An interesting take on the split between the haves and have-nots, and the other split between the haves and the have-ungodly-richeses. The two splits, say the authors, have different causes.

I agree those stats must be interpreted carefully. They say there is a bulge in the recent stats. See the book review Bart excerpted in the above thread regarding income inequality and education.

One item the authors note is how the top 1% is raking it in.  The top 10-20% have about the same level of education but the top 1% is getting rubbed dubbed and gilded.

Once again though, I don’t fault anyone for being cautious not to over-interpret this result.

Interesting publication from the census bureau.  I’ll have to read it later when I have some time.  But I’d like to see their curve going back before 1947.  The first half of the curve is a direct effect of WWII and the post-war industrial boom.  Prior to that - pre-WWII, there most certainly was massive income inequality.  E.g., George Vanderbilt and his Biltmore Estate in Asheville; similar god-awful wealthy types of the gilded brass age, versus the huddled masses on the lower East Side of NYC…  the increase in “income inequality” is nothing new under the sun.

Bill,

You say: “When was this magical time of greater “equality”?‘ 

http://www.census.gov/prod/2000pubs/p60-204.pdf

There is a debate on this; while most acknowledge income inequality is really happening some argue it is not such a bad thing.

Larry,

You say, “Capitalism is a crap shoot—life itself is a daily roll of the dice!“

Very philosophical but overly nihilistic, pretty much the philosophy of a glue-sniffer, not that there is anything wrong with huffing. Well, maybe there is….

I’m not trying to be insulting. What I’m getting at is that there are definite reasons why jobs are scarce and education ain’t what it used to be. It isn’t by chance, not a roll of the dice.

This is the 21st Century society the globalists designed for us and it is up to us to tweak it as best we can to better our odds to whatever extent possible.

I think the article is just a giant apologist excuse for things the way they are. Trying to convince the Larrys of the world that abnormal is normal.

Youngsters are “scrxxed” in today’s job market, Bill’s JD degree just one example of many. Head for the hills. Find yourself a niche and try to ride out the coming and present storm.

Yes true Bill, and thanks for the added insight. Oh, heck—I know several people making a nice amounts of dough, living good & happy, who didn’t even graduate from high school. Look, I know the answer to this inequality stuff…

...it’s a crap shoot. Capitalism is a crap shoot—life itself is a daily roll of the dice! You might make it big; you might not. No matter your family, no matter your education. No matter how nice you are, no matter how mean you are. Which now goes full circle back to my insults of these economic analyst dorks. There’s no Pseudo-science needed in such a discussion. Life is a crap shoot.

That’s it. So don’t worry, be happy.

“People today are not (arguably) dumber than they were a few decades ago, when we were all doing just fine without the inequality.“

You’re suggesting that there is greater inequality today than there was decades ago?  When was this magical time of greater “equality”? 

There have been “haves” and “have nots” throughout all of human history.  There has been unequal distribution of wealth and power under every system of government ever devised.  Even in socialist countries or countries with extremely high tax rates and programs such as socialized medicine, there is a large disparity of income and wealth.  Such has it ever been; such is it likely ever to be.

“a Bachelors Degree or a Masters or even a PhD is not the magic wand that many assume it to be.“

True, Larry - and the same is equally, if not even more, true for a JD (law degree).  Lots of law students have gotten a rude wake-up call after slogging through law school somewhere in the middle or bottom-half of their class, thinking the law degree will be their ticket to big bux, only to discover the field is pretty well flooded.  Lots of people with JDs out there doing temp work, saddled with $100,000 plus in law school and undergrad student loan debt.

BUT -

Although a degree is no guarantee of financial success, it is also more true than not that lack of a degree can be a significant impediment to a decent job with decent pay.  And these days in many fields, a bachelor’s degree is about as basic and necessary as a high school diploma.  A lot of professions are looking for more and more advanced, post-grad degrees.  Which is not to say that you can’t become a millionaire without some fancy degrees.  I happen to know at least one guy who did just that without having fully completed a bachelor’s degree.  As Thomas Edison said, success is 10% inspiration and 90$ perspiration - or something like that.  It really ultimately depends on the individual and what he or she is willing to make of him or herself.

