This is partially true but still a little misleading. The average household size has decreased artificially decreasing these numbers and exaggerating the real-income gap. Also, many consumer goods have decreased in price drastically.
For 25 yr after WW2 productivity & worker's pay rose together & created middle class. In 1980 govt & co. policies started increasing CEO/stockholder pay while squeezing every $ possible from workers. If wages still rose w/ productivity we'd have no crisis of income inequality now
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So you're saying that since people can buy goods more cheaply they deserve to be cheated out of their pay?
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Of course not. Corporate enrichment needs to end. But I just want to acknowledge that some things are indeed on a positive trend.
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When tens of millions of hardworking people don't have time for their spouse, their kids, their life outside work - or if they have to work 2 or 3 jobs just to make ends meet - then thing are not on a positive trend. Not being a Debbie Downer here. Just saying.
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Only 13 million people (approx. 3% of our total population) work more than one job. Americans also work fewer hours than they used to, including the 'working class'. Also, these 2nd+ jobs often include seasonal work. It's not all doom and gloom!
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Replying to @nrunje
It's not all gloom and doom at all, if you're in the club as it were. I know the upside of the system when it works for you. But too many can't get into the club today and that's what's wrong. Even before the pandemic 40% of Americans couldn't absorb a $400 unexpected expenditure

Dec 8, 2020 路 12:56 AM UTC

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Replying to @marwilliamson
We should be teaching high school students proper financial management and how to start saving into an investment account. Those (even really) small but regular investments can add up to a lot over time. Unfortunately, many kids don't learn this until it's too late.
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You鈥檙e clearly an intelligent man. You know as well as I do that tax policy now is such that no matter how financially literate people are, things are skewed in the direction of increasing wealth for 1 per cent. Why can鈥檛 we just admit that and fix it? Everyone will be better off
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