The United States Capitol is under siege by Trump Supporters

[Los216]

We're talking about reducing the wealth gap not eliminating it. You're right there has always been a wealth gap in this nation and always will be, but it has not always been as extreme as it is now and there is no reason for that to continue to be true.

You can absolutely take steps to reduce that gap. There should be no reason why the majority of Americans are struggling through the pandemic to some exten while the richest are actually getting richer. That has everything to do with policies in place and the actions/inaction of our government.

I've noticed that when Black folks talk politics there's always this all or nothing approach. No middle ground and no reasoning. Not all Black folks do this but the majority does. It's like we can only talk from a defensive position.

 

[Loneshot]

Not a single person has said or believes that only raising the minimum wage closes the wealth gap completely.

It's a good start though, because even if the costs of goods raises, you still give the individual the option to afford said goods/services with proper money management. Years ago it didn't feel like saving mattered because wages were stagnant compared to the price of goods/services.

No, not in a meaningful and long lasting way. I've already explained that. If they pass that, and grocery stores, restaurants, and other business affected by the increase raise their prices, that change has effectively been nullified. As was just said by someone else, given how fast the cost of living increases, it won't be long before that minimum wage increase has been eclipsed.

I've said this multiple times and this is the absolute last time I'm saying this. It is a good policy proposal, but by itself it's just a half measure. If I ask you how the Dems are working to decrease the wealth gap and the only thing you can give me is that they are increasing the minimum wage, I don't consider that a satisfactory answer. For a problem like the wealth gap disparity, there needs to be some kind of formal plan and strategy they plan to implement to tackle the issue.

If you can't get what I'm saying after that, I don't know what to tell you.

One thing to consider is that while a higher minimum wage may appear to nullify the individual gain as the prices of goods/services rise, the individual still has more money to decide how to use. I remember working for $6.50 and after taxes and full week of work, I still felt like I couldn't afford important things like transportation, housing, and saving towards a future; sure, people do more with less, but what is often left out of the conversation is the culture we promote throughout the U.S. particularly that faults patience and lack of participation in consumerism; this creates a lot of conflict within individuals as well as fosters resentment towards rich or poor, depending on one's circumstances in relation to either.

So while a higher minimum wage may not solve everything at once, we at least have to take the necessary steps to shorten the economic gap that results from a system that doesn't give everyone an equal chance to earn a comfortable living without destroying their body or self-esteem in the process.

Maybe this is unrelated, but slavery wasn't abolished in the U.S. because it was immoral, but rather it was clear that such a system is more profitable if you alter it to include non-Blacks as well, without the non-Blacks noticing due to their perceived social status in relation to the former slaves.

 

[Focal Point]

I've noticed that when Black folks talk politics there's always this all or nothing approach. No middle ground and no reasoning. Not all Black folks do this but the majority does. It's like we can only talk from a defensive position.

When you've tried to compromise for 100 years plus... well that's the result

 

[Los216]

It's a good start though, because even if the costs of goods raises, you still give the individual the option to afford said goods/services with proper money management. Years ago it didn't feel like saving mattered because wages were stagnant compared to the price of goods/services.


One thing to consider is that while a higher minimum wage may appear to nullify the individual gain as the prices of goods/services rise, the individual still has more money to decide how to use. I remember working for $6.50 and after taxes and full week of work, I still felt like I couldn't afford important things like transportation, housing, and saving towards a future; sure, people do more with less, but what is often left out of the conversation is the culture we promote throughout the U.S. particularly that faults patience and lack of participation in consumerism; this creates a lot of conflict within individuals as well as fosters resentment towards rich or poor, depending on one's circumstances I relation to either.

So while a higher minimum wage may not solve everything at once, we at least have to take the necessary steps to shorten the economic gap that results from a system that doesn't give everyone an equal chance to earn a comfortable living without destroying their body or self-esteem in the process.

Maybe this is unrelated, but slavery wasn't abolished in the U.S. because it was immoral, but rather it was clear that such a system is more profitable if you alter it to include mon-Blacks as well, without the non-Blacks noticing due to their perceived social status in relation to the former slaves.

I don't l know how old some of the people are who comment on the minimum wage but as somebody that worked for $5.85 an hour at a 24 hour fast food restaurant during the recession I can't imagine what I would've done with $15 an hour back then.

