The disproportionate tax burden
 

Via Powerline:

The main reason Obama wants to raise taxes on the rich is because no one else is even paying them.

Oh, and if you pay taxes ... you're rich. Go figure.

http://www.powerlineblog.com/archive.../07/020953.php

Why do the rich keep getting richer, and the middle class is stagnant? Because of market forces, or because of a system set up by the govt. that rewards the already rich?

I'm curious--how does the tax code reward the rich? What other aspects of the "system set up by the govt." are you talking about?

I've heard that society is becoming increasingly disparate between the haves and have nots, and that the middle class real income is completely stagnant, while the rich are growing in income leaps and bounds.

My question is "why now"?

Simple. Compound interest. Assume a 3% across-the-board cost of living increase regardless of salary level.

2001: A makes $25K, B makes $250K; a difference of $225K
2020: A makes $45,150, B makes $451,500; a difference of $406,350

Furthermore, the rich have a better understanding of money management and more disposable income to invest in more aggressive portfolios that yield a higher rate of return.

Just as an aside, the salary for my job where I work has been stagnant for about 10 years I believe.

Every year, we are poorer. (eventually you get promoted to another higher benchline, and get poorer every year after that because of no COL increases).

Interestingly, the VA is looking to hire A LOT of psychiatrists because of the huge number of mentally ill soldiers returning from overseas. From my vantage point, a tough sell became even tougher. I don't think they have raised their pay, and they are expecting guys to come it at 50-65% of private practice salary. And they wonder why positions are unfilled.

Because we're moving from republic to empire. Much like the ever warming and cooling earth it's a natural process and nothing to be alarmed about.

At some point, supply and demand is bound to work in your favor.

I agree.

Look at this, it's even worse than I thought. VAs trying to hire psychiatrists at 93k a year.

http://jobsearch.usajobs.gov/jobsear...q=Psychiatrist