General Discussion

hfojvt

(37,573 posts)

77. so you are worried about the Fab 400?

Tue Dec 27, 2011, 12:00 AM

Dec 2011

They are kinda insignificant when it comes to the pie. Sure they are at the top and they have a ridiculous average income of $345 million, they only get 1.59% of all the income the US economy produces. http://journals.democraticunderground.com/hfojvt/123

The top 20% is eating up far more of the economic pie than the top 400 people are.

In the same boat? I kinda doubt, and even when we are in the same boat, like the Titanic, those in first class get to lifeboats before those in 3rd class. "the Titanic's casualty list included 4 of 143 First Class women (three by choice) ... 15 of 93 Second Class women ... and 81 of 179 Third Class women. Not to mention the children. Except for Lorraine Allison, all 29 First and Second Class children were saved, but only 23 of 76 steerage children." "A night to remember" p. 61

Greed, I would say, is a problem all through our society, not just at the top. Everybody who wants to grab two or three slices of pie for themselves and to hell with their neighbors is part of the problem.

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Do you think a laborer who makes $150,000 a year with overtime is being overpaid? [View all] NNN0LHI Dec 2011 OP

If a laborer is making that kind of money... trumad Dec 2011 #1

I stated 12 hours a day and 7 days a week in my post NNN0LHI Dec 2011 #2

I'd be pretty unoffended by a labourer working those hours getting that kind of pay Posteritatis Dec 2011 #9

This message was self-deleted by its author NNN0LHI Dec 2011 #16

*Wouldn't* be offended. (nt) Posteritatis Dec 2011 #17

Sorry I misread your post NNN0LHI Dec 2011 #23

Where does a laborer make $150,000? I can't find it anywhere... rfranklin Dec 2011 #45

$25.76 per hour krawhitham Dec 2011 #47

Thanks, I was working on the math. freshwest Dec 2011 #59

$34 per hour eomer Dec 2011 #87

Roughly about 112 hours of pay per week for working seven twelves with overtime premium NNN0LHI Dec 2011 #94

I think it greatly depends on where this laborer lives as well justiceischeap Dec 2011 #3

That is just part of the scam that many people have been brainwashed into believing too NNN0LHI Dec 2011 #6

yeah, I am sick of that argument too hfojvt Dec 2011 #42

Depends on what you do for a living... justiceischeap Dec 2011 #44

You are 100% right - $29 vs $45 krawhitham Dec 2011 #48

Well since I happen to be one of the Kochs of the world hfojvt Dec 2011 #54

The top 20%? Warren Stupidity Dec 2011 #70

so you are worried about the Fab 400? hfojvt Dec 2011 #77

"the fab 400" run the goddamn world. Warren Stupidity Dec 2011 #82

they have tremendous amounts of income, wealth and power hfojvt Dec 2011 #93

well said limpyhobbler Dec 2011 #4

I think it would be overpaid because it could not last. former9thward Dec 2011 #5

That is all well and good until no one can afford to purchase the products made using alternatives NNN0LHI Dec 2011 #10

No one has to make 150k a year to live well in this society. former9thward Dec 2011 #15

You would like people to believe that if someone gets 150 grand their finances are out of control NNN0LHI Dec 2011 #21

I'm not buying what you are trying to sell. former9thward Dec 2011 #34

arguing for lower pay for people again? CreekDog Dec 2011 #24

Read the post. former9thward Dec 2011 #37

Guys in my trade can make that kind of money. Edweird Dec 2011 #55

You don't mention the trade so it is difficult to respond. former9thward Dec 2011 #65

Friend of mine works in forestry, his working conditions are like Edweird describes. (nt) Posteritatis Dec 2011 #66

Linework. Edweird Dec 2011 #67

I'm not sure that would fit the definition of "laborer" which the OP was about. former9thward Dec 2011 #68

Whatever. I work a blue collar labor intensive job that cannot be replaced by technology Edweird Dec 2011 #69

And you'd be wrong nadinbrzezinski Dec 2011 #73

Not at all. former9thward Dec 2011 #89

"Labour" and "unskilled labour" do not perfectly overlap. (nt) Posteritatis Dec 2011 #76

150,000 workers are not "keeping everything going for us" Enrique Dec 2011 #7

Do you think it is the Walton family and hedge fund managers who keep everything going then? NNN0LHI Dec 2011 #13

do you agree that farm workers are absolutely vital to our economy? Enrique Dec 2011 #18

I think farm workers should make a lot more than they are currently making with overtime pay NNN0LHI Dec 2011 #22

