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     Blake |
Can you see why? http://news.yahoo.com/middle-class-areas-shrinking -us-study-000732421.html | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ft_bstrd |
Uhhhhh......what? I think there is a piece of the puzzle missing. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Johnnymceldoo |
They sampled progressive run major metro areas where people are taxed and regulated the most. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Blake |
First, the article doesn't define the criteria for how the study established rich, poor or, middle class neighborhoods. If the methodology is sloppy, the accuracy of results and any conclusions is dubious. Second, it doesn't relate neighborhoods to population or demonstrate a correlation between the two. It might seem obvious, but various factors can skew results and conclusions from reality. Third the article doesn't indicate how how much of the alleged shift from middle class is to rich and how much is to poor. If the majority of the shift is to more affluent neighborhoods, well that just wouldn't do would it? Having more people living in more affluent neighborhoods would run contrary to a certain bias and prove the lie of the poor getting poorer. So to recap: What defines an affluent neighborhood in real tangible terms in 1970 versus one in 2007? What is the correlation to population in 1970 and 2007? What portion of the alleged displaced middle class moved up versus down in neighborhood? Is Harlem an affluent or poor neighborhood? An article that raises more questions than it presents facts is really poor. I give it an F. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Blake |
The agenda of the author seems clear from his statement that "The findings come amid the ongoing protests of the Occupy Wall Street movement, which is in part aimed at highlighting economic inequality in the United States..." "Economic inequality"? Marxism. What about intelligence inequality and the intelligence gap? We need to make everyone more equal in intellect. All smart people, please report for your brain disabling procedure immediately! What about athletic inequality? Everyone should enjoy the same ability to play sports and accomplish feats of strength or agility! All excessively agile, strong or coordinated athletic types please report immediately for your disabling operations! What about stature inequality? It's proven that tall people garner excessive respect and deference compared to the height deprived. All tall people report immediately for height equalization! What about work ethic inequality? It's unfair that those who are naturally compelled to work excessively gain advantage over those who are unable to muster a strong work ethic. All hard working ambitious people must report for re-education are hereby denied further education and/or productive rewarding work opportunities. What about beauty inequality? It's proven that attractive people gain favor in life in all sorts of ways. All attractive people must immediately report for de-beautifying treatment. What about artistic inequality? It's unfair that some are gifted with excess artistic ability. All those so gifted, singers, artists, writers, performers, musicians must all report immediately for artistic ability equalization procedures. And most importantly, what about integrity inequality? Those with high standards and who are grounded in principles of good, those who recognize freedom and the equal rule of law for all, and those who are honest and reasonable are a threat to everyone else. It's unfair that they be allowed to hold others accountable! All those with excess honesty and reasoning must report immediately for corruption re-education. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Johnnylunchbox |
Rush fans might recognize these lyrics: "There is unrest in the forest, There is trouble with the trees, For the maples want more sunlight And the oaks ignore their pleas. The trouble with the maples, (And they're quite convinced they're right) They say the oaks are just too lofty And they grab up all the light. But the oaks can't help their feelings If they like the way they're made. And they wonder why the maples Can't be happy in their shade. There is trouble in the forest, And the creatures all have fled, As the maples scream "Oppression!" And the oaks just shake their heads So the maples formed a union And demanded equal rights. "The oaks are just too greedy; We will make them give us light." Now there's no more oak oppression, For they passed a noble law, And the trees are all kept equal By hatchet, axe, and saw." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sifo |
"Blonds have more fun" I demand my equality!  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Buellinmke |
http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/national /RussellSageIncomeSegregationreport.pdf?ref=us Here's the full report so you can see how they reached the conclusion summarized in the initial article posted by Blake. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Blake |
Thanks Joe! I'll take a look at it. Pretty funny, nearly all the shift they talk about from middle class to poor happened between 1970 and 1980. Here's their data...
I did the % change calculations. Looking at the change between 1970 to 1980, the number of poor per their definition increased wildly, by 70%. Looking at the change between 1980 and 2007, the poor increased 19% while the affluent increased 99%! Wow! How exactly is that bad? You can thank the "Great Society" failure of Johnson and the Democrats in congress for the decimation of the inner cities and the 70% increase in poverty from 1970 to 1980. This ought to be sound proof of the bankruptcy of progressive social engineering, a colossal waste of some $20 TRILLION in today's dollars thrown to the bottomless pit of entitlements, handouts and big gov't social programs. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jayvee |
Kurt Vonnegut write a short story about that; 'Harrison Bergeron'. Stronger people had to go about carrying weights to make them more 'equal'; people with exceptional eyesight had to wear slightly fuzzy glasses, etc. Every 'advantage' was neutralized in the interest of equality. That was written in 1961 ! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dwardo |
Ah, the "Handicapper General" |