A nigga would've been wildin the fuck out. Splurging on everything.

 

[Los216]

When you've tried to compromise for 100 years plus... well that's the result

That's not a good enough excuse. If anything that's one way to hold up progress.

 

[Focal Point]

I don't l know how old some of the people are who comment on the minimum wage but as somebody that worked for $5.85 an hour at a 24 hour fast food restaurant during the recession I can't imagine what I would've done with $15 an hour back then.

A nigga would've been wildin the fuck out. Splurging on everything.

I dig what you're saying, but over here in Jersey, that 15 ain't much when the price of milk, gas, etc go up already and then even more for the business to continue getting its bottom line its use to. That back then would mean prices jumped to compensate or ppl were let go

 

[The Lonious Monk]

One thing to consider is that while a higher minimum wage may appear to nullify the individual gain as the prices of goods/services rise, the individual still has more money to decide how to use. I remember working for $6.50 and after taxes and full week of work, I still felt like I couldn't afford important things like transportation, housing, and saving towards a future; sure, people do more with less, but what is often left out of the conversation is the culture we promote throughout the U.S. particularly that faults patience and lack of participation in consumerism; this creates a lot of conflict within individuals as well as fosters resentment towards rich or poor, depending on one's circumstances in relation to either.

So while a higher minimum wage may not solve everything at once, we at least have to take the necessary steps to shorten the economic gap that results from a system that doesn't give everyone an equal chance to earn a comfortable living without destroying their body or self-esteem in the process.

Maybe this is unrelated, but slavery wasn't abolished in the U.S. because it was immoral, but rather it was clear that such a system is more profitable if you alter it to include non-Blacks as well, without the non-Blacks noticing due to their perceived social status in relation to the former slaves.

I agree. To be clear, I was never arguing against a minimum wage increase. I was only pointing out that it has to be part of a bigger strategy to have any real effect. If you tell me that Biden and the Dems have already addressed the wage gap and are just waiting until they take over to implement the fix and I ask you what they've done to fix it, you answer can't just be "They're going to raise the minimum wage."

And again, to be clear raising the minimum wage isn't really going to affect the wage gap at all. If you're making minimum wage going from $7 and some change to $15 can improve things for you somewhat, but it's probably not going to put you in a position where you can build wealth. Depending where you live, you might be making 6 figures and still not be building much wealth. I think something like 70% of the country is living check to check. Those aren't just minimum wage employees.

 

[Focal Point]

That's not a good enough excuse. If anything that's one way to hold up progress.

The compromise was Reconstruction... see how that turned out

The compromise was Separate but Equal... see how that equal looked

The compromise was Affirmative Action... see who that moreso targets

The compromise was Fair Pay... see the payout ain't change

The compromise was Fair Housing... see where they pushed black folks

The compromise was Civil Rights, didn't ask for Equal/Human Rights... see what happen to get a taste of that

 

[BDP™️]

Before Trump got elected I said once he's out of office finding people in the government who openly admit they supported him is gonna be like trying to get old white people today they supported Jim Crow laws. They gonna try to pretend the shit never happened

great thing about this newfangled tech we have nowdays is that just about everything has a record....

most of these folks in govt have social media accounts and have tweeted and liked and friended and commented on all this shit...

if folks can dig up an anti LGBTQ or racist tweet from a decade ago...

these people cant hide and sidestep.

 

[yenofwu]

We're talking about reducing the wealth gap not eliminating it. You're right there has always been a wealth gap in this nation and always will be, but it has not always been as extreme as it is now and there is no reason for that to continue to be true.

You can absolutely take steps to reduce that gap. There should be no reason why the majority of Americans are struggling through the pandemic to some exten while the richest are actually getting richer. That has everything to do with policies in place and the actions/inaction of our government.

I’m saying you wont close the gap with the current system of government. As long as the rich control the government we will never shrink the gap between the top and the bottom.

I think a more realistic goal is to improve the lives of the lower income American. Just being honest about the goal would go a long way. To say we want the poorest person in America to make at least 34k a year and that 34k a year get you safe housing, quality food, an education and healthcare - have that as a goal....that way rich people dont stand in the way because they dont make it punitive for them.

