The Wealth of the ONE PERCENT (1%)

A version of this article first appeared in CNBC’s Inside Wealth newsletter with Robert Frank, a weekly guide to the high-net-worth investor and consumer. 


The wealth of the top 1% hit a record $44.6 trillion at the end of the fourth quarter, as an end-of-year stock rally lifted their portfolios, according to new data from the Federal Reserve.


The total net worth of the top 1%, defined by the Fed as those with wealth over $11 million, increased by $2 trillion in the fourth quarter. All of the gains came from their stock holdings. The value of corporate equities and mutual fund shares held by the top 1% surged to $19.7 trillion from $17.65 trillion the previous quarter.

While their real estate values went up slightly, the value of their privately held businesses declined, essentially canceling out all other gains outside of stocks.

The quarterly gain marked the latest addition to an unprecedented wealth boom that began in 2020 with the Covid-19 pandemic market surge. Since 2020, the wealth of the top 1% has increased by nearly $15 trillion, or 49%. Middle-class Americans have also seen a rising wealth tide, with the middle 50% to 90% of Americans seeing their wealth increase 50%.  READ MORE...

Wealthy To Pay More

California will soon become the first state to determine residents’ electricity fees based on their income as part of a new effort to spur households toward full electrification and bring down the state’s soaring electricity costs for low-income Californians.

Electricity bills are made up of fixed costs as well as fees that vary based on the amount of electricity residents use. Last year, the state passed a law giving the California public utilities commission a 1 July 2024 deadline to determine a fixed charge for household electric bills based on people’s income.

The new income-based electricity bills could hit residents’ mailboxes as soon as 2025. Based on proposals currently under consideration, residents who make more than $180,000 a year could pay about $500 more annually on their electricity bills, while Californians who make less than $28,000 annually could save up to $300 a year. The law is part of the state’s answer of how to equitably transition away from carbon as an energy source.

But state officials are already facing backlash from higher-income residents who don’t want to see their bills increase. The proposals have so far received more than 250 public with large number opposing the law.  READ MORE...

The Wealthy Dump Luxury Properties

The rich are now paying attention to prices and their income, lament high-end agents in hotspots like Miami and San Francisco. "It's pretty sudden," one said.

After a decade of feeling invincible, the tech industry is suddenly facing something new: financial insecurity. Valuations are down, layoffs are up, startup funding no longer feels limitless, and an air of fear has started to permeate the sector, as bosses and workers alike adjust to a harsher version of reality.

In cities like San Francisco, New York, and Miami, luxury real estate agents are starting to notice the effects of the tech downturn on their business, they tell Motherboard, as wealthy tech clients grapple with the fact that raises, bonuses, and job offers no longer seem as inevitable as they did a few months ago.

“The elephant in the room these days is that there's a recession coming,” said Karley Chynces, a blockchain-focused real estate agent at Sotheby's International Realty in Miami.

Nationally, rising interest rates for home loans have combined with record home costs to price out potential homebuyers. But within the pockets of the country where tech workers tend to throw money down on housing, interest rates are less of a concern than the decline of tech stocks and the constant barrage of layoff announcements, according to conversations agents have had with their clients.  READ MORE...

Social Justice

Social justice refers to a political and philosophical theory that focuses on the concept of fairness in relations between individuals in society and equal access to wealth, opportunities, and social privileges.

The five main principles of social justice include: 

• access to resources
• equity
• participation
• diversity
• human rights

SOCIAL JUSTICE implies that American Caucasians are privileged and have always had and will continue to have the advantage over all other minorities because all of the founding father were Caucasian and owned slaves...

Is this correct or incorrect?

Is this truth or not truth?

What I don't understand is the fact that there are many multimillionaires who are BLACK and earned their wealth in professional sports, professional music, professional actors/actresses, business owners, entrepreneurs, politicians, news anchors, college and university professors, and a plethera of publicly elected officials.

We already have social justice here in America, it is just that some BLACK do not have what it takes to be successful and financially wealthy...  the same holds true for caucasians and other minorities...  it is a personality issue not a social justice issue.

Why do so many Americans who are not successful in life commit crime and violence?

Behavior of the Wealthy

Money, and the dogged pursuit of it, have been known to change an individual. There’s even a term for it — affluenza — which is a combination of affluence (wealth) and influenza (disease). According to Affluenza: The All-Consuming Epidemic, it’s the “the damage done — to our health, our families, our communities, and our environment — by the obsessive quest for material gain.” But, how exactly does money affect rich people?

Wealthy people may have less empathy than those belonging to lower socio-economic classes — the latter was found to be better at reading others’ facial expressions, which is considered an important marker for developing empathy, according to research published in the journal Psychological Science. 

“Lower-class environments are much different from upper-class environments,” study co-author and social psychologist, Michael Kraus, told Time. “Lower-class individuals have to respond chronically to a number of vulnerabilities and social threats. You really need to depend on others so they will tell you if a social threat or opportunity is coming and that makes you more perceptive of emotions.”

