Well, perhaps like some others, I felt "This is America, income disparity must just be an aberration, that will straighten itself out before too long" But it turns out that it was the middle class that was an aberration, and income disparity is here to stay!
No revolts in the street. Just a kind of acceptance tempered by enough to eat, and the comforts that technology can provide. On the other hand, I think it has been determined that once people have achieved a certain amount of wealth, they are considered as happy, (or nearly as happy) as those who are considered super rich. But I didn't really look at the video on hunger that Turq posted, so maybe there are other factors afoot that will turn this nice scenario on its head. ---In [email protected], <sharelong60@...> wrote: Great info, Steve, especially the part about stats driving the situation and how the *haves* might change in quantity. On Wednesday, January 8, 2014 8:51 PM, "steve.sundur@..." <steve.sundur@...> wrote: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=CLDgDxHNu1oC&source=productsearch&utm_source=HA_Desktop_US&utm_medium=SEM&utm_campaign=PLA&pcampaignid=MKTAD0930BO1 https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=CLDgDxHNu1oC&source=productsearch&utm_source=HA_Desktop_US&utm_medium=SEM&utm_campaign=PLA&pcampaignid=MKTAD0930BO1 I listened to several interviews with this guy. Among the things he writes about is that income disparity is pretty much here to stay. But instead of 1% and the rest, it is more likely to be about 15% who have resources, with most everyone else just scraping by. He also points out, (either correctly or incorrectly) that the catalyst for social upheavals in the past was because people did not have enough to eat, and that is not likely to be the case now. Also, technology, being so accessible, is able to provide enough comfort and satisfaction so that people will be okay with a lower standard of living. Another thing said is that stats will continue to drive most decisions. Just as in sports stats have become dominant in measuring every nuance, this will continue in one's personal life, determining credit worthiness, and into areas not yet so affected in this way. I recall being quite impressed with Alvin Toffler's Future Shock. This has that feel to it. (for me at least) I intend to order and read on my daughter's Kindle. --In [email protected], <turquoiseb@...> wrote: Posted because I suspect many here might be interested in seeing this film: http://www.upworthy.com/my-favorite-line-from-this-movie-trailer-if-another-country-was-doing-this-to-us-wed-be-at-war http://www.upworthy.com/my-favorite-line-from-this-movie-trailer-if-another-country-was-doing-this-to-us-wed-be-at-war
