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The Bottom 80% Is Significantly Poorer Since The Pandemic, And This Is Creating A 'Robin Hood Mentality' All Over America
The Economic Collapse Blog ^ | 11/22/2023 | Michael Snyder

Posted on 11/22/2023 8:00:51 AM PST by SeekAndFind

The rich have been getting richer and the poor have been getting poorer, and this is causing all sorts of societal problems.

Thanks to social media, the poor can see the incredible affluence that the wealthy are enjoying, and they are deeply envious.

Of course it certainly doesn’t help that flaunting wealth has become one of the favorite pastimes of the wealthy.

Many of them love to post photos and videos of their luxury lifestyles on their social media accounts, and that is not a good thing.

Because times have not been good for most of the country.

In fact, a brand new study from the Federal Reserve has discovered that the bottom 80 percent have “lower bank deposits and other liquid assets compared to their status in March 2020”

As of June, the bottom 80% of households by income, when adjusted for inflation, had lower bank deposits and other liquid assets compared to their status in March 2020. The decline marks a significant shift from the initial phases of the pandemic, where various factors, including government financial support and restricted spending opportunities during lockdowns, led to an accumulation of excess savings.

In other words, the vast majority of all Americans have been getting poorer.

Meanwhile, the rich have just kept on getting even richer

The Federal Reserve, along with Bloomberg calculations, identified a rapid drawdown of these excess savings, particularly stark among the lower-income groups. While all income groups have experienced a decrease in real-term cash balances from the peak in 2021, the disparity is noteworthy. The wealthiest one-fifth of households still have cash savings approximately 8% above their pre-COVID levels. In stark contrast, the poorest two-fifths have witnessed an 8% decrease, and the next 40% — broadly representing the middle class — have seen their cash savings fall below pre-pandemic levels.

Right now, the gap between the wealthy and the rest of us is the greatest that it has ever been in the entire history of our nation.

According to a different report that was just put out by the Labor Department, average hourly earnings are lower today than they were when Joe Biden first entered the White House

Millions of Americans have received a pay cut over the past two years thanks to high inflation, a blow to President Biden as he attempts to center his re-election campaign around “Bidenomics.”

The Labor Department reported Tuesday that average hourly earnings for all employees was $11.05 in October — a 3.32% decline from the $11.43 figure in January 2021, when Biden took office.

And as the pace of layoffs picks up, soon millions of Americans won’t have a job to go to at all.

This week, we learned that Citigroup has begun large scale layoffs

One of the U.S.’ top banks will begin massive layoffs on Wednesday in a corporate overhaul as the company seeks to trim its operating expenses to levels more in line with its competitors, according to CNBC.

Citigroup will begin cutting employees on Wednesday, with new terminations continuing to be announced through next week, affecting some chiefs of staff, managing directors and lower-level employees, according to CNBC. Following the initial round of layoffs, more employees in less senior positions are expected to be dismissed in February, with the layoffs being expected to be fully completed by March 2024.

And Stellantis has just announced that it has offered buyouts to approximately half of their salaried employees…

Stellantis, one of the Big Three U.S. automakers, on Monday offered buyouts to about half of its salaried employees as it looks to cut costs as it transitions to electric vehicles (EVs) and takes on increased costs from a new union contract.

The parent company of major car brands like Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram offered voluntary buyouts to about 6,400 of its roughly 12,700 salaried employees who aren’t represented by a union and have at least five years of experience. Employees who accept the incentive will depart the company before the end of December.

As economic conditions have deteriorated, crime has soared.

In recent days I have written about the shocking thefts that we are witnessing all over the nation, but this one tops them all

This is the shocking moment a mob of 40 people looted a FedEx truck while it was stopped at a red light in Memphis, Tennessee.

Around 8:30pm Saturday, a 53-foot trailer was ransacked while it sat in traffic at the intersection of Riverport Road and West Mallory Avenue.

After the driver reported the theft, the Memphis police arrived and saw vehicles speeding away recklessly along with a number of boxes thrown across the road.

The FedEx truck had nowhere to go, because once it reached the intersection there were cars that suddenly moved into position to block it

The truck driver told the police that cars blocked the intersection just before a group of men broke open the sealed back door and looted the trailer.

