Thursday, September 16, 2004
Two Americas / Lots of Phony Statistics
Poverty rates, income gaps, and tax rates "for the rich" are old staples of the Socialist obsession. In our own times, the tamer kindred spirits of the "revolutionary" cause continue their rants on the injustice of living in the wealthiest country in the world. As it turns out, in non-dictatorships there are actually a variety of incomes, including "rich" and "poor" (how "unjust!").
Each year, statistics are trumpeted in the press suggesting to the reader that vast numbers of us are poor, hungry, oppressed, and cheated on our rate of tax burden. Compared to a few decades ago, most of us now have computers, cell phones, and varieties of other
conveniences (some which didn't even exist in earlier years) but, somehow it's all purchased on lower incomes? Those tallied as poor, in the agenda-laden world of statistical analysis, live better than most humans have in most of human history. Because of such horrors of improvement the happy days of non-stop work and early death are long gone.
The Left needs the class rant. The more miserable we are, or think we are, the more they can impose the "helpful" authority of the true ruling class -- armchair philosophers, politicians, and demagogues.
As it turns out, more than a few economists (those with less love for the state) occasionally set the record strait on such matters. Thomas Sowell is one, whose insights and writings on a variety of subjects is required reading for anyone who's suspicious of perennial claims that we live in a society of mass "economic injustice."
Another economist who respects honesty and accuracy in his analysis is Walter Williams who often reveals to his readers the fallacies and urban legends of our economic times.
Guess what? The "poor" don't pay income taxes at all! You wouldn't know that basic fact from the "Two Americas" speech of John Edwards or most of the whining screeds from Journalism-world.
Income Inequality is one of many articles in which Walter Williams brings some insight and justice to the real world of our economic times. If we're not groveling in destitution there is no need for the "help" of politicians. Maybe they'd have to get real jobs and mind their own affairs. Don't count on it. Remember, there's "Two America's" -- and some people actually believe it.
Each year, statistics are trumpeted in the press suggesting to the reader that vast numbers of us are poor, hungry, oppressed, and cheated on our rate of tax burden. Compared to a few decades ago, most of us now have computers, cell phones, and varieties of other
conveniences (some which didn't even exist in earlier years) but, somehow it's all purchased on lower incomes? Those tallied as poor, in the agenda-laden world of statistical analysis, live better than most humans have in most of human history. Because of such horrors of improvement the happy days of non-stop work and early death are long gone.
The Left needs the class rant. The more miserable we are, or think we are, the more they can impose the "helpful" authority of the true ruling class -- armchair philosophers, politicians, and demagogues.
As it turns out, more than a few economists (those with less love for the state) occasionally set the record strait on such matters. Thomas Sowell is one, whose insights and writings on a variety of subjects is required reading for anyone who's suspicious of perennial claims that we live in a society of mass "economic injustice."
Another economist who respects honesty and accuracy in his analysis is Walter Williams who often reveals to his readers the fallacies and urban legends of our economic times.
Guess what? The "poor" don't pay income taxes at all! You wouldn't know that basic fact from the "Two Americas" speech of John Edwards or most of the whining screeds from Journalism-world.
Income Inequality is one of many articles in which Walter Williams brings some insight and justice to the real world of our economic times. If we're not groveling in destitution there is no need for the "help" of politicians. Maybe they'd have to get real jobs and mind their own affairs. Don't count on it. Remember, there's "Two America's" -- and some people actually believe it.
