How can we close the income gap between the rich and the poor?

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   alexandriaruthkposted 11 years ago

   How can we close the income gap between the rich and the poor?
   
   Increasing the minimum wage, any suggestion?

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2. 86

   Stacie Lposted 11 years ago

   Some may content that the poor should work for the rich, and others ay they already are, with their sacrifices.
   Societies rich have always exploited those with lesser influence and power.
   I suppose it's the darker side of human nature.
   It may always be the case of the "haves" and the "have-nots" and life is unfair.
   Many rich folks don't feel obligated to help the less fortunate and blame them for their station in life.

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3. 70

   Abby Campbellposted 11 years ago

   I don't know if there is a way to close the income gap between the rich and the poor. I wouldn't necessarily say that minimum wage should be increased, but I would suggest that people work hard whether in low-income or high-income jobs. That is the only way to advance. If one shows good work ethics and the ability to move up the ladder, then he/she will do well. With that being said, we all must live within our means. I have seen "poor" people live rich lives because they spend wisely, and I have seen "rich" people live poorly because they don't know how to manage their money.
   
   With that being said, I do believe we live in a free and capital society where one has the right to make as much money as they wish. That doesn't mean I believe in greed. I have known many "rich" folks as generous people... giving to the poor and charities. In fact, most charities are started because of those who have extra funds. It's also because of the business owner that jobs are created for all. If it wasn't for them, we would all be poor and still farming.
   
   No matter where we are in life, all that truly matters is relationships. We work to feed our families. Greed and exploitation is in every walk of life... poor and rich. Yet, there is generosity and care in every walk of life as well.

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      johnsonrallenposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Couldn't have said it better! There is nothing wrong with making money and becoming wealthy. It's becoming too common these days for the rich to be looked down upon simply for the fact they have more money. Alas, life will always be unfair....

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      duffsmomposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Agreed - well said Abby and johnsonrallen.

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   3. 81

      gmwilliamsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Excellent statement indeed!

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   BahamasFinderposted 11 years ago

   If you are a poor person maybe you should be working a little but harder and not looking for some many hand outs. If you are rich person then you either work very hard or you were born into or married into a rich family then. The rich will always be richer as if they have worked very hard for what they have then they are not going to give it away. If you are the poor then you need to find a better way to help yourself. Maybe it might be just simple getting a better job that will earn you more money, or it might be by spending less money on some thing you currently do, getting a nice second hand dress that will set you apart for a better job, or maybe just getting a second job that will give you a little more money to save.
   The income gap will always be there no mater what we raise the minimum wage to. This is something that has been around for years and will be for many more years still. It is part of what makes people strive to achieve more. It is part of what gives them that goal to reach towards. This is what makes life fair, or unfair if you want to put it that way.

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      Abby Campbellposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      So true! If we all made the same, there would be nothing to strive for... nothing to motivate us to contribute to forming a better society. :-)

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      gmwilliamsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Bahamas, so true.  Many poor people are ENVIOUS of the rich, wishing ....wishing...However, THEY refuse to make the sacrifices that rich and more affluent people make in order to achieve their level of success. W is a four word to many poor people!

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      gmwilliamsposted 4 years agoin reply to this

      HELLO........A RESOUNDING AMEN.   Poor people have to get rid of the owe me & give me mentality.  Poor people must realize that society doesn't owe them anything at all.  Poor people must realize that NO ONE is going nor should support them but themselves.  Too many poor people look to others to support either relatives, other people, charities, or the government.  Poor people have to cease having a childish , dependent mentality & learn to stand on THEIR OWN & ACHIEVE.

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5. 0

   CalebSparksposted 11 years ago

   Income and wealth will never be "equal." Even though so many strive for this fantasy-based ideal, the facts say that wealth will never be evenly spread around---and it shouldn't be. The only way to come close to accomplishing this goal is to confiscate everyone's wealth and distribute it to everyone equally (impossible, by the way). Then, at the end of the day, week, or year, you would find that some people now have more than others. That is life.
   
   We must remember that wealth can be created. It is not something that has a definite quantity. Unlimited potential for creating wealth exists. The fact is that some people have learned to create more wealth than others. This is the way it always will be. This is how a free society operates---with the chance for everyone to find ways to create wealth.

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      Abby Campbellposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Well said, Caleb! :-)

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      gmwilliamsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Caleb, spot on and on target.  Success is for THOSE who plan, organize, strategize, and work SMART. The average rich person worked long and hard to be where HE/SHE is.  Many people refuse to realize this.

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   chef-de-jourposted 11 years ago

   Perhaps the first thing to do is to define rich and poor because these terms are relative and will differ from country to country. But I see where you're going. Yes, increase the minimum wage, this will help, but it should go hand in hand with tax rises for the super rich, who to be frank, get away with murder. The infamous trickle down theories of the 70's and 80's were hollow rhetoric I'm afraid, spun out by politicians who thought that, if you create millionaires all over the place their cash would drip down to the poor! Oh yes??!! How? Not all wealthy people plough their money back into business or private enterprise, most spend it on luxuries or stash it away!! Big surprise.
   
   Successive governments of all colours here in UK for decades have tried all sorts to bridge the gap but even the most good willed of chancellors/politicians can't seem to do it. Increasingly though radical policies to get rid of poverty fail because the big business interests are too strong these days, plus union powers have waned tremendously so there's no push from the left wing to change things.
   
   It seems to me that charity has become the norm for the poorest people in society, which is the way of capitalism...the unacceptable face of capitalism? Food banks, second hand shops, charity stores and all manner of social projects cannot close the raging gap between the haves and have nots.

