The rich get richer, the poor get poorer, (so saith my mother!)

grahamg

grahamg

Old codger
Location
South of Manchester, UK
Its a well known saying of course, but one frequently repeated by my mother, perhaps because of her social conscience, perhaps because she was a bit jealous of those doing better in life than my parents, (or seemingly doing better because as my pa said, "Thousands/millions would starve before he/we would"!).

However, I drove around last night, maybe just ten or so miles from where I live south of Manchester, UK, and the numbers of huge houses or mansions seemed to me to have mushroomed from when I was a boy, (maybe the folks living in them made their pile in the "gig economy", or nowadays so many famous footballers live in the area too!), so it would appear at least that the saying has much truth in it.

One street had almost every house smothered in Christmas lights, whilst another close by had virtually none, (this may be more about taste than dough thinking about it, still a lot of work putting them all up, and they must consume a fair amount of electric, even with low wattage bulbs?).

There we are, wealth obviously isn't evenly distributed, but maybe it isn't supposed to be, and many from the big houses are good, lively company when you meet them in a bar, so the money hasn't completely gone to their head, or changed them! :)
 

Yes, I see it when I walk out by the lake near our house. Huge mansions that overlook the lake are springing up. I always wonder who needs that much house, but I guess it's not up to me to decide. Then I see people with signs asking for money at the stoplights in the same area and it makes me ponder the inequity.
 
Wealth isn’t actually distributed, it’s earned. You can argue that some people have a better start in life, but other people worked hard, paid attention in school, had a better idea or honed their skills, and became wealthy.
 
CarolfromTX said:
Wealth isn’t actually distributed, it’s earned. You can argue that some people have a better start in life, but other people worked hard, paid attention in school, had a better idea or honed their skills, and became wealthy.
Click to expand...
Well yes, but "hard times", to use a Dickensian phrase, can occur in almost anyone's family, (or even due to factors outside our control to you or I in fact!).
The lesson of history suggests care shown towards "vulnerable people" is necessary, because the alternative is too brutal to contemplate for most people, and if there are too many "losers" in society, people who can't afford to eat enough to survive, the pressure for social change becomes irresistible.
 
Last edited:
I agree. The problem is how to solve this problem without handouts for all. The problem is sorting out the deserving needy from the bums and scammers. No idea how that would, or could, workmen
 
CarolfromTX said:
Wealth isn’t actually distributed, it’s earned. You can argue that some people have a better start in life, but other people worked hard, paid attention in school, had a better idea or honed their skills, and became wealthy.
Click to expand...
I'll agree and disagree. I don't put wealthy people into one category.

There are many who are wealthy who come from generations of wealth. (Think the crooked Murdaughs in South Carolina.) There are also people, like those you mentioned, who worked hard to earn their wealth. Then there are those like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg who simply had great foresight into what people would want in the future and executed it. Then there are the "influencers" who have done virtually nothing but continue to get rich by understanding their audience. (Think the Kardashians).
 
The alternative lyric to the rich getting richer is the poor get children! I’ve run across people who never have anything due to spending all on their children, and then essentially raising their grandchildren as well…
 
CarolfromTX said:
I agree. The problem is how to solve this problem without handouts for all. The problem is sorting out the deserving needy from the bums and scammers. No idea how that would, or could, workmen
Click to expand...
Agreed. And in my opinion, there's something very very wrong when people who work for a living are worse off financially than those who don't. (I'm not referring to retired folks or people with medical conditions)
 

"How Wealth Reduces Compassion​

As riches grow, empathy for others seems to decline

Who is more likely to lie, cheat, and steal—the poor person or the rich one? It’s temping to think that the wealthier you are, the more likely you are to act fairly. After all, if you already have enough for yourself, it’s easier to think about what others may need. But research suggests the opposite is true: as people climb the social ladder, their compassionate feelings towards other people decline."

3 min read

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-wealth-reduces-compassion/
 
Paco Dennis said:

"How Wealth Reduces Compassion​

As riches grow, empathy for others seems to decline

Who is more likely to lie, cheat, and steal—the poor person or the rich one? It’s temping to think that the wealthier you are, the more likely you are to act fairly. After all, if you already have enough for yourself, it’s easier to think about what others may need. But research suggests the opposite is true: as people climb the social ladder, their compassionate feelings towards other people decline."

3 min read

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-wealth-reduces-compassion/
Click to expand...
That's what my parents used to say- always adding 'except the Kennedys..'- and from my limited experiences it's accurate.
 
dseag2 said:
I'll agree and disagree. I don't put wealthy people into one category.

