Do you agree or disagree with the (99 %)?

[animikokala]

I don't know... living is challenging whether you are the 1% or the 99%.

Really?

Goldman Sachs paid its top five executives a total of $69.6 million in cash and stock last year....

El Paso CEO Douglas Foshee is in line for exit pay of $91 million...

Ford paid CEO Alan Mulally more than $26.5 million in salary and stock compensation last year....

Total pay for Comcast CEO Roberts increased 14% to $31.1 million in 2010, while his No. 2, Steve Burke, received $34.7 million in compensation last year.

And these companies are laying off Americans, so the whole "job creators" argument doesn't work. So, exactly what challenges does someone who earns 26.5 million a year face?

More executive pay from the Wall St Journal:

http://online.wsj.com/public/page/executive-pay.html

Their challenge is how to spend all that money, while finding as many tax loopholes as possible.   

[jaymz462]

So basically you say the fault lies with the government.  You hint at a fear of us becoming communistic.  You then say you side with the communists and are in direct opposition to the capitalists.  I don't understand you, instead of rightfully blaming the government for its abuses and intrusions you blame hardworking Americans for their efforts.  Virtually all of the fault with the economy right now lies with the socialistic aspects of our government and its continuing hunger to intrude in our lives and dictate our every action -- instead of blaming and holding them accountable you instead focus on the few Americans who have enough ingenuity to still thrive under such constraints.

That is utter and complete BS.  The economy's in the tank because of things like 1) the Bush tax cuts 2) the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan 3) the criminals on Wall Street taking irresponsible risks and blowing the economy up.  http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=3036

That is a report on the deficit in the government’s budget and not a report on the economy as a whole.  One should not be mistaken for the other. 

You're right, my bad.

[jaymz462]

That said, the economy still got blowed up real good by Wall Street.  They're the ones to blame.  If you want to blame the government, at least acknowledge that the government is largely owned by Wall Street.

[Abrupt]

That said, the economy still got blowed up real good by Wall Street.  They're the ones to blame.  If you want to blame the government, at least acknowledge that the government is largely owned by Wall Street.

Blame?  Like in blame the gambler for losing a hand of cards?  I don't quite think that sort of comparison works out.  Wall Street is a lot about risk vs reward and loss will happen.  If you have invested your money you can never expect to be guaranteed profit at no risk...and if that is what you want then you may as well sleep with your money in your mattress.

If the government is owned by Wall Street then the problem falls on us as citizens since we are the ones who give the government power.  It is our faults for not vetting our leaders properly.  It is our fault for allowing our government to become so large that it has its tendrils in so many areas that it actually makes us vulnerable to excessive risk and to corruption.  If the government kept to it's confinements as enumerated in The Constitution then there would be little concern for Wall Street attempting to "own" the government as it would be to no avail since there would be no gain in having persuasion over an entity that has nothing to do with you.  These things were warned about by our founders and anyone who has the patience to tolerate reading "The Federalist Papers" will see so much of what was warned about in existence now.

Blame Wall Street?  Don't be ridiculous.  If you want to blame the correct person go look in the mirror and have at it.

[mawhite63]

Their challenge is how to spend all that money, while finding as many tax loopholes as possible.   

LOL! You're so right, I should have more empathy. I'm sure it's a heavy burden

[Tooee]

I have to agree with Abrupt on this one. Very valid points.