This lack of empathy in wealthy people has also been recorded in other social experiments: drivers of luxury cars were found to give pedestrians the right of way three times less than those driving less expensive vehicles; wealthy car drivers were also four times more likely to drive rashly and cut off others on the road, according to psychologists at the University of California, Berkeley. 

Another experiment from the same group of researchers involved two individuals playing Monopoly, in which one player received more fake money at the start of the game than the other. The player with more money initially showed discomfort with the inequality of the game rules, which slowly dissipated as the game went on: the more fake wealth the player accumulated, the more aggressive he got toward the other player, made fun of him and showed off his wealth, which had been distributed unequally in the first place. 

Even being exposed to money-related words and phrases can affect individuals’ thought processes and make them more prone to taking unethical decisions, such as lying, according to a study by Harvard University and the University of Utah researchers. “Even if we are well-intentioned, even if we think we know right from wrong, there may be factors influencing our decisions and behaviors that we’re not aware of,” study co-author and University of Utah professor Kristin Smith-Crowe told MarketWatch.                       READ MORE...

Rainy Day Thoughts

 It is raining in the Valley today and quite naturally my thoughts turn to recent events of which we must all by now be aware...  Jussie Smolett was convicted on 5 of the 6 charges related to lying to the police about being mugged...

What I found most interesting about this case is that former President Obama, Presidential candidate Biden, and Vice Presidential candidate Harris ALL STATED how horrible it was for something like this to have happened here in America and blamed it all on President Trump for causing all this hatred to flourish.

Two years later and we find our that Jussie Smolett LIED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, neither Obama, Biden, or Harris are commenting...  GO FIGURE???

FIRST THOUGHTS:  Should leaders jump to conclusions?

But...  what gets to me more than anything else is how EVERYONE has been and continues to blame Trump for everything...   now, I did not vote for him mind you, but I think the way he was treated was horrible, especially when one compares Trump to Biden in terms of accomplishments.

Thanks to Biden, we now have:

• Highest inflation in 40 years
• Highest Illegal Immigration in our history
• A Supply Chain Shortage
• Increases in urban crime and violence
• Influx of illegal drugs from Mexico
• Distrust of all our Allies
• Repercussions of an Afghanistan withdrawal debacle
• CRT being taught in public schools
• Highest government spending ever
• Potential of tax increases
• Highest debt level ever
• Judging people on color not character
• People leaving law enforcement
• A weakened military
• A decreasing quality of education
• A reduction of STEM students

Did Jussie Smolett cause all of this?  HELL NO...

Did Trump cause all of this?  HELL NO...

America is being influenced by Liberals, Progressives, and Radical Blacks who apparently do not like America as she presently has developed...   Sadly, no matter what anyone does whether it is conservatives, liberals, progressives, or blacks, THE WEALTHY will continue to get WEALTHY...  that is just the way that economies aamre set up...  The only way to keep the wealthy from getting wealthy is to have our FEDERAL GOVERNMENT own everything...

Can you imagine our Federal Government owning:

• Microsoft
• Apple
• Dell
• The Stock Market
• ALL Banks
• Walmart
• Lowes
• Hollywood
• All music companies
• Sam's
• Starbucks
• Dillards
• John Deere
• All airlines
• All Train companies
• All commerical bus companies
• All Trucking companies
• All grocery stores
• All Professional Sports Teams

UNFORTUNATELY, most of us 80%-90% WILL NEVER BE WEALTHY no matter who owns what...

Democrats cannot stop the wealth

Republicans cannot stop the wealth

Progressives cannot stop the wealth

Blacks cannot stop the wealth

Socialism cannot stop the wealth

We Didn't Start The Fire

 

Listening to the lyrics of this song brings back memories of the 60's...     70's...    80's...    etc.     Lyrics  to  songs  about our past cause me to reflect upon the fact that very little has actually changed in the United States and throughout the world, except for maybe  the INTERNET and TERRORISM...  Millionaires and Billionaires and immigration...   wages have not  really increased proportionately to those of management... 

• Governments start fires
• Wealthy people start fires
• Rebels start fires
• Politicians start fires
• Hatred starts fires
• Progress starts fires
• Technology starts fires
• Education starts fires
• Incompetence starts fires
• Religions start fires
• Ignorance starts fires

WHAT FIRES HAVE YOU STARTED???

Against Big Government and Their Controls

 

There are basically two groups of people living here in the United States and each group has their little spinoffs...  these two groups are:

Those who favor BIG GOVERNMENT (50%)

Those who favor SMALL GOVERNMENT (50%)

It would appear that the United States is equally divided in what it believes and what it wants which in a way is damn near perfect because one side does not control more than the other side...