There are many who are wealthy who come from generations of wealth. (Think the crooked Murdaughs in South Carolina.) There are also people, like those you mentioned, who worked hard to earn their wealth. Then there are those like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg who simply had great foresight into what people would want in the future and executed it. Then there are the "influencers" who have done virtually nothing but continue to get rich by understanding their audience. (Think the Kardashians).
Click to expand...
The "influencers" can only survive when a large enough section of society believes that what they say or is of value.
 
Larry67 said:
The "influencers" can only survive when a large enough section of society believes that what they say or is of value.
Click to expand...


Exactly !

And I'll add, part of the problem IMO is that many,many .... lower income to even upper middle income people refuse to accept where they are ..... their place in life. Yes I know that sounds cruel .... but I do not mean it that way .... here me out.

Too many think that just because this or that other person has a larger house, a more expensive car etc. That they are entitled to one as well ....... They refuse to live a "blue-collar" life . Or even an entry level "white-collar" life.

There is of course nothing wrong with ambition , however again opinion .... first direct your ambition towards improving your situation .......... then buy the trappings . But instead so many are so willing to go overboard & in [sometimes] great debt to have the trappings . And those folks are never going to get ahead and in many cases even get on an level keel.

Kind of like a dog chasin' it's tail .......... good luck.
 
My understanding of the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer comes from life experience. I knew a man who won a shrimp picking machine in a poker game. He used the machine to go into the business of cooking and canning shrimp. He made so much money he had to buy another business, to avoid paying too much in taxes. Next year with two businesses, he had to buy another one to avoid paying too much in taxes.

While I was at the other end of the economic continuum. Of course, buying sheets during the annual white sale would saving money, but if a person does not have the money the person can not take advantage of the sale. If you can't afford a home, your rent goes up and up and you never build any equity.

My friend and I would laugh at the money-saving suggestions in magazines because they assumed a budget much bigger than the ones we had, and we laughed about how much better the national budget would be if we were in charge of it. As another friend said, I can pinch a penny until it screams. But I know if I had money; investing it would mean having more of it.
 
Vida May said:
While I was at the other end of the economic continuum. Of course, buying sheets during the annual white sale would saving money, but if a person does not have the money the person can not take advantage of the sale. If you can't afford a home, your rent goes up and up and you never build any equity.
Click to expand...
My mother said when she was a little girl hotdogs were only a nickel, but she didn't have a nickel. That's poor!
 
Pepper said:
My mother said when she was a little girl hotdogs were only a nickel, but she didn't have a nickel. That's poor!
Click to expand...
Mine once related that when she was a little girl, her father gave her a nickel for an ice cream cone which was a rare treat.. but when she walked out into the parking lot the ice cream fell out into the gravel, but she wiped it off and ate it anyway.

I've never gone to those extremes, but it really irks me when people waste food, or anything else for that matter.
 
The growing Disparity of Wealth is one of the biggest problems people will be facing in coming years....ranking right up there with Overpopulation and Climate Change. As the wealth gap widens, more and more "disruptions" will face our society.

Presently, the US. Tax Code consists of over 78.000 pages....99% of which are tax dodges for the wealthy and corporations which allows the wealthy to pay a lower percentage of taxes than the average worker.
 
Paco Dennis said:

"How Wealth Reduces Compassion​

As riches grow, empathy for others seems to decline

Who is more likely to lie, cheat, and steal—the poor person or the rich one? It’s temping to think that the wealthier you are, the more likely you are to act fairly. After all, if you already have enough for yourself, it’s easier to think about what others may need. But research suggests the opposite is true: as people climb the social ladder, their compassionate feelings towards other people decline."

3 min read

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-wealth-reduces-compassion/
Click to expand...

I remember when we thought poverty is a meaningful experience that people born white and middle class could not have. Those of us born white and middle class could play at living in poverty because our parents could help us if we were ready to yell uncle, or we could get a job and work our way out of poverty. Neither of those options were possible during the recession. Parents had to file bankruptcy and there were no jobs.

I learned when the economy tanks, there is a different poverty. This poverty destroys us physically, mentally, and spiritually. It ruins careers, marriages, communities. It went on for so long, I forgot how to think middle class and started to think the lawmakers and law enforcers were the enemy of the people. Boy, was that a shock! I had become afraid of eating our food or burning our wood because I feared when it was gone, there would be no more. I no longer laugh at those old people who survived the Great Depression and never stopped hoarding.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top