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Wage gap: 1978 average $48K, average 2010 $33.7K.

Posted: Aug 1, 2013

It's far worse if you look at the top 10% of that top 1%. Over the past 30 years ownership of our nation's means of production has become clustered in the hands of a few people, who have simply decided to pay us less and themselves more.

Note that the wage gap has continued to grow dramatically since these data were gathered, which understate our crisis, which threatens the foundations of our nation itself.

So, we're thinking about elections. What are we going to do about it? 300 million of us are in that "average" pool, yet for the past 30, business-overfriendly legislative years the 1% has been "outvoting" us. Obviously the people we have been electing to office stopped representing US a long time ago.

;

McDonald's Corp offered its employees budget - budget advice, with a sample breakdown

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which suggested, among other things, allocating $25/month for healthcare and getting another job. It also, peculiarly, allocated $0 for heating.

Children are not a category. Makes sense. Obviously, these people shouldn't be budgeting to produce a family. But what about those parents who work at McDonald's because the good-paying jobs they trained for have been cancelled? Seemingly food and clothing were also left off altogether, but a spokesman explained that those are thrown into the $27 daily living expense category at the bottom. Hmmm, maybe the existing kids go there too?

But it does show they feel that, as long as you do get that second job and use that daily budget to buy extra blankets, you could get buy on what you were being paid.

Business analysts strongly disagree. But they do agree that for every one who can't make it and drop away into destitution there are plenty more newly-poor Americans who'll try.

In 1978 I did general office for a temp agency at $14/hour. - Gas was $0.68/gal, our house $67K. nm

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Now: office work (with a huge list of requirements) $10/hr. Gas $4.50+/gal, house $250K. - BleedingUsDry

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Depressing. Wish it wasn't the reality in the USA, but it is. Also, many of the clerical jobs, which seem to be $9-12 per hour, are part time with no benefits.

In 1978, I did general office for temp agency for minimum wage - Truthhurts

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In 1984, I was doing inventory control for a major manufacturer whom everyone probably knows for $4.25/hour, but I had profit-sharing, 401K, 5 paid sick days, 2 weeks paid vacation after a year (and it grew via the amount of time...I had built up to a month's vacation by the time I left), and there was a free Christimas party with lobster and filet mignon every year and a summer picnic with free food and drink, plus the boss gave everyone under his supervision a "token" (inexpensive) Christmas present.

I think I was probably a bit older than you, had the - skills, AND I was temping in L.A. But,

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the rest--that's what I remember too. The American Dream was alive. Kids came out of high school and got jobs that could support them. Kids who came out of school prepared with some skills got better jobs and supported themselves in better style is all.

But you posted that in 1978 you were earning $14.00, - Libby

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so, which is it???

Libby, that was me, not Hurts. I also posted just - above, living in L.A., etc. nm

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x

I appreciate your clarification. Thanks. :-) - Libby

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Amen to that! - Nan

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It's disgusting really. 1% owns 80% of all cash and assets, 14% are considered "middle class" and the rest of us are working for shameful wages.

Well, this country will learn as the Romans did. For 600 years they ruled, taxed the people until one day they rose up and said, "NO MORE."

"Oh," the aristocracy said laughing, 'What can you do?"

"We'll burn this baby to the ground."

And they did. History is a great teacher, and our day is fast upon us. What good will all those bazillion dollars the 1% rat-holed when our dollar is deemed worthless? After all, it's just fabric printed for fake worth.

The only pitfall to capitalism is it has no moral compass.

Let's not burn anything, though. Just change the law to - hang 'em up and shake 'em down. :) nm

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Elections seem to have no consequences... - Disillusioned_In_USA

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No matter who is voted in, the results seem to be the same: crap wages, high housing/food/gas/utilities/higher education costs, and a whole lot of finger pointing by our so-called representatives.

And as long as we stay quiet, they will continue - just saying

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this trend. Capitalism makes slaves of us all - I am all for free enterprise, fair markets, etc., but capitalism = corruption and greed and they will continue to throw us breadcrumbs as long as we tolerate it.

UNITE based on what you have in common - don't let wedge issues keep dividing us.

BTW, where did you get your stats? Mine are from the gov't. - Truthhurts

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http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/cola/oldawidata.html

or from here:
http://www.dol.gov/whd/state/stateMinWageHis.htm

Robert Reich. He's doing a documentary on - the wage chasm's whys and hows. nm

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