(so wrong!) "We don’t have an income gap. We have a stupid gap."

[kpete]

Glenn Reynolds calls this the “comment of the day.” That’s an understatement. For the right wing, it’s the comment of the decade.
http://pajamasmedia.com/instapundit/101928/

A reason for the “wealth or income gap”: Smart people keep on doing things that are smart and make them money while stupid people keep on doing things that are stupid and keep them from achieving.

People who get an education, stay off of drugs, apply themselves, and save and wisely invest their earnings do a lot better than people who drop out of school, become substance abusers, and buy fancy cars and houses that they can’t afford, only to lose them.

We don’t have an income gap. We have a stupid gap.

http://www.samefacts.com/2010/06/watching-conservatives/not-an-income-gap-a-stupid-gap/

[laughingliberal]

1. I'd call it the right wing comment of three decades.

What's most worrisome, however, is seeing this attitude has begun to infect some in our own party since the days of the Reagan.

[Johonny]

2. cause the rich never have substance abuse problems

Like Rush or Beck or Mel or W... oh wait there goes that idea.

[uppityperson]

3. While, as a broad picture, that "those who do better" is true, it isn't the whole pict by any means

Yes, "People who get an education, stay off of drugs, apply themselves, and save and wisely invest their earnings do a lot better than people who drop out of school, become substance abusers, and buy fancy cars and houses that they can’t afford, only to lose them." BUT...

Those who inherit money do a lot better than those who don't. Those born into rich/powerful families do better even when they "drop out of school, become substance abusers, and buy fancy cars and houses that they can’t afford".

And sometimes things happen or change. Only stupid people lose their jobs? Only stupid people get sick?

Bah

[sui generis]

4. it's not black and white no matter how inflammatory.

There is a kernel of truth that given the EXACT same opportunities and access, different people will have different outcomes in what they view as financial and career "success".

Having said that it's not all black and white to OUR side, it needs to be said to THEIR side. They are the party of partial truths - the PTP's, or partial truth people.

Whatever small grain of truth exists in a position they want to defend, they will inflate it to be the entire truth, and that kind of truthiness is just not very honest.

[DBoon]

11. yes, if you follow all their advice

you will most likely (but not always) end up with a reasonable middle-income job

In most parts of the US, (but not all) you will be able to afford to buy your housing

You may have some sort of health insurance, and some provision for retirement. Chances are, you will be able to send your kids to a state college for a degree.

No mistake, you will do *better* by focusing on education, being diligent and disciplined in your job, and frugal with your money

There is a huge difference between "doing better" and "being rich". The ideology of the right wing does its best to obscure this difference.

Acknowledging that great wealth does *not* result from a modest lifestyle and a diligent work ethic would reveal the profound injustice behind the capitalist system.

[laughingliberal]

14. Here's the difference The RW will promote this thinking & deny any help to all lest 1 undeserving

person get some smidgen of help he shouldn't have. My personal view is that there are far more who really need the help and if a few who aren't 'deserving' wind up with a little, it's worth it to protect our most vulnerable.

[Cant trust em]

5. If everyone educates themselves and gets PhD, then who is going to clean the toilets?

If anything, there's a reality gap here.

The world isn't divided between educated high achievers and drug-addled losers. There is this little thing called the working poor who are busting their ass doing things that our society requires to function. We have chosen that these folks shouldn't make a living wage.

[jdlh8894]

8. I thought that was why we had a min. wage.

People living beyond their means should not be the Govt.'s problem.JMO

[Cant trust em]

10. Is the minimum wage the same thing as a living wage?

I don't even think this should just be a government issue. It's a human dignity issue.

[jdlh8894]

13. The govt. seems to think it is.

Otherwise it would be a Living Wage amendment instead of Min.Wage

[Cant trust em]

15. I'm not sure what your point is.

Whatever the government says is right?

[TomClash]

6. For the last 30 years, many middle and working class people have strived to . . . .

" . . . get an education, stay off of drugs, apply themselves, and save and wisely invest their earnings."

So where's their millions? :shrug:

[DBoon]

7. "buy fancy cars and houses that they can’t afford"

is a post-facto judgement.

If you could afford them, then you wouldn't be poor, correct?

If you can afford them, then you are a successful go-getter who is applying your abundant intelligence to making more money.

Lots of sales people drive insanely expensive cars - it's part of the image and also the mindset that they are destined for success.

People have long been "counseled" to buy the most expensive house possible - after all, housing values can never go down and "it's the best investment you can make"

[Arkana]

9. This is so fucking wrong.

Seriously, it's somehow inconceivable that someone who's book-smart could make really bad decisions with money?

[Ikonoklast]

16. I never heard of a millionaire going bankrupt.

They are all too smart for that.

[azmouse]

12. Ed MacMahon earned millions of dollars and died broke.

Having lots of money doesn't mean someone won't mismanage it, just as having little money doesn't mean someone is being irresponsible.