 

[yenofwu]

They came with the receipts lol. And that’s only a morsel lmao

Love it.....love it love it love. Everyone wants and fights for free speech till they read what people say on the internet.

You cant make Amazon support those statements in the same way you cant make Amazon support porn hub. Irony is rich as Elon....The same people that didnt want to make cake companies make cakes for gay weddings now want amazon to support racist, anti Semitic, or violent people....

 

[yenofwu]

to get rid of the wealth gap........someone needs to give something up.

that aint gonna happen. or maybe i should say i dont see it happening.

would anty of yall give away 25% of your check every two weeks or monthly or how ever yall get paid....for the rest of your life...to the less fortunate?

quite a few of yall making nice money

Nope....honestly- HELL no.

But i give up more than 30% for taxes that get spent in odd ways!

 

[The Lonious Monk]

to get rid of the wealth gap........someone needs to give something up.

that aint gonna happen. or maybe i should say i dont see it happening.

would anty of yall give away 25% of your check every two weeks or monthly or how ever yall get paid....for the rest of your life...to the less fortunate?

quite a few of yall making nice money

This is a really weird take. I already give up like 20% of my check every two weeks. It's called taxes. There is no reason we have to give up additional money to help the less fortunate. They can just use the money we do give more to the benefit of the people than to feed the war machine and other wasteful and useless government initiatives.

I’m saying you wont close the gap with the current system of government. As long as the rich control the government we will never shrink the gap between the top and the bottom.

I think a more realistic goal is to improve the lives of the lower income American. Just being honest about the goal would go a long way. To say we want the poorest person in America to make at least 34k a year and that 34k a year get you safe housing, quality food, an education and healthcare - have that as a goal....that way rich people dont stand in the way because they dont make it punitive for them.

That's not really true. The gap hasn't always been this big in the U.S. In fact, it actually doubled between 1989 and 2016 due to Reagan era policies. The system of government didn't change, they've just consistently passed policies favoring the rich. It's not unrealistic that if got better representation in the government, that they could pass policies that would undo some of the damage done.

 

[TheNightKing]

It’s hilarious to see these junior and new representatives try to make a name for themselves in 30-60 seconds, lol.

Both sides.

 

[yenofwu]

That's not really true. The gap hasn't always been this big in the U.S. In fact, it actually doubled between 1989 and 2016 due to Reagan era policies. The system of government didn't change, they've just consistently passed policies favoring the rich. It's not unrealistic that if got better representation in the government, that they could pass policies that would undo some of the damage done.

But think about it....if i make 1 million a year and you go from 12hr to 15hr and you change my taxes from 20% to 22% did the gap really get smaller? We are talking about orders of magnitudes that are so vast that you can reduce the other a little but that wont bring them closer together from a quality of life or buying power perspective. The wealth gap is so large now that it insurmountable. I think its time to fix the bottom and worry less about equality.

 

[yenofwu]

It’s hilarious to see these junior and new representatives try to make a name for themselves in 30-60 seconds, lol.

Both sides.

Clown show....they talking and no one listening and then when someone else talking they prepping to speak....so NO ONE IS LISTENING. They trying to get sound bites,

 

[yenofwu]

I've noticed that when Black folks talk politics there's always this all or nothing approach. No middle ground and no reasoning. Not all Black folks do this but the majority does. It's like we can only talk from a defensive position.

Generalize much? You must only know one or two black people. We as diverse as anyone else when it comes to politics. I think what you might find is that a lot of black people that study politics speak in specifics and are decisive because we are action oriented. Did i come across as defensive LOL

 

[Los216]

Generalize much? You must only know one or two black people. We as diverse as anyone else when it comes to politics. I think what you might find is that a lot of black people that study politics speak in specifics and are decisive because we are action oriented. Did i come across as defensive LOL

No it's not defensive but the majority of Black people do not participate in our Democratic process. Collectively we are not well versed politically. I'm not talking about small pockets of us. I'm talking about us as a whole.

I mean, how many times on this site alone do you see niggas complaining about voting or representation or how none of this shit is for us anyway. That whole mentality is what leads to the majority of us feeling left out politically and it makes our commentary on the subject seem very all or nothing or aggressive or defensive.

 

[Los216]

 

[Los216]