Three men have since been detained after the raging group caused nearly $10,000 in damages – and stole numerous items such as Kicker Speakers, a box of air liners and three DirectTV cable boxes.

In my brand new book entitled “Chaos”, I specifically warn people to avoid Memphis if at all possible.

It has become one of the most dangerous cities in the entire country.

But of course we are starting to see these sorts of crimes everywhere.

Large groups of people have decided that it is okay to take from the rich and the corporations that they control and give to the poor (themselves) because the rich probably exploited the poor to get their wealth in the first place.

This sort of “Robin Hood mentality” is extremely dangerous, and it is rapidly spreading.

And now we have an election season and a war in the Middle East to add fuel to the fire. On Thursday, a crazed group of protesters shut down the entire Bay Bridge

A well-coordinated group of hundreds of Pro-Palestine protesters shut down the Bay Bridge on Thursday morning, tying up traffic during rush hour and calling out to world leaders to end the war in Gaza during the APEC summit.

The four-hour chaotic event, which started around 7:45 a.m., ended with at least 70 arrests and 29 towed cars. All lanes finally reopened just before noon, but not after at least 200 protesters had chained themselves together and purposefully tossed their car keys into the bay, stalling efforts to reopen the span to frustrated drivers.

Needless to say, this is just the beginning.

The war in the Middle East is going to continue to escalate, and 2024 will be the most chaotic election year that any of us have ever seen by far.

So buckle up and hold on tight, because we are going to see staggering levels of civil unrest and crime in 2024 and beyond.

* * *


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government; Society
KEYWORDS: economy; poverty
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To: SeekAndFind

Inflation punishes the working poor the most.


21 posted on 11/22/2023 9:06:39 AM PST by cowboyusa (YESHUA IS KING OF AMERICA! DEATH TO MARXISM AND LEFTISM! AMERICA, COWBOY UP!)
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To: SeekAndFind
Large groups of people have decided that it is okay to take from the rich and the corporations that they control and give to the poor (themselves) because the rich probably exploited the poor to get their wealth in the first place.

Except when they think of rich, they don't mean Bezos and Gates - they mean you.

22 posted on 11/22/2023 9:07:50 AM PST by Mr. Jeeves ([CTRL]-[GALT]-[DELETE])
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To: SeekAndFind
Tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations to “grow the economy” is seen by many as Robin Hood in reverse, just sayin.

(Note: not my own perspective, although tax cuts when deficits are high is a real stupid act).

23 posted on 11/22/2023 9:11:28 AM PST by Clemenza
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To: Mr. Jeeves

The people one town to the east of me see us as being “rich” even though I am far from it.


24 posted on 11/22/2023 9:12:05 AM PST by Clemenza
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To: Sirius Lee

It’s very common for people in the wealthier towns around me to put their best cars out front instead of garaging it. Even dumber those who do this and leave the keys in as they live in a “safe neighborhood.” Hence the auto thefts I hear reported in my area.


25 posted on 11/22/2023 9:13:42 AM PST by Clemenza
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To: SeekAndFind

“The Bottom 80% Is Significantly Poorer Since The Pandemic..”

Democrats hit hardest.


26 posted on 11/22/2023 9:14:26 AM PST by Bonemaker (invictus maneo)
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To: SeekAndFind

What gets me is people who are living on minimum wage protesting that minimum wage needs to be increased. That just causes inflation. If you are living on minimum wage, take a look at the decisions you made in life. None of the people I know who made good life choices, and worked hard to obtain the credentials for their career are in the same position as the minimum wage worker. I see that with the younger generation of my family. Don’t work hard in college, don’t bother to learn a trade, drop out, take a minimum wage job and then bitch about their wages and blame the rich. All the while voting for Biden.


27 posted on 11/22/2023 9:15:56 AM PST by kaila
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To: Boogieman

“Well, there’s no car on the road that can actually stop a truck if the driver is not in a mood to be stopped.”

That is a true statement.

I have 750hp (to the ground) and 2200+ ft/lbs of torque under my right foot. I can put a four wheeler anywhere I dang well please.


