MORE ON WEALTH INEQUALITY IN THE UNITED STATES

CONTINUED FROM HOME PAGE:  "Wake Up, Not Rich People!" / Basic Goal of The NRLLA

Eight of the richest people in the world own as much combined wealth as half of the human race. Seems unbelievable, but it is true.

The owner of Amazon is one of the 10 richest people in the world yet many of his employees struggle to make a living and a large number actually qualify for food stamps. Despite the recent pay increases given to all Amazon employees, some other types of compensation, bonuses, and stock options good for longer time, loyal, veteran employees were taken away, resulting in some longtime employees actually making less. Go figure!

Two of the family members of the late Sam Walton, owners of Walmart, largest retailer in the world, are among the 10 richest people in the world, and yet a high percentage of their employees qualify for food stamps. The Walton family is the richest family in the world, with an estimated net worth of over 140 billion.

Just like global warming, wealth inequality cannot be changed immediately. But it is IMPERITIVE that we act now. The first and most important thing to do is elect a large majority of democrats to all government offices; federal, state, and local. It is a fact that democrats care about and work hard for regular hardworking people, people in the bottom 80% of America. We must encourage and support newcomers to run for office especially women, people of color, young people, regular, not rich people; people in the bottom financial 80% of America. Most people in elected office today are generally a lot richer than the people they serve. After elected, they do everything they can to stay in office. Having money, power, and authority tends to corrupt people.

It COULD NOT be more OBVIOUS today that republicans work more for, and tend to favor, RICH people, businesses, and big corporations, and actually work against Regular, Hardworking, Not Rich People.  It is a fact the many rich people (not all) and most republicans today lie, cheat and steal to get and keep control of our government, our country, and our countries' wealth. With all due respect to the Office of the Presidency of the United States, Donald J. Trump is the biggest liar, charlatan, and cheater to ever serve in that office. Not only is Donald Trump pushing for reductions to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and Food Stamps, the recent tax cut he and the republican controlled legislature passed certainly does not help regular or poor people in any way. It is a boondoggle for the rich.  When big corporations get extra free money they save it or buy their own stock. They don’t automatically pay more in dividends, which if they did, it would only go to help people who can afford to own stocks. They don't hire more employees. They don't raise employee pay. Despite what people say, trickle down doesn't work. It is a ruse, a joke. When rich people, and big corporations get more money, they DON'T share it with poor people. They keep it for themselves.

Two of the very wealthiest people in the world who DO contribute money and time to help less fortunate, disadvantaged, and poor people are Bill Gates and Warren Buffett.  They both spoke out against the tax cut stating that it was NOT good for business, not good for the economy, not good for the great majority of Americans and, that it WAS, in fact, VERY BAD for the ability of government to do a good job of running the country and taking care of our people. Warren Buffett commented that the tax cut gave his company Berkshire Hathaway a 29 billion dollar boost which he didn't need.

When the government spends more than it takes in the difference is called the deficit. Republicans have a habit of complaining about the deficit. Despite the facts, they complained a lot about the deficit during the Obama administration. President Obama's administration actually reduced the deficit by one trillion dollars; that's trillion with a "T". He reduced the deficit from 9.8% to 2.5%. Now under Donald Trump's proposed budget and his tax cut, the deficit is going back up. So, in an effort to hold down this inevitable increase Trump wants to cut programs that help the elderly, veterans, and the poor. There is definitely something wrong with that!

President Obama conceived of and instituted all the programs that pulled our economy out of the George W. Bush, Great Recession. Now, Donald Trump falsely takes credit for all the economic gains started by President Obama.

When Ronald Reagan said, "Government is not the answer to our problems, government is the problem"; he was wrong! Government is NOT the problem. It is the people in control of the government that is the problem. Government would be the answer to our problems if the right people were in charge.

So, get out there and vote for democrats everywhere.  JUST DO IT!

See: Michael Josephson. Josephson Institute of Ethics. Josephsoninstitute.org