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Ampersand Unicode

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39. Which rich people, though?

Tue Nov 11, 2014, 04:55 PM

Nov 2014

Right-wing banker rich people or Hollywood liberal movie star rich people?

Americans may love their movies, but I think more of them respect those in "polished" professions like bankers and the military than the libertines in Hollywood and rock music. Right now it's only millennials who have any respect for Silicon Valley, because a lot of the olds don't get computers or why they make so much money.

I think old-fashioned Christian morality plays a part in the photo finish. Jamie Dimon may be a corrupt Wall Street crook, but at least he's not sleeping around (so far as we know) like Madonna, or snorting coke all day and night like Charlie Sheen. It's not just about the Benjamins but what you did to get them.

I don't know where the fence sways in terms of athletes. Maybe that's a close second in terms of the "rich" that Americans respect:

1. conservative rich with "moral values" (finance/business, military, "megachurch" pastors, inherited wealth)
2. professional sports, possible exception of wrestling because it's "kinda gay" (apolitical?)
3. entertainment and media (movie/TV stars, musicians, models, news anchors) -- tend to be liberal

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Americans hate poor people. [View all] Yavin4 Nov 2014 OP

I have personal experience with that. Kingofalldems Nov 2014 #1

Our brand of capitalism is a brilliant system Ron Green Nov 2014 #2

^^^THIS^^^ Tom Ripley Nov 2014 #58

Well said. (no text) Quantess Nov 2014 #71

A sad truth. n/t 99Forever Nov 2014 #3

Yep BlindTiresias Nov 2014 #4

And since so many are poor, they actually hate themselves? Maybe. Rex Nov 2014 #5

They hate the poor because they are afraid of becoming poor. n/t FSogol Nov 2014 #6

No, They're afraid of being correctly identified as poor. Yavin4 Nov 2014 #8

Crazy Lurker Deluxe Nov 2014 #18

OWING more that you OWN puts your net worth at 0 or in negative territory Yavin4 Nov 2014 #44

That does not make you poor Lurker Deluxe Nov 2014 #50

Individuals, corporations, and govrerment are not the same. Yavin4 Nov 2014 #51

Okay ... Lurker Deluxe Nov 2014 #57

Rebuttal Yavin4 Nov 2014 #59

Again Lurker Deluxe Nov 2014 #62

The couple in your example have a $250 K a year revenue stream. They have ASSETS to offset their Yavin4 Nov 2014 #66

You are correct. Remember when Hillary (whom I am not supporting at this time) was talking about jwirr Nov 2014 #28

So sayeth Master Yoda Ampersand Unicode Nov 2014 #31

Yep. The ugly side of the American Dream. TDale313 Nov 2014 #7

Message auto-removed Name removed Nov 2014 #20

The religious aspect plays a large role in that hate. I have felt it first hand. I had an ace in the jwirr Nov 2014 #33

Americans? leftofcool Nov 2014 #9

In general poor and low income people feel this-you are probably an exception Stargazer99 Nov 2014 #10

if you ever become poor you will eventually understand Stargazer99 Nov 2014 #11

So True. Basic LA Nov 2014 #12

That's why the income inequality argument falls on deaf ears Yavin4 Nov 2014 #13

Deaf Ears. Basic LA Nov 2014 #17

That's a large part of the reason. Also people don't really understand how unequal our income pampango Nov 2014 #52

They don't care. Basic LA Nov 2014 #54

When it is based on religious beliefs they go so far as to see the poor and "weak" as someone who jwirr Nov 2014 #34

And many white, rural poor hate nonwhite poor Ampersand Unicode Nov 2014 #36

Because we fear the poor, and poverty, recognizing powerlessness when we see it. Orsino Nov 2014 #14

Worse. Americans think they're going to be rich Niko Nov 2014 #15

By the way - wasn't the plumber running for office somewhere? Did he win? jwirr Nov 2014 #35

He ran for Congress but lost... PoliticAverse Nov 2014 #45

Thank God for one favor. We do not have to put up with him. jwirr Nov 2014 #53

Exactly. lumberjack_jeff Nov 2014 #16

Frugal doesn't make an economy The2ndWheel Nov 2014 #19

Yep.I go into peoples houses (computer tech). I'll pull up in a very nice neighborhood, go inside .. BlueJazz Nov 2014 #42

You can blame that on Calvinism Spider Jerusalem Nov 2014 #21

Yep. There's a whole strain of Chritianity based on those notions. GoCubsGo Nov 2014 #43

It's pre-destination... devils chaplain Nov 2014 #49

Message auto-removed Name removed Nov 2014 #22

And thus most Americans hate themselves daredtowork Nov 2014 #23

Also let me say this is a dam good reason to support unions. Rex Nov 2014 #24

And with Industrial Unions they would control the jobs that make them. jtuck004 Nov 2014 #26

And a lot more people would be poor. A living wage is one of the goals of union. Without that goal jwirr Nov 2014 #37

We are TAUGHT to hate, and loathe, "poor people". Partly by using "poor people" jtuck004 Nov 2014 #25

Good point. jwirr Nov 2014 #38

And most are one or two generations from family LuckyLib Nov 2014 #27

Americans respect rich people. Octafish Nov 2014 #29

Which rich people, though? Ampersand Unicode Nov 2014 #39

Great Post Long Drive Nov 2014 #68

Many Americans live on the financial edge and put on a good show to others they are OK. This, RKP5637 Nov 2014 #30

i know struggling people who hate the poor , THEY are not like THEM JI7 Nov 2014 #32

Thank you for this op. I suspect that this attitude is part of the reason we lost this election. It jwirr Nov 2014 #40

Love Thy nieghbor...... Burf-_- Nov 2014 #41

Altogether too many Americans are not only shallow, but vindictive on top of it world wide wally Nov 2014 #46

Americans all think they are going to be rich. They don't get the kairos12 Nov 2014 #47

We HAVE to challenge this, I think if the choice was between majority power or no anti-poor attitude ck4829 Nov 2014 #48

Then there are those that even while they hate the poor... Kalidurga Nov 2014 #55

thus the need for the FDR PARTY in politics grasswire Nov 2014 #56

You get a damn skippy from me on this. MrScorpio Nov 2014 #60

I've seen more scorn thrown at the poor right on DU TorchTheWitch Nov 2014 #61

People are so terrified by them they convince themselves it's their fault. nolabear Nov 2014 #63

I crossed this country numerous times while nilesobek Nov 2014 #64

+1000 N/T UglyGreed Nov 2014 #65

When they should be directing their anger at cheap labor conservatives! B Calm Nov 2014 #67

You can't talk about America's hatred of the poor without talking about its protestant work ethic AZ Progressive Nov 2014 #69

Great post. And the poor have been taught to hate themselves ProfessorPlum Nov 2014 #70

I think you're oversimplifying it... MadDAsHell Nov 2014 #72