28 posted on 11/22/2023 9:22:05 AM PST by big truck ("This space intentionally left blank.")
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To: SeekAndFind
This sort of “Robin Hood mentality” is extremely dangerous, and it is rapidly spreading.

Gives you a desire to rob tax collectors?

Is there a down side?

Or did someone, once again, not read the < bleep> ing STORY!?!

(Not yelling at you Seeks. Just annoys me. If you are going to use a literary allusion read the work first. It is a book for children. Should be well within an adult's ability.)

29 posted on 11/22/2023 9:28:58 AM PST by Harmless Teddy Bear (Keep America Beautiful by keeping Canadian Trash Out. Deport Jennifer Granholm!)
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To: Clemenza
(Note: not my own perspective, although tax cuts when deficits are high is a real stupid act).

Only if you lower it to under 10%.

Ten percent is the sweet spot where economic growth and government income revenue meet.

30 posted on 11/22/2023 9:33:00 AM PST by Harmless Teddy Bear (Keep America Beautiful by keeping Canadian Trash Out. Deport Jennifer Granholm!)
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To: SeekAndFind

Do incomes as measured in that statistic given include the various welfare payments that the government hands out?


31 posted on 11/22/2023 9:34:00 AM PST by cymbeline
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To: SeekAndFind
Isn't there a cliche saying that money given to the poor will eventually flow back to the rich?

I don't recall the exact saying, but this article seems to prove the premise that if the poor get money, they tend to spend it all instead of use it to improve their situation.

-PJ

32 posted on 11/22/2023 9:44:01 AM PST by Political Junkie Too ( * LAAP = Left-wing Activist Agitprop Press (formerly known as the MSM))
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To: Political Junkie Too

That’s exactly how it would work if there are reparations for slavery.

The money will all be back in the hands of the white people within a few years. There’s a great Chappelle sketch about it.


33 posted on 11/22/2023 9:45:41 AM PST by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: SeekAndFind

The so called “wealthy” who flaunt crap they have are an overdrawn credit buying bunch of frauds. The real wealthy, that is people who have substantial working assets, are hard working busting tail people who still WORK, and invest conservatively. At least in this FReeper’s experience. Decent folks.

It’s the youtub flaunting a-holes who like to put down decent people of lower income, who are still proud to work and earn their keep as they can. The damned liberals put them in this condition (if no other decisions, like drug or alcohol abuse were a factor) by importing ILLEGAL labor who suck the blood of the money for re-distribution- not to US citizens but to absolute NOBODIES. Lord DAMN these lying Marxists- joebama obamaumao and all of their a@@clowns embedded at 100k a year and gubment bennies. Clean these out- stop the Fed Reserve borrowing by UNIPARTY hacks. Erase the trillions the next two generations will not be able to clear. Save our Country. And Thank You God for this Country like no other in the world, ever.


34 posted on 11/22/2023 9:56:55 AM PST by John S Mosby (Sic Semper Tyrannis )
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To: SeekAndFind

The MSM and Hollywood, along with people like Gavin Newsom, are fanning lawlessness and encouraging robin- hoods.
There’s a television series just wrapping up its finale in which the hero is a female named Robin and she leads a group of thugs stealin’ from ‘the man’. It was stupid and unethical to its core - justifying crime as if criminals are heroes. And now the MSM is blaming...wut...the pandemic? “Hard times’?


35 posted on 11/22/2023 10:22:38 AM PST by ransomnote (IN GOD WE TRUSTPING)
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To: SeekAndFind

Has anyone discussed the need for new prisons, to get the bad guys off the streets?


36 posted on 11/22/2023 10:48:36 AM PST by Night Hides Not (Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad! Remember Gonzales! Come and Take It!)
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To: SeekAndFind

Robin Hood stole from the tax collector / king / THE GOVERNMENT to give the poor their own money. These ferals are stealing for the sake of stealing because they know they will never be held to account with Soros DAs. They are stealing bread and vegetables.


37 posted on 11/22/2023 11:28:05 AM PST by Organic Panic (Democrats. Memories as short as Joe Biden's eyes)
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