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   1. 81

      gmwilliamsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      There is ONLY ONE solution: working smart in addition to properly educating oneself to achieve desired goals.  Many people want to be successful but are QUITE LOATHE to make the sacrifices necessary to achieve such success.

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7. 81

   gmwilliamsposted 11 years ago

   
   
   Besides income differences, rich and poor people have different mindsets and psychologies.  Rich people are extremely proactive regarding their life situations.  They work smart, strategize, and think years ahead.  They believe in delayed gratification especially for a more desirable future goal or goals.  They see the world as their oyster and believe that life is what one makes of it.  They also see the world in terms of possibilities.  They view the world as half full instead of half empty.  Rich people strongly believe in the success ethic.  They refuse to believe in the words CAN'T or IMPOSSIBLE.  They believe that they CAN do whatever they put their minds to.  They also DON'T think small. They visualize and achieve BIG.
   
   Poor people think in terms of the present.  This is the culture of poverty mentality, they have no conception of the future nor delayed gratification.  They ACT without considering of the future ramifications of such actions.  They have the victimology mentality. They believe that the world is against them and are subject to the world.  They are extremely passive in their relations to their outer society.  They believe a job is sufficient instead of thinking in bigger terms such as a career. They have an enslaved mentality in terms of jobs and education.  They also inculcate their children to serve instead of being in charge of their lives.  They are oftentimes anti-achievement because achievement is not seen as important in poorer household as it is in more affluent households.   
   
   I do not think that the income gap between the rich and poor will be closed nor should it be.  I strongly believe that in order for the poor to advance themselves socioeconomically, they had to change their innate psychology against achievement and education in addition to adopting a more proactive attitude towards their lives. They have to adopt a CAN DO attitude instead of a CAN'T and VICTIMOLOGY attitude.  They have to have the concepts of accountability and personal responsibility in their lives.  Dr. Ben Carson, the famous neurosurgeon who came from an impoverished family, exemplifed the attitude that one CAN do and be successful if he/she puts her mind to it.  The difference between the poor and rich is that the latter have a CAN DO attitude while the former have a CAN'T and RESCUE ME attitude.

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      CalebSparksposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Interesting thought, GM...psychological differences...

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      Abby Campbellposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      You have analyzed the differences very well, gmwilliams.

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8. 60

   pauley13posted 11 years ago

   You're not being sufficiently specific as to "which wealthy" or "which poor" should be "equalized" - nor what any such equalization should actually mean.
   
   Clearly, many "poor" are poor because of their (poor) choices. Others are poor because they can't (currently) overcome their adverse circumstances. Others still are poor because they're being actively cheated by the powers that be. This is the one "poor group" which is steadily growing in size.
   
   On the other hand, many "rich" are wealthy because of how hard and/or how smartly they work. Other "rich" people are wealthy because they inherited or otherwise "stumbled" upon their wealth. Others still - the majority of the current rich - are wealthy because of legalized cheating and machinations.
   
   Where are the "problem" areas here?
   
   * On the "rich" side, clearly, it's the last group: those who cheat to achieve their wealth.
   * On the "poor" side, the REAL problem are those who are constantly being cheated out of their potential.
   * All the other groups can be left out of the equation.
   
   So now the question can be rephrased: why do people allow themselves to be impoverished by the ultra-rich cheaters?
   
   And all of a sudden, things start coming into focus. You can now ask yourself two followup questions:
   
   * "who are those cheated poor?" - as well as
   * "who are those unfairly rich?"
   
   If you do any sort of impartial analysis, resisting the temptation to apportion blame along party, ideological or economic lines - you will NO DOUBT conclude that the blame rests squarely in TWO areas:
   
   1) The cheaters: The corrupt government (most especially the power elites within the military and security services) which colludes with certain corporations (cronies who are given no-bid nepotistic contracts) as well as with special interest groups, lobbies and... many corrupt unions.
   
   2) The cheated: The useful idiots among the people and their representatives who have NO IDEA that they're being screwed, and yet they applaud virtually all legislation which is being introduced daily with the specific purpose of disempowering... themselves.
   
   By allowing themselves to fall for "capitalism bashing" (without realizing that the situation has NOTHING to do with capitalism, but EVERYTHING to do with socialist totalitarianism), they direct their powerless anger at the WRONG ENEMY. And thus, there is NO CHANCE of EVER "equalizing" incomes - or more appropriately: achieving a FAIR income balance.
   
   Want fairness? Hold the government to account.

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9. 61

   Jay Max Justerposted 11 years ago

   Whether closing the income gap is a good thing requires a separate response.
   
   That being said, the easiest way to close the income gap is simple:
   
   Communism.

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      CalebSparksposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Most politicians have already come to that conclusion...haha...

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      Abby Campbellposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      LOL. Yep!

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    Darrell Robertsposted 10 years ago

    This may seem a bit of an unique answer for this particular forum, but I think that Karma plays a roll in who is rich and who is not rich.  The people who find a purpose and are resolute usually end up with more than the people who want to just take what they get.
    
    However, I do think that some people go too far and try to monopolize resources without regard for others.  I do not think people should make as much as they can if they are not going to use the resources.  By doing this they are making it more strenuous for others who do work hard just to get basic needs. 
    
    Consider how many things are wasted, could we not give away the unused resource in some kind of efficient way and at least help out the lives people who are in unfortunate situations, who may just have had bad karma.
    
    
    Best wishes.

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