R. Smith I agree with your points (you reinforced mine) & see what you’re saying clearly. But to clarify what I’m getting at, here’s what is being conventiently overlooked:

Ok, I’m a college graduate. I have many friends who are college graduates. I have many enemies who are college graduates. Out of all us, maybe 6% of us—at best—actually make this Golden Basket of Dough that college grads SUPPOSEDLY make per year. (Quite a few that I know are still doing the same unskilled jobs they did BEFORE graduating from college).  The point is not to seek sympathy for them—I’m merely pointing out that a Bachelors Degree or a Masters or even a PhD is not the magic wand that many assume it to be, or that people ‘advertise’ it to be.

And here these 2 dumbo analysts are asking, “Why don’t more people graduate from college?“ As if THAT were the answer to it all! Do you see what I am saying?

I think the purpose of the article is to say abnormal is normal. They want us to embrace inequality and to expect more to come.

article: “Given the other forces driving inequality, there may be less that government can do than one might hope…
putting a brake on technological progress seems hardly feasible or desirable. And forcing people to select mates at random rather than on the basis of similar backgrounds and tastes seems similarly unlikely. As much as inequality may be a problem, no real solution is in sight.“

Questions:  Why is a solution needed? Human beings are inherently UNequal in virtually every facet—intelligence, physical skill, looks, height, etc. Is there a problem?

US Constitution does not guarantee anything beyond one vote and the Bill of Rights. Subsequent laws have eliminated legal racial, gender and homosexual discrimination in every public aspect of US life. Is there a problem?

To guarantee equal outcomes, US Congress has make racial discrimination legal, provided excessive funds to colleges and students, forced employers to abide by the every conceivable regulatory agency, and pushed minorities in to college.

From personal experience, most of these minority students are not ready for to graduate from high school let alone take college courses. Many are passed by instructors who do not want to “rock the boat” and come under criticism. It is easier than being fired.

The WAPO article asks for solutions to a problem where none exists.

Bill,

I completely agree there are some who can not make it because they are “cognitively challenged”.

I find it rather suspicious though the authors conveniently lay a lion’s share of the explanation on them though virtually ignoring those external factors. Much too convenient.

People today are not (arguably) dumber than they were a few decades ago, when we were all doing just fine without the inequality. What has changed since then are the external factors, not the quality of people. 

With automation, outsourcing, offshoring, immigration, global competition, the world today is vastly more competitive and the available jobs career choices (you chose wisely to be a “biller”) and educational choices are drying up like a Ga. lakebed in the heat of summer.

The authors are trying to treat a dysfunctional world as if it all makes perfect sense, and find conventional simplistic explanations for what should undeniably be seen as a transformation of society.

Inequality is seen as almost normal when in fact it runs counter to our history and egalitarian instincts, and perhaps even to our continued wellbeing.

Larry,

While most colleges admit a zillion students, only a relative few actually graduate. If I remember correctly, VCU’s rate in 1 in ten. And I wouldn’t call the college system “exhausted”. Remember…colleges are businesses. The more students paying bloated rates for a 3rd rate product the better.

They’re also welfare systems. WTF else is an english , art, poli-sci, anthropology(why white people suck), womens studies or histroy major going to do except be recycled back to teach at a college? WalMart already has enough greeters and even if they didn’t, I doubt many of the above dinks could do the job. Greeters are supposed to be nice, not condescending egoflatulents.

“egoflatulent”..one who’s self adulation is as refreshing as a butt barking wino’s ode to Boones Farm Tickle Pink.

Half the people who go to college have no business there in the first place. We as a society have been sold on the idea that a college degree is the only way to make it. A degree is also a great way to feel superior to the guy who fixes your Suburu after you drive it 400 miles with that flashing red oil light thingy on. Education is important but, it’s not the magic remedy to all of societies ills. It’s no substitute for intelligence and definately no substitute for ambition and common sense.

Post Your Comments: