Debunking Narratives on "Wealth Inequality"

This is just some random image, so I still don't know what the average person can afford, based on this image.

If I had to derive some idea of real statistics, I would refer to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, which says that the disposable income per capita for the year 2018 was 43,282 in total. Divided by disposable income is 3,606 per person.

LOL

 

Of course. It's tremendously difficult for billionaires to sell their shares. If someone like Bezos suddenly sold billions in shares, the stock would implode!

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, the richest person in the world, is cashing out his Amazon shares at a dizzying pace.

Bezos sold $990 million worth of Amazon shares last Thursday and Friday, new filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission show, after unloading $1.8 billion worth of stock earlier last week. That means he’s sold roughly $2.8 worth of Amazon shares in the past week.
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/08/05/ama...2point8-billion-worth-of-stock-in-a-week.html

Or not.

 

That's not a random image. Google "Mcdonald's budget tool".

When faced with a hypothetical expense of $400, 61 percent of adults in 2018 say they would cover it, using cash, savings, or a credit card paid off at the next statement (referred to, altogether, as “cash or its equivalent”)—a 2 percentage point increase from 2017 (figure 10). In 2013, half of adults would have covered such an expense in the same way. Among the remaining 4 in 10 adults who would have more difficulty covering such an expense, the most common approaches include carrying a balance on credit cards and borrowing from friends or family (figure 11). Twelve percent of adults would be unable to pay the expense by any means. Although so many incurring additional costs for a modest expense is disconcerting, it is possible that some would choose to borrow even if they had $400 available, preserving their cash as a buffer for other expenses.
https://www.federalreserve.gov/publ...-economic-well-being-us-households-201905.pdf

40% of adults can't cover a $400 bill without borrowing. 12% can't pay it at all. $400. Do you see why the claim...

...is laughable (I'm assuming by "invest" you're talking real money and not penny stocks, because if buying some penny-stocks is what you mean by "Anyone can afford to invest in the stock market", that's a really stupid thing to say, so let's cut that excuse out right now. That's not what you meant, is it?).

And in 2017, Gallup found that 54 percent of respondents owned stocks either directly or as part of a fund.

Those findings show a majority owning stocks — a modest majority, but still a majority.
https://www.politifact.com/californ...-khanna/what-percentage-americans-own-stocks/

Look, you got caught talking out your ass. It happens. Admit you didn't mean "anyone" and we can move on. Obviously, if 46% of Americans don't own stock, it's ludicrous to claim "Anyone can afford to invest in the stock market" when 46% of Americans don't own any stock.

 

Thanks for the bump, gets the truth about propaganda narratives to more lurkers. You'll really love the upcoming threads debunking income inequality, racism/white supremacy/Nazis/fascists, feminist lie narratives, climate change, and several others. Stay tuned!

EDIT: need to add one on "the poor" and "working wages" also in light of recent posts with a basis in pure propaganda.

 

I don't understand your argument... At all. We're not talking about covering unforeseen expenses; we're talking about investing in financial assets. Investing, if done right, is relatively inexpensive.

This only refers to the stock market. You can't be this naive to believe that stocks are the only assets you can invest in...

 

You said he could liquidate his entire stake over ten years and maintain 90% of the value, that's flat, dead wrong.

 

Maybe. I don't know how you're able to figure out if someone has the "will," but you can definitely figure out if someone has the knowledge and most people just don't have it.

 

What knowledge do you believe fully functional adults are lacking, specifically? The knowledge of how to save money in order to make decent investments?

 

Yes, you do. Don't play stupid. My argument is obvious. Pay attention.

A lot of people are poor. They don't have money to invest in the stock market in any non-trivial way. Here's an example of people being poor: the government says 40% of Americans can't cover a $400 expense. That's poor! I wonder if that 40% of adult Americans that can't cover a $400 expense ALSO has money to invest in the stock market. I bet they don't. And look! 40% of Americans DON'T own any stock. That's probably because THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT. So it's BS to claim, as you did "anyone can afford to invest in the stock market".

That's a pretty simple argument.

And now comes the goalpost moving. Let's remind anyone following this little pissing contest exactly what you said:

Oh, I didn't mean stocks when I was talking about The STOCK Market. I meant bonds! And credit default swaps! Anyone can invest in those too! Whatever will get me out of this corner I've painted myself into! That's what I mean!

Anyway, it was fun owning you. I'm done.

 

Not necessarily making decent (or even good) investments. Knowledge of different financial assets and investments in general, as well as their unique attributes and their risk.

Before making any good investments, you need to at least know of your options.

 

I love this place. I could read this **** all day.

 

Yeah, that sucks but that has no bearing on anyone's ability to invest. It does only if you believe it cost significantly more than $400 to invest in the market, which it doesn't. You can invest in an annuity for as low as $30 a month.

Also, just because 40% of individuals don't own any stock doesn't imply that they cannot afford it. It just means 40% of individuals don't own any stock.

For example, I don't own any stock, mostly because I'm not allowed to own stock. There are plenty of others in this situation. Others may also not be very knowledgable about investing in stocks.

There is no goalpost moving. Anyone can invest in the stock market; the stock market isn't the only financial market to invest in. These two statements are not mutually exclusive. I'm not sure how you thought you "owned" me. I'm only a licensed investment professional and you're crying about your lack of investment knowledge. If anything, I can help you.

 

That one's going on the propaganda narrative debunk list too, but will probably be covered under "income inequality." Too harebrained and obviously false to get its own thread.

 

Thanks for the bump.

BTW, were you ever going to post anything topical to this thread? It's about the bogus definition (lack of one rather) of "wealth" in statist wealth inequality propaganda narratives.

