PrairieSeasons Loc: Red River of the North

Obama seems to have been pretty straightforward that income redistribution is high on his list of things he wants to accomplish. (Remember his exchange with "Joe the plumber"?)

The income he would like to redistribute is that which people earn by making or selling products and services. It's interesting at the same time to look at how income is actually distributed under his watch.

If you measure richness by median family income, the four richest counties in the United States are those that surround Washington DC and home to most government workers.

1) Arlington Co, VA $137,216 median family income
2) Loudoun Co, VA $127,193 median family income
3) Howard Co, MD $125,162 median family income
4) Fairfax Co, VA $124,831 median family income

In addition, Washington DC itself has the worst income inequality in the nation. The top 20% of households in DC averaged $259,000 income per year while the bottom 20% earned $9,100 - a 29 times difference.

Obama's goal may be income redistribution, but only for those evil people in private enterprise, not goobermint employees.

ottopj Loc: Annapolis, MD USA

If you are implying that the salary of the government workers is the driving force of the high average you are wrong. There are many private companies who high level employees make gobs of money.

Many of these companies are consultants and lobbyists.

I believe is was JFK who said something to the effect that we as a country will be remembered by how we treat the poor and not how we treat the rich.

PrairieSeasons Loc: Red River of the North

I am implying that the compensation of the ruling class is the driving force of the high average. That includes government employees, lobbyists, lawyers - the whole gamut of people whose job is to create rules rather than valuable goods and services.

venturer9 Loc: Newton, Il.

I believe is was JFK who said something to the effect that we as a country will be remembered by how we treat the poor and not how we treat the rich.

To some degree that is correct, but we treat the poor in the USA in a manner which, in reality, has nothing to do with the degree of poor.....

I know that anecdotal stories can be heard on all sides.. but EACH USA member of this forum more than likely know some one or many some ones who are on the Government Tit for everything they can get and in reality do not deserve or even qualify for the amount that they do get.

In 1976 my job with NASA (you didn't think one could actually lose a government job, did you) ended and I spent 9 months unemployed. NOW... I spent 9 months on purpose because I really wanted to live in Tennessee and was looking for work there.... I didn't owe any money, so my WONDERFUL unemployment for 2 adults and 5 minor children was $82.00 per week... and unlike today's unemployment, I had to go to the Unemployment to get the money and endure a questioning session as to why I did not have work yet....

After 2 months, I said the heck with it, signed off the unemployed roll and made it on my own.... we had saved money while I was employed and really didn't need the unemployment. When I announced to the person behind the desk that I didn't want the money anymore she said ""OH, you got a job did you"" I told her "No", just don't want to take it anymore.. She sat there with a deer in the headlights look and said "I have never had anybody say that before"

I was unable to find work in Tennessee so returned to Illinois and went to work the evening of the first day I looked.... then was employed for 24 years.

I am 74 and I challenge anyone on this forum to come to my county in Illinois and go with me and I can be working in a maximum of 2 days.....It won't be at $35.00 per hour, but it will be good enough to pay my groceries and gas bills...

Mike

Bazbo Loc: Lisboa, Portugal

And they are all Democrats, as the title of your thread says explicitly? The median income in the DC suburbs has always been high, regardless of the Administration in power.

TrainNut Loc: Ridin' the rails

You are right.
If we give the poor everything there is no incentive to work for it and build self esteem.
We should be giving them jobs so they can earn their money and feel good about themselves.
During the depression they had work projects for people that did not have a job and did not just give them money not to work. I think that was a better system.

PrairieSeasons Loc: Red River of the North

The title of the thread says nothing about who the high income earners in the DC area are or what their political beliefs are. It refers to the fact that many Democrats have income redistribution as a goal.

Bazbo Loc: Lisboa, Portugal

I do not believe that Democrats are any more guilty in this regard than Republicans. Do you not think that Corporate welfare such as the farm subsidies and the oil depletion allowance and carried interest tax rates for hedge fund big shots and the wall street bailout are not income redistribution?

TrainNut Loc: Ridin' the rails

It is all bad. :-(

PrairieSeasons Loc: Red River of the North

I agree with TrainNut - it is all bad. The point I was trying to make was that apparently all the "Joe the Plumber" types of whom Obama asked "wouldn't it be better if we spread it around?" live in DC and work for the gooberment.

Bazbo Loc: Lisboa, Portugal

The hedge fund big shots do not work for the government. The Koch bros do not work for the government, the executives at JP Morgan Chase do not work for the government, the execs at Hallibuton (aka no bid defense contracts) do not work for the government, etc., etc., etc., ad infinitum.

Penny MG Loc: Fresno, Texas

That was a much better system as it didn't breed laziness! :thumbup: (unlike the programs of today)