It has been sais that 5% of all Americans...?

Question

It has been said that 5% of all Americans are pulling the wagon, (in economic terms), while 95% sit in the wagon and demand to be pulled.

Do you agree with this? If not, then what do you see as untrue in the statement?

If you do agree, then who do you think is doing the pulling, and who is doing the sitting?

Answer 1

I disagree with that.

Economically it is 75% pull the wagon.

Those families making $60k-$199k are paying the majority of taxes, while those making more are not paying their share, thanks to the reduction of tax rate for them. One could argue that it is foolish to tax the bottom if all you are going to do is use it to give them back 20% of it and pay 80% of it to goverment employees to manage services for them.

Politically less than 45% pull the wagon, and of that 45% only about 5% are pulling the wagon all the time. The rest of us show up to vote but do not regularly watch what the 5% are doing inbetween elections.

Answer 2

Well, given rush hour traffic on any weekday in my city... and add to that the constant road construction... I'm gonna have to say there's a heck of a lot more than 5% pulling the wagon.  I'm assuming that at least 90% of the folks melting in their cars in stand-still traffic are on their way either to or from some job.  Otherwise, they'd be home enjoying the wagon-ride.

Answer 3

That's rather easy to disprove...just tell the 95% to stop working.  Of course, if you got rid of the top 5%, things would not go so well either.  There's a clue in there somewhere.

Personally, I think the statement is meaningless and philosophical mumbojumbo that any halfwit could make a wide variety of arguements to lend meaningless support to it.  The hard part would be actually demonstrating it to be true.

Answer 4

Community Currency pulls the wagon. Perhaps point is people just suggest ways to pull the wagon but do not follow up. If people made Community Currency on computers though and it was said this could avoid robbery The Rich might object. Also consider how all the money is put in buildings where armed men can walk in and take it. If someone is going to take it anyway why not give everyone free access to it have people make Community Currency for the needs of The Community. Now it can be said rich people have good protection and do not suffer robbery yet tell poor people to accept robbery.

Answer 5

I think your figures are off, I believe that 70% are workers right now 10% are rich and do not labor hard, 20%are on welfare and want more handouts from the Democrats......

Answer 6

I think it's probably more like an 80% - 20% split, but other than that, I think you've got it right.

Answer 7

Do not agree with those figures. The top 5% pay the least amount of tax because they can afford a tax attorney and shelter their income.

The shrinking middle class is the backbone of this country when it comes to taxes.

Answer 8

It is true that the tippiest percent of the population has most of the money. The rest of us arent demanding that they pull the wagon for us, but share the fruits in their wagon that theyre clearly not using. Its unacceptable that some jackass behind a desk can buy mansions around the world, while a child somewhere in america is still hungry even though his parents work full time.

Answer 9

More accurately, in every sales organization, 5% of the salesman rake in 80% of the sales.

5% of all the people in any construction field do beautiful work and make it look effortless.  5% do much better than acceptable work, but look like they work harder at it.  The rest show up (or not) and pretty much put in a day's work.

But most people show up and want to do a good job in return for some reward.  The money may be nice but some people want some reward besides money, maybe the cheesy safety tee shirt or the jacket, or the bonus check at Christmas.

But I disagree that most sit and demand to be carried by the rest.  My union won't tolerate that.  yes there are few T. Boone Pickens' and Bill Gates' in the world.  But I doubt their employees just "sit in the wagon and demand to be pulled."

This country denigrates and discounts the value labor contributes to the economic success of a corporation.  Throw money and a set of blue prints on a vacant lot and see just how fast your house gets built without carpenters, plumbers, electricians, etc.

Answer 10

That statement is based on the ideology that the wealthy support the nation. That is as far from the truth as you can get.

If the wealthy suddenly disappeared, the working class would survive, since they row the boat.

If the working class disappeared, the wealthy would soon starve, since there would be no food to buy.

It is the working class that makes the world work.

Money is not self breeding. Put a lot of money in a box, and come back a year later, and there is the same amount. Money only grows when invested in LABOR! Labor is the key- the ONLY key.

Answer 11

Darn it, I've been walking all this time.  Where is the wagon?

Answer 12

Let's see less than 1% of the population has over 90% of the $$$  corporations run the economy.And as they(corp.'s) ship the jobs overseas you people point  fingers at each other. The Bill Gates of this world make money hand over fist and you people glorify them (billionaires etc.) as demi-gods.Also even in countries in Europe where they have a more socialist system(oooh what a word) and where you're covered if you work or not(ie. Sweden) they'd laugh at you ...if 5% of the pop. made the money you'd be more bankrupt as a nation than you already on your way to.Look at the M.I.C.(military industrial corporation) 1st and continue from there instead of finger pointing at the 5% and 95% .... T.M.M.

Answer 13

The government is pulling the 95% and we are pulling the government and their load together and we are being lied to about everything!

How can you tell if a politician is lying?  His lips are moving!!!

When they call the role in the Senate, the Senators don't know whether to answer "present" or "not guilty!"

Theodore Roosevelt

"I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man."

Thomas Jefferson

"The essential principles of our Government... form the bright constellation which has gone before us and guided our steps through an age of revolution and reformation. The wisdom of our sages and blood of our heroes have been devoted to their attainment. They should be the creed of our political faith, the text of civic instruction, the touchstone by which to try the services of those we trust; and should we wander from them in moments of error or of alarm, let us hasten to retrace our steps and to regain the road which alone leads to peace, liberty and safety." --1st Inaugural Address, 1801.

Thomas Jefferson

"I know my own principles to be pure and therefore am not ashamed of them. On the contrary, I wish them known and therefore willingly express them to everyone. They are the same I have acted on from the year 1775 to this day, and are the same, I am sure, with those of the great body of the American people." (letter to Samuel Smith, 1798)

Thomas Jefferson

"To secure these [inalienable] rights [to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness], governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed... Whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness." --Thomas Jefferson: Declaration of Independence, 1776.