And BTWBTW, I wouldn't have to debunk all these public union lie narratives if you and yours would -ever- discuss actual -policy- in straightforward ways. All resentment narratives and propaganda, all bun no meat. Same old same old, been this way for 50 years now, it's why you lot lose so much despite all the vote-buying, fraud and numerical superiority.

 

You don't need to invest in penny stocks to have any exposure in the stock market, nor do you need to invest in stocks...

 

Aside from pointing out the more ridiculous things some of you say, no. I'm happy to read your manifesto. Have at it, hoss. Let the debunking begin!

 

The only "manifesto" is the host of self-enriching, resentment-baiting, FALSE propaganda narratives the gov-edu-union-contractor-grantee-trial lawyer-MSM Complex bleats out hundreds of times a day as fraudulent advertisements towards its own growth and power, and to the private sector taxpayer's immense detriment. Waves of it, daily, from gov-edu, public unions, MSM, foreign interests, outright crooks, all want to wet their beaks in the U.S. annual federal tax revenue, the largest pool of money in human history.

The Egg Council lobbies for Egg use. We can pretty much figure out what's going on with their various lobbying and ads. Ask them, they'll tell you... straight up. Buy eggs!
The NRA lobbies for gun rights. We can pretty much figure out what's going on with their various lobbying and ads. Ask them, they'll tell you... straight up. Protect the 2A!
Donald Trump? Play golf at my resort, gamble at my casino, buy my vodka it's the BEST!, buy my 5k real estate course, watch my crappy TV show! etc. Ask them, they'll tell you... straight up. Buy the Trump brand!

The gov-edu-union-contractor-grantee-trial lawyer-MSM Complex doesn't do that though. They take taxpayer funds, infest the national dialogue with an army of public union and other shills, and create endless division with lie narratives designed to make people resentful and hateful, then have the GALL to PROJECT that nefarious activity onto their political opposition. If they simply said "hey, vote for higher taxes, civil servants deserve it!" or "Give hardworking SEIU members more pension!" or "Union Label!" (like they used to), or "Wingwangistan deserves more U.S. aid!" I'd still be opposed, but would understand and respect their honesty.

They don't do that though. They forward a HOST of obviously bogus narratives on everything from race to the environment to wealth to stir up negativity, pit citizens against one another, enrich themselves, bilk the taxpayer, and then lie that the other side are the ones doing it. Even worse than the lie narratives, they send out the same shill army to damage people who disagree, get them fired, boycott their business, doxx their address, violently attack them.

Blessedly, the public is waking up in the net age, and not a moment too soon. The average American voter wants to discuss policy issues specifically, not abstract resentment narratives. Only the dregs are weak-minded enough to fall for all the endless, self-interested lies of the Complex, and that's by design. Days are numbered.

 

But tons of "the poor" can afford

$60 per month - cigarettes/vape
$100 per month - alcohol
$70 per month - cell phone bill
$70 per month - dish/internet/Netflix/ESPN/etc
and however much marijuana and dope costs these days

Imagine if they invested that in something that appreciates, instead of depreciates. <<<<<< That is the key.

 

Jesus, why do you think investment exists? It's so that people without money can purchase capital. Investors have to have something to invest in. Poor people don't invest in others. They invest in themselves. When they are good at it they can turn that self investment into the ability to invest in others. If they are bad at it no amount of cash transfer alone will change that.

A bank lends you money to buy a trailer, a truck, and a mower and you turn that capital into a service that you can sell in the form of landscaping. Their service to you is the deferment of the risk that you're going to be a terrible landscaper and the business will fail.

 

I'm just an average sap, but you know what? There is no need to be jealous of the wealthy. For example, compare Bill Gates to me.

I sleep just as well in my bed as he does in his.
I am just as content with my real estate/house as he is with his.
I can go where I desire to go, just as he does.
The food I eat is just as good, filling and nutritious as his.
I love my spouse and family at least as much as he does his.
My family loves me at least as much as his love him.
I enjoy my friends at least as much as he enjoys his.
I enjoy my hobbies at least as much as he enjoys his.

 

There you have it, the true nature of "wealth" in the United States, and it's so much better overall than the resentment-spreading propagandists would have us believe.

We are all blessed to live when we do and where we do. Not appreciating that is the height of arrogance.

They profit when they convince us to hate and envy each other... and they don't care. They profit when we are miserable... and they don't care. They profit when we are soul-sick and dependent on them... and they don't care. Why should we care about and continue believing and supporting them when they obviously don't care about us?

 

Yes, poor people, you too can live the American dream: No internet, no phone, no TV, no simple vices like booze/pot/smokes. That can all be yours.

Can we get back to real people, who aren't robots, and who ARE going to spend some of the pittance they have on entertainment? Or are you not done shaming their simple pleasures (phone, tv, internet) that you wouldn't deny yourself in a million years?

 

Exactly. I invested half of everything I made when I was 16 and working as a bus boy for less than $3.50/Hr. Investing early and often is the key to get out of poverty.

I just bought another BMW. I am living proof that starting with nothing and working hard and being smart with saving and investing will get you out of poverty.

I didn't have the benefit of youtube videos giving me advice or showing my how to do anything. Our youth today have a real leg up, all they have to do is be smart.

 

Not everyone starts rich, many have to earn it. I had to earn it and I make sure my sons and daughters earn their way with proper guidance. They just don't get whatever they want because others have it.

 

OK, here's "who has what." If you don't like Heritage, that's fine. If you don't have any contra data and want to dismiss this anyway just due to the source alone, that's not fine.