@linxminx A report on this very issue was given on NPR this morning. One Rick Hanauer was interviewed. Here is his TED talk on this very issue. [npr.org]
I recently made a post in uncommon words and the word was "Cliodynamics." This came from an article in the "Atlantic" 'The Historian Who Sees the Future.' [theatlantic.com] "Of the three factors driving social violence, Turchin stresses most heavily “elite overproduction”—­the tendency of a society’s ruling classes to grow faster than the number of positions for their members to fill. One way for a ruling class to grow is biologically—think of Saudi Arabia, where princes and princesses are born faster than royal roles can be created for them. In the United States, elites over­produce themselves through economic and educational upward mobility: More and more people get rich, and more and more get educated. Neither of these sounds bad on its own. Don’t we want everyone to be rich and educated? The problems begin when money and Harvard degrees become like royal titles in Saudi Arabia. If lots of people have them, but only some have real power, the ones who don’t have power eventually turn on the ones who do.."

In looking into this issue I noticed a majority of the ultra-wealthy recognize this problem and actually want more taxes on the wealthy. I lived in Seattle and one huge proponent for a state income tax for the wealthy was William Gates, Bill Gates father. Time and time again corporations put out propaganda to the 'lower' classes that such a tax would eventually trickle down to the average Joe and, because people believed it the tax did not pass. Year after year and always the same result.

@JackPedigo The problem with an income tax on just the wealthy they'll take it to court and win on discrimination. In order to avoid that the the lower income people will have to be taxed, now there can be minimum threshhold but it's usually set at the federal poverty level which, excuse my language, is afucking joke. The real problem is the elite thinking of the elite. I don't think they really have the concept of discretionary income, how once ALL the bills, the necessities, etc. are paid for whatever is left you can save, spend, count, enjoy, etc. 90% of Americans have nothing left or do not even have enough to cover ALL the bills, the necessities, etc. They are not paying taxes or not much and this is what the elites want to be able to pay no taxes just like the poor. It's the poor folks fault they are poor. AHHHHHHHHHHH

@silverotter11 Granted the era of continued lowered taxes on everyone has wrecked havoc with this country and its infrastructure. BUT if the wealthy continue to get their taxes reduced so should everyone else. It's called fairness. Too many politicians feed off people greed and promise to lower taxes an, of course, the stupid people vote for that person (Ronald Reagan was one prime example but, in the end taxes actually went up). Living in Europe and knowing what they pay in personal income taxes and also working for a major public accounting firm I know that our taxes are a pittance compared to other 'civilized' country's. One thing that helped us to stay afloat was we had one of the highest business taxes for developed countries and now through manipulations from the wealthy that is gone. We are scrapping the bottom of the barrel and it has to change if we've any hope. I just noticed this on Yahoo news [yahoo.com] Notice how it's framed as putting another nail on the coffin. Business influence and people's stupidity are only making matters worse. We absolutely must go back to a more progressive tax structure. It is only fair to the rest of the citizens of this country and it is the only thing that may save us from our own stupidity. Seems, though little has changed from the civil war when the wealthy plantation/slave owners conned the poor into sending their people to fight and die for a corrupt cause.

@JackPedigo I saw this when i checked in on the National Review. Terribly right but at least is not as bad as some right wing crap. This was the basis for my comment. The wealthy are in their own world very far removed from someone like me. I agree if you reduce taxes for one group all should be reduced. BUT a progressive tax similar to what we had at one time and your last sentence is absolutely correct.

@silverotter11 One big problem is that a lot, maybe even the majority, of wealthy see what their low taxes are doing to the country. Unfortunately corporations (like Boeing) rely on big tax breaks and oppose any additional taxes on the wealthy.

@JackPedigo Are you saying the wealthy see what their low taxes are doing to the country and like poor people suffering? We had great manufacturing jobs and lots of them before reagan. Yes they pay high taxes but they still made money and all boats were more apt to float. NOT say we should go back to corporations pays taxes that high but where they are at now is IMHO too low.

@silverotter11 No, I never said they like to see people suffering r the infrastructure crashing (remember they also depend on the infrastructure). Many are aware and even say so. I have read several articles by the wealthy (even the TED talk I posted was from one of these people). They also feel helpless to change the system.
One thing that bothers me is that if these people paid to the government what they pay for high price attorneys and/or accountants to save them money we would all be in better shape.

@creative51 You don't need to be smart to persuade stupid people... His "win" in no way means he's intelligent.

And no more draft dodgers or anyone with a dishonorable discharge from the armed forces.

@JeffMurray And he has proven his stupidity and extreme mental illness many times.

@SeaRay215ex He's probably had plenty of dishonorable discharge over the years.

The current president didn't so much pass that test with flying colors, as by the threat of flying colors - they either gave him a passing grade or he threw his crayons at them, like a raging monkey with a bucket of shit.

Me too. There are a lot of things that can get us and one or more of them eventually will.

We're playing against the house and the "gambler's ruin" principle applies.
As we play, our fortunes get better or worse over time. Sometimes we're ahead, sometimes we're behind. And at some point we will fall so far behind that we literally can't continue -- we will have lost all our money (or our lives). Then the game ends.

I'm afraid all we can do is delay that reckoning as long as we can (I'm pretty sure I won't live to see it).
And personally, I prefer to help as many others as I can in their experiences rather than harm them.
In the end that's all we have -- you can't take it with you. (Ok. Rant over.)

well if you have a time machine go back further and save a lot of pain caused to women and girls that have been molested by the orange garbage pile. Just a thought

@oldFloyd Lets go even further, Lincoln does not get shot and the country continues with reconstruction and actually deals with the issue of slavery and the devaluing of ALL other humans that are not white, male, god fearing landowner business types with wealth.

@creative51 Oh hell let's go a little more and trash em before before they get here.

@creative51, @silverotter11 That's a very good point.

Actually years with all the courts that Moscow Mitch and the obstructionist republican fascists have filled with so many unqualified fascists!!!

I think she meant the "new" year as the Biden inauguration.