Washington Sees Incomes Soar as Most of U.S. Declines

WSJ ^ | September 19, 2013 | Neil Shah

[Poundstone]

American incomes have tumbled over the last decade. But for many people in Washington, D.C., it’s been something of a party.

The income of the typical D.C. household rose 23.3% between 2000 and 2012 to an inflation-adjusted $66,583, according to the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, its most comprehensive snapshot of America’s demographic, social and economic trends. During this period, median household incomes for the nation as a whole dropped 6.6% — from $55,030 to $51,371. The state of Mississippi, which had one of the biggest declines, dropped 15% to $37,095: Nearly one in three people there have an income that is near the poverty line.

[Poundstone]

As a longtime Washington resident, I can attest that this place is booming!

[sten]

goes along with record tax revenues

[TurboZamboni]

For those who remember the old Soviet Union, it was a grim place — at least for average citizens. But not so for those in government. Contrary to the official ideals of equality and a classless society that the ruling communist regime espoused, the USSR created a privileged class of party members inside government — the nomenklatura.

This semipermanent bureaucracy earned higher incomes, got better health care, ate better food and had greater job security than average Russians, the much-despised proletarians. Today, our bloated federal government seems, in significant ways, to be creating this same dynamic.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2482637/posts

[saganite]

Yeah but congressmen are stuck only making $172,000 a year.

[vetvetdoug]

I can attest to Mississippi’s drop in income. Our state taxes have increased exponentially and the clients with money to spend have decreased significantly.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

And a nice pension forever...

[reg45]

This explains a lot. No wonder that the politicians, who cannot see beyond the beltway, think that the economy is improving.

[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

Until regulators are punished with indexing their incomes to that of the regulated, it will only get worse. The regulators as the process works now respond only to political whim and not practical wisdom.

[Buckeye McFrog]

Was there in March. Money is literally bubbling up through the sidewalks.

Once you get out to around Hagerstown it’s back to the real world of boarded-up businesses and foreclosed homes.

[mikey_hates_everything]

This semipermanent bureaucracy earned higher incomes, got better health care, ate better food and had greater job security than average Russians, the much-despised proletarians. Today, our bloated federal government seems, in significant ways, to be creating this same dynamic.

You can say that for any 3rd world country, not just the former USSR.

[Old Yeller]

Yeah but congressmen are stuck only making $172,000 a year.

An millions in lobbyist money, Saudi money, and general kickbacks

[GeorgeTex]

DC Metro area-seven of the ten richest counties in America. All gained by producing misery for the rest of the country.

[sphinx]

There’s way too much time-wasting whining on this thread. Who told you peasants you could knock off work????