

"They shared all in common. None was poor among them. Whenever money was needed, some sold houses and set the money at the feet of the Apostles".

Holy Crap, Paul was a SOCIALIST! Better take him out of the Bible.

[HopeForPeaceNow]

Holy Cripe- is this a joke?

In 2007 the top 20% owned 93% of AMerica.

The rest of us, 80%, own 7% and loose more of that every year. Housebrand... this is absolutely blasphemy. "Our system is morally right"??? Sick.

[housebrand]

@HopeForPeaceNow One of the things I enjoyed about "Who Owns America's Wealth" is it's portrayal of "Capitalism", or "Our System" being much of a system at all. It would seem that the point of a "Free Market" is to not be constrained by a "System". On a funnier note; I wonder what percentage of the top 20% wish they didn't own so much of a rapidly declining in value 93% of America? We as a people have survived bigger assholes than this, and I think we'll be okay.

[HopeForPeaceNow]

@housebrand Thanks.

Regardless of the value of the system, they own the vast majority. That is a comment on power, not actual value.

I am sure they regret not at all the ownership of 93% of America. It leaves them with the vast majority of power. It would seem foolish to think you are OK when each year they remove another .12% from you. Like frogs in boiling water. Opps, you're dead. By 2050 they will own 97%, if they keep the pace they have for the past 80 years.

[parlezuml]

@housebrand America does not have a free market. The bank bailout should have taught you that. America is a corporatocracy. It is run by and for the benefit of major corporations and their shareholders. You have privatized profits and socialised losses in industries like banking, oil and defence. Indeed, so do most western nations. Major corporations do not compete on a level playing field. They spend billions every year influencing government and making sure the law is on their side.

[DonVoghano]

@HopeForPeaceNow In 1955 it was true: the top income tier paid over 50% in taxes (like Sweden today). Now the top pay 17%. This means that Warren Buffet pays a lower % of taxes than his receptionist.

[2902ao]

@HopeForPeaceNow, peace certainly will never come from Socialism.

you say Capitalism is sick, and really bad.....but I guess socialism is great? Sure......history makes your point very well. Too bad we haven't had any good leaders, you know, guys like Josef Stalin, or maybe Pol Pot. Nah, better to have Che Guevara. or maybe Ethiopia's Mengistu Haile Mariam. or, the greatest mass murderer of them all, Mao Tse tung. Hard socialism & Marxism are certain keys to Genocide.

[parlezuml]

@2902ao Yes, it's far more preferable to have your government spend trillions of dollars of taxpayers' money on foreign wars and on bailing out failing financial institutions. Let's face it, even if the wealth is being redistributed upwards, it's still redistribution of wealth. In the US, you have socialism for the rich. And what about those other socialist horror stories you neglected to mention, like France and Sweden?

[donfolstar]

@2902ao

If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then calling it Marxist makes as much sense as anything else you said.

[2902ao]

@donfolstar , I almost forgot about posting to this site.....There seems to be a lot of support for Marxism lately. I cannot understand exactly why. when the collective is more important than the individual, human rights go out the window. That's why Marxist governments tend to murder so many people. somehow, the people in these Socialist countries always end up victims......the same people that were, in theory, supposed to be better off.

[donfolstar]

@2902ao

You might have a valid point there: Marxism may be fundamentally at odds with human nature.

However, when a Marxist regime starts dragging people into the streets it runs contrary to the ideology Karl Marx laid out in his voluminous treatise- it is no longer quacking like a duck.

Germany was a Republic with democratic elections following WW1 and we saw how that worked out. Not many historians refer to the Nazis as democrats or republicans, so why have a double standard against Marxism?

[Cabraisland]

@HopeForPeaceNow hopes for change? Becareful what you wish for, as Peace under a gun is stable only temporarily and at great cost. Same goes for your figure. The figure of wealth ownership is apparently correct, but greatly misleading as you conclude of a sick country. This video says some of this, if you would ever listen carefully. Good luck, and it is not a joke.

[Cabraisland]

In the very short space allowed here, the reason 20% own so much is that the rest of us Joes spend the money as soon as we are allowed (meaning we borrow), including our homes. People from India want to come here because, as is a direct quote from the saying there " where the poor people are fat" . It is a choice to spend the money quickly, and a willful one. True, life is not fair. Billionaires never can spend that much money a year on their own personal desires, to invest in the game of $.

[HopeForPeaceNow]

"the reason 20% own so much is that the rest of us Joes spend the money" Cabraisland

In reality, wages stagnated in 1980s, while costs and productivity went up. Americans use credit to fill the gap and to continue our economy - 2/3 of which is based on consumer spending. If wages stagnant and costs go up - while in a consumer based economy - debt is the only available answer.

We lost 13% of our wealth over the past 40 years - where did it go?? To the Elite while poverty spiked at 44 million!

[Cabraisland]

What is more, beside raw land, a car, and a few others, we can buy far more for the same amount of money. Much, like computers, cell phones, internet, tv bring much potential joy at very little cost, infinitely better than was possible back in the US 50 years ago. It makes life bearable even if earning a pitance compared to what parents made in the same job, like with disappearing blue collar jobs. And most of the wealthy are self made persons, only 30% of even the billionaires are not.

[Cabraisland]

Finally, in most countries people save because A) no one will lend to them B) if you need the money for a medical operation or other no one will give any C) even today you could easily starve in quite a few of the areas of the world. Banks lend so most have negative net worth. We are spoiled rotten, all of us, including billionaires. We usually do not even know what we have! And we have the freedom to think what we want.

Proof: People are happy as they make their minds to be, actually.

[Freedomnotforced]

@HopeForPeaceNow Is this the communists to reform america blog? Make America Great like the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Socialism means equal poverty for all, except the people in the government with the guns. The poor are getting a smaller share of the wealth pie but more pie. The rich make more and more pie every year. If we forget about percentage of distribution and focus on actual amounts in the hands of people we can see a trend that everyone is much better off!

[HopeForPeaceNow]

"Is this the communists to reform america blog" Freedomnotforced

"If I feed the poor they call me a saint

If I ask why the poor are poor, they call me a communist

If I attempt to better the poor, they call me a liberal, socialsommufasct God hating Anti-Christ

What will you say when the ELite own 100% of US financial wealth?

They are 7% away from that today, adding more everyday and have a huge army defending them called the Tea Party.

Are you hoping we own 0% of US?

[HopeForPeaceNow]

@Freedomnotforced You display your indoctrination by calling anyone who speaks of the power of the wealthy to gain more power and wealth, while poverty spikes, by WRONGLY calling anyone who speaks of it a communist.

If the top is out there making more and more pie, why is poverty at it's highest level since th1930's??

The poor are lazy, right? They're all sitting around their air conditioned houses talking on their cell phones and playing playstation, RIGHT??

[marroquinv]

The problem is the deficits. Instead of the rich paying taxes. They just lend it to us in the form of bonds.

[robert9262]

The wealth the people have are do to the Socialist programs that this video refutes. Check the labor history of the US and you can see!!! The American people are always subsidizing Corporations. Check the facts and you'll see.

[altha2008]

in a true socialist socilist society. every will be happy. even in the bible there was a time that the wealth was distributed everyone was happy until a couple got GREEDY and held some back.

and god struck them down on the spot

[altha2008]

in a true socialist socilist society. every will be happy. even in the bible there was a time that the wealth was distributed everyone was happy until a couple got GREEDY and held some back.

and god struck them down on the spot

[GtheMVP]

When an economy relies on buying and sellng shit no one actually needs, the inherent values of that system are shallow and empty.

This lifestyle, while understandably suitable when we had the need for grunt work, is unsustainable, because those grunts are almost all automated, or come from other countries, ie, cheap labour.

This gives us a rich and poor class divide as a result

The waste that is generated from such economies is also unsustainable, unless everything gets recycled

[randy95023]

Capitalism works quite well at creating wealth. Our (USA) system works fairly well but the gap between rich and poor is growing TOO wide. I hate the terms of "Socialism" and "Communism" but we must have adequate safety nets in place so no American has to ever be hungry or homeless. The rich and upper class can still be quite wealthy and we can provide food, housing and basic medical care to our poor without destroying the capitalist system. I've been both "Rich" and "Poor" in my lifetime...

[randy95023]

continued- In late 70's a friend and I lived in an old Pontiac and worked odd jobs. People looked at us like "scum". By late 80's I owned a NEW 4 bedroom home and wife and I drove NEW cars (paid for with cash). We even had a gardener! We didn't inherit $ or win the lottery. We just WORKED our asses off and saved 50% of our income for 5 years. Anybody in America could do what we did!! Get married, both work 2 jobs, save 1/2 your income. 5 years of this and you are among the "Rich"!

[altha2008]

I been poor, rich, poor, rich middle income.

actuall I do better when I was poor and now middle income.

I rather make $50,000 a year no debt then make $100,000 owe $250,000

on a house car debt credit card debt student loan debt.

[altha2008]

got to love captialism ge rich off the poor

[mbfinancial]

i call bullshit!!!

[theH0UNDSofD00M]

Shut up you fuckin twat, English it's not my first or even my second language, therefore I didn't learn it at school but in everyday life, mainly work Not to mention that I start working at 14 years old, laugh all you like, you fucking right wing snotty cunt. Not all of us have a daddy to pay for everything we need in life, like most of the snob middle classes that you seem to aspire to belong one day.

[Mwaterfall]

@jasabbott

Sorry, don't classify me with Stalin

[theH0UNDSofD00M]

Got to love this extension of comedy central...Or was it just one looooooong comercial ?

[Mwaterfall]

FOOLISHNESS!

Still does not solve the problem of increase poverty, the rich taking advantage of the media, political bribery, wars waged for profit, polution from private industries, and increase crime

PURE FOOLISHNESS and PROPAGANDA!

[buzzz1213]

The world is not fair, Never was Never wil be, and that has nothing to do with God!

Good and Evil exists within each of us regardless of our circumstances.

We are just passing through seek the light, how.... very simple live my the Golden Rule, This an individual God given choice! You decide.

[Elin48]

hmmm, compatible with god's laws and is morally right, oh I see. Please see my sarcasm here.

(In 1955 I was 7 years old)

[disclaimer05]

Fantastic propaganda, great 1950's scare tactics.While I agree that the capitalistic system is superior, there are some major flaws. We need affordable health care (not a system that puts you in debt for years for even minor injurys/illnesses) and affordable education.

France has a Capitalistic/Socialistic system and its great. Great wages, free health care and education, free day care and living assistance.

[jbrudert]

1955 was a good time to be an American (at least if you were white/male). Today, however, American style capitalism is controlled by irresponsible "deregulation" minded free market swindlers. Labels are often misleading; and today, when Obama is labeled a socialist one day - and a fascist the other - it is difficult to understand the "right's" reactionary rhetoric. Pointing out what life was like in the times of Ozzie and Harriet is one of their favorite tactics.

[patsyd80]

cant tell if its for real or being sarcastic.

[pr0gm3r]

There is only One rule: Gain and Lost

if one gain then someone must be loosing. All human can not gain at the same time and the same equal of wealth.

If one gain the other must lost.

Unequal wealth distribution.

[rebelamoungyanks]

To sum it up: BS

[CommissarTails]

lying asshole

[samsmithmix]

This video is amazing:

"to sum it up, our system is morally right"

"I say, begging your pardon sir, are you a capatalist?"

Genius lol

[randy95023]

If we had universal health care and better "safety nets" to protect average folks America would be a LOT better. The dog eat dog mentality of capitalism causes great wealth but the losers of "the game" suffer. Suffering is real. A little Socialism goes a long way in reducing stress and creating a healthier society. I'm firmly capitalist but realize it has serious shortcomings...

[vibrato5]

Funny, it seems they forgot to ask the black people how they're enjoying their share of the wealth...

[cris750]

Taxes are ...."Distribution of wealth" (Even Adam Smith recognizes this)!!! Communism/Socialism or rather Marxism has this attribute BUT the STATE does not allow Private industries and the state controls the resources and capital. This is the difference between Capitalism(or a mixed system) and Marxism.

[redSHIFT69]

hi, i'm troy mcclure...you may remember me from such movies as "just say no....to communism."

[plutocratarianism]

Private ownership of wage slaves and government control, yep, very morally right.

[someguyyoudontcare]

being that rich should be illegal. to bad laws are as cheap as elections.

[tamaduni]

exploitation,child labor,tariffs, unfairl trade are not in accordance to Gods law

[randy109]

Us "average" Americans eat the scraps that fall from the table of the rich. Fortunately the rich are SO rich that the scraps are pretty cool!  Fords, Chevies, Big Screen T.V.s etcetera... Who cares if Bill Gates makes Billions every year?? Give me my pittance ($50-$60k) and I won't revolt!

[redSHIFT69]

if they gave you a ford pinto you'd learn to take it, and if you revolted, they screw you till you loved them

[Patambo2000]

@randy109

You are happy eating like a pet dog, and being a modern slave?

Search:

Wealth inequality in the United States

Search:

Wealth, Income, and Power

by G. William Domhoff

(updated July 2010)

[maneatingleprechaun]

@randy109

This is an outstanding comment.

:D

[lanceoftheloc]

what a load of horseshit.

[BeatrizBeckford]

lies lies lies

[MeX2004]

You Jews claim that this is all your money. All the banks belong to you, all the gold within banks is yours, public debt of 48 trillion dollars owned by you. Fortune 1000 companies are yours and all the industries belong to you in fact you claim 90% of all American wealth is yours to posses. While rest of 98% American gentiles get only the 10% to live off paycheck to paycheck and get huge debt of over $165,000 each and if you think this is right than you don't know first thing about revolution.

[vaderownage2000]

this video and the next one never brings up distribution of wealth. this video is honestly hilarious propaganda.

[gratex]

I had to watch it again for the flatcap: "by Jove I ever never seen food before, I say, you there fellow, are you a capitalist?" Very Chumley-Warner: watch?v=SjxY9rZwNGU