[Oshkalaboomboom]

Edward L. Rubin is dean of the Vanderbilt University School of Law, this gives you a nice look into the mindset of the people that are teaching our children.

[goldstategop]

Liberals believe in the worst in human nature. That is why they can find nothing good in society and always celebrate whatever they think offends middle American mores. And despite such an attitude, they're angered when Americans reject them in the voting booth. They're self-absorbed egoists to boot.

(Denny Crane: "Every one should carry a gun strapped to their waist. We need more - not less guns.")

[kb2614]

MARXISM- CATCH THE FEVER!!!!

Wow, Marxism sounds grand. Why didn't I think of that? Bet nobody has tried that before.

(sarcasm off)

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs. Comrades!

[leprechaun9]

A little omission:

The top 5% of those who pay INCOME TAX, pay >50% of the total.

The botom 50% of those who pay INCOME TAX, pay <5% of the total.

[wolfpat]

Teddy Kennedy, at the 1988 democRAT Convention stated that he would not rest until every American had an "above average income".

[Dallas59]

At present, the top fifth of the population receives more than 50 percent of the nation's annual income, while the bottom fifth receives around 3.5 percent.

EVERYONE....has the freedom to get into that top fifth and vice versa.

[ComputerGuy]

Well, at least he makes a valid point when he says that we have a "defective public educational system".

[hocndoc]

That first paragraph reminds me of a shell game maneuver - comparing all the statistics any way that suits his agenda.

I don't think I'll play his game. But if I did, I'd tell him to look at the possessions, public utilities, that each of his top 5%, bottom 80%, etc., own and have access to.

The standard of living for the poorest has increased more than it's fallen.

[capitalist229]

Welcome to the USSA.

BUMP

[tet68]

Those who comment on America's income disparity often speak in terms of social stress. If these disparities continue, they suggest, we are likely to suffer from widespread demoralization or increasing class conflict. This seems to be an unpromising strategy, not only because there is no empirical evidence that it's occurring...

So the unequal distribution of wealth is only a strategy not a real problem and one with no evidence at that. Socialists!

[Caipirabob]

I think this article should earn him immediate expulsion from this country. Rubin, you are one of the socialists we are going to run into the seas. Hope you can swim, but not really.

[moonman]

I remember reading somewhere about 20 or so years ago, that if everyone in the ghetto was given a $1,000,000 (million) dollars, within a generation, approximately the same percentage of poverty, as before the $1,000,000 gift, would exist.

[DemforBush]

"...a defective public educational system that limits social mobility and the ability of people who can't afford private school to develop their talents."

Sounds to me like a great argument for vouchers! :)

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

At present, the top fifth of the population receives earns more than 50 percent of the nation's annual income,

[PeteB570]

I finished work at 9:00 PM and just fired up the glowing box to start again this morning.

Maybe the people I will see drinking cheap wine out of a brown bag down at the corner Quick Stop around 10:00AM this morning should try that thing called WORK.

Oh, yeah, WORK is a four letter word to some people.

[Beckwith]

Edward L. Rubin is an old-fashioned communist.

[sphinx]

Mr. Rubin needs to spend a few minutes looking at the income distribution tables and thinking about what they mean. I'm pressed for time so I'm not going to refresh my memory at the moment, but if I recall correctly: in terms of household income, you hit the top 20% at around $80,000; the top 10% at around $115,000; and the top 5% at around $140,000. That's in the ballpark.

Family structure is key. The substantial majority of households in these brackets have two (or more) incomes. A married schoolteacher couple with 20 years seniority or the accountant married to the police officer are very likely to be in the top 20%. Mr. Rubin professes not to understand why so many Americans identify with the uppper brackets. His confusion would be solved if he looked at some data.

What I suspect he is agitated about is not the top 10 or 20 percent (the upper middle class), but rather the top 1 or 2 percent, who are well into the six figures. These people do indeed make more than law professors; hence Rubin's resentment. But these people are very few in number, and they consist disproportionately of the people who build successful businesses. They are the wealth creators for the rest of society. It is foolishness to try to eliminate their incentives to succeed; all of us would be poorer for it.

[tom h]

One important point to note about liberals and leftists -- when even the "poor" in our nation live in heated homes with running water and working sanitation, and are not deficient in caloric intake, and own luxuries and conveniences in addition to nice cars ... then the leftists start talking about income disparity. Everyone might be healthy and well-provisioned but the leftists still need a cause so they create this one.

Sheesh. At least we Freepers don't fall for it.

[Niteranger68]

At present, the top fifth of the population receives more than 50 percent of the nation's annual income, while the bottom fifth receives around 3.5 percent.

That's because the bottom 4/5 of the population can't do the jobs the upper 1/5 can. If you want to help, use your gardener the next time you need brain surgery.

[mewzilla]

Ranks of US millionaires worth over $5 million swell