Anyone who enters into a voluntary agreement for labor cannot be overpaid by definition. Abin Sur Dec 2011 #8

I learned on DU that I should congratulate him for things going 'swimmingly' for him Bluenorthwest Dec 2011 #11

And people learn outside DU to resent the well paid laborer rather than the Top One Percent. Overseas Dec 2011 #29

I'd be happy if the entire 99% got $150,000 annually for only working 4 days a week. firehorse Dec 2011 #12

firehorse for president of the world! (nt) Posteritatis Dec 2011 #14

Yeah, uh huh. A laborer getting an annual salary the same as a month's hedge fund salary Overseas Dec 2011 #30

There was a mechanic in our local transit system that made over 110 G. (200 Gs in today's money) Stuart G Dec 2011 #19

It's the one addiction we reward people for customerserviceguy Dec 2011 #39

And salaries have been flat to lowered, he'd be really fortunate to still be allowed to pull OT, bettyellen Dec 2011 #49

Nope. Brickbat Dec 2011 #20

Nobody can keep up a schedule like that for very long tularetom Dec 2011 #25

We did it for two years straight in the early 90's NNN0LHI Dec 2011 #28

No... Tikki Dec 2011 #26

No, and anyone that thinks so has never been in the trenches. Ikonoklast Dec 2011 #27

200 of us hired into a Ford stamping plant in 1973 NNN0LHI Dec 2011 #31

big deal, I worked a temp job at a door plant hfojvt Dec 2011 #35

for perhaps the hundreth time, $150,000 a year is NOT middle class hfojvt Dec 2011 #32

I don't support raising the FICA cap NNN0LHI Dec 2011 #36

I'd like to taise the cap and lower the percentage. krispos42 Dec 2011 #41

so you oppose plans that benefit me hfojvt Dec 2011 #53

What would benefit you and just about everyone else would be if you made more income NNN0LHI Dec 2011 #57

no what got us into this predicament hfojvt Dec 2011 #61

I have plenty of laid back friends who "thought", they had plenty to retire on NNN0LHI Dec 2011 #63

boy is that a sad statement hfojvt Dec 2011 #78

Putting words that aren't there into another persons mouths is a dirty thing to do NNN0LHI Dec 2011 #81

"I'm a dirty skunk? I'm a dirty skunk?" Daffy Duck hfojvt Dec 2011 #95

It is middle class spinbaby Dec 2011 #84

Someone wants us to forget that is the way it is supposed to be don't they? NNN0LHI Dec 2011 #91

oh bull crap hfojvt Dec 2011 #92

I grew up in the 50s and 60s spinbaby Dec 2011 #96

A household income of $150,000 puts you just short of the top 10% starroute Dec 2011 #33

I will try to explain the difference NNN0LHI Dec 2011 #38

you are supposed to put a comma after every THREE zeroes hfojvt Dec 2011 #51

If it's skilled labor with lots of overtime... no. krispos42 Dec 2011 #40

given the vastly bloated paychecks of the 1% magical thyme Dec 2011 #43

Our enemy is the person making over a million a year... hughee99 Dec 2011 #46

My best bro from high school guitar man Dec 2011 #50

The only people on this planet who are overpaid are Wall St. CEOs. Initech Dec 2011 #52

I'm looking forward to making that kind of money at my labor job. Edweird Dec 2011 #56

No Marrah_G Dec 2011 #58

They are being paid what the market will allow fujiyama Dec 2011 #60

Think you missed my point NNN0LHI Dec 2011 #62

I think people should have the opportunity to make fujiyama Dec 2011 #64

Shh, over here... see Adam Smith, if there was ever a CAPITALIST (I mean he invented it for god's nadinbrzezinski Dec 2011 #72

I am not offended nadinbrzezinski Dec 2011 #71

No, I would be okay with that. jwirr Dec 2011 #74

I think two laborers, each making $75,000, would be better. boppers Dec 2011 #75

Corporations really like that idea too NNN0LHI Dec 2011 #79

So do people who like their family. boppers Dec 2011 #80

During the Great Depression, labor unions recommended breaking up jobs. ieoeja Dec 2011 #90

I think time would be better spent not whining B Calm Dec 2011 #83

Raising wages has to be done collectively or it turns into every man for himself NNN0LHI Dec 2011 #86

Frankly, yes. With a Master's+18, I never saw $70K in 30 years of teaching. WinkyDink Dec 2011 #85

We had a suburban public schoolteacher who made $191,214 in his last year before retiring NNN0LHI Dec 2011 #88