However,

our Federal Government SHOULD NOT TELL US what we should or should not do with our bodies...

that is to say:

1. if a woman wants to get an abortion she should be allowed to get an abortion
2. if a male/female does not want to get a COVID vaccine they should be allowed to do so
3. if a male/female want to take illegal drugs they should be allowed to do so
4. if a male/female wants to drink alcohol they should be allowed to do so
5. if a male/female wants to smoke cigarettes they should be allowed to do so
6. if a male/female wants to own a firearm they should be allowed to do so
7. if a male/female wants to become a terrorist they should be allowed to do so
8. if a male/female wants to sell illegal drugs they should be allowed to do so
9. if a male/female wants to speak out against the government they should be allowed to do so
10. if a male/female does not want to pursue an education they should be allowed to do so
11. if a male/female wants to get themselves into endless debt they should be allowed to do so
12. if a male/female does not want to pay higher taxes they should be allowed to do so
13. if a male/female wants to change genders they should be allowed to do so
14. if a male/female wants to believe in communism they should be allowed to do so
15. if a male/female wants to worship their God(s) they should be allowed to do so
16. if a male/female hates other races or ethnic groups they should be allowed to do so
17. if a male/female wants to organize a movement to defund the police they should be allowed to do so
18. if a male/female believes the US Constitution should be written they should be allowed to believe that way
19. if a male/female steals something from someone else they should be allowed to do so (but punished)
20. if a male/female wants to be homeless they should be allowed to do so

The United States...  IN ALL ITS GREATNESS...  has not been able to prevent the WEALTHY from CONTROLLING all of those individuals and couples that are NOT WEALTHY...

The BIGGEST PROBLEM in the United States is NOT politics, employment, education, or healthcare...  it is all the MILLIONAIRES AND BILLIONAIRES who invest their monies in CONTROLLING AMERICANS...

Back Porch Recollections

 

Some people question my need to discuss stupid politics when there is not a damn thing that I or anyone like me can do about it...  but, I tell them that it is my right to speak out...  and while I am not displaying any form of civil disobediance, I am opposed to the assinine behavior of so-called intellectual democrats and wonder why they are so hell-bent to F_ _ K up this country...

Many of are worried about BLM and CRT but these are just temporary FADS that are designed to pacify these minorities until the wealthy have a chance to decide what the hell they want to do with them...

One of our biggest concerns is:

IMMIGRATION

which is followed by

INFLATION

which is followed by

CHINA's ECONOMIC THREAT TO USA

which is followed by

OUR NATIONAL DEBT

which is followed by

OUR DIVIDED COUNTRY

which is not really followed by anything else because this is enough shit for us to concern ourselves with at one time...

Now here's another question:  Do you think any of our MILLIONAIRES or our BILLIONAIRES are really worried about any of this...  HELL NO...  and, why should they be...  none of this is really going to impact them in any way shape or form...

What happens and has been happening in this country for the last 100 years is the fact that the MIDDLE CLASS and the LOWER CLASSES are the ones that actually DO ALL THE WORK and the ones that DO ALL THE SUFFERING...  whether it be health wise or financially...

AND YET, the wealthy in their cleverness has arranged this current situation where we are fighting ourselves INSTEAD OF THEM...  and, it would not surprise me at all if they are sitting in their estates laughing their asses off at us...

Personality Traits of the Wealthy

"Wealth consists not in having great possessions," the Stoic philosopher Epictetus once said, "but in having few wants." Sounds wise.

But that doesn't keep people from wanting to be rich. Even though we all define wealth and success differently, most of us factor at least some degree of wealth into our success equations. (If nothing else, money creates choices.)

So how, if financial success is your goal, can you get rich? Science says the answer lies not just in what you do, but also in who you are. According to a 2018 study published in British Journal of Psychology, rich people are definitely different.

Especially where personality traits are concerned.
For example:

1. Rich people tend to be extroverted. No surprise there. Since no one achieves anything worthwhile on their own, the ability to engage with others, to build relationships, to motivate and inspire, and to genuinely connect is definitely important. (Just keep in mind introverts can also be extremely successful.)
2. Rich people tend to be more conscientious. Also not a surprise. Making smart decisions. Delaying gratification, and focusing on long-term goals. Doing what you need to do instead of only what you want to do. Even marrying well, but not in the way you might think: Research shows that people whose partners are conscientious tend to earn more promotions, make more money, and feel more satisfied with their work. (As Jim Rohn says, we tend to be the average of the people we spend the most time with.)
3. Rich people tend to be more emotionally stable. Making emotional decisions? Definitely a recipe for slowing progress toward long-term goals.
4. Rich people tend to be less neurotic. When you're quick to respond in a negative way, with anxiety, moodiness, worry, or fear -- what psychologists call "negative arousal" -- it's much harder to be successful.
5. Rich people tend to be more self-centered. While that sounds like a bad thing, there is this: As Adam Grant says, humble narcissists have very high expectations for their own success -- but they also understand that great achievements are almost always the result of collective efforts. That makes for a winning combination: Believing you can achieve big things helps you get started; knowing you need other people to make it happen helps you finish.  TO READ MORE, CLICK HERE...

Don't Give A Damn No Mo'

Livin' off the government and lovin' it... 

I retired during the Presidential administration of Donald Trump and only began to LIVE LARGE under the new Presidential administration of Joe Biden...

...excerpt for the Harry Belafonte song ZOMBIE JAMBOREE

Already talking
Back to back, belly to belly
I don't give a damn, I done dead already
Oho back to back, belly to belly

It would appear that America is DONE DEAD ALREADY... and, we don't give a damn...

Sometimes...  when I not sitting at home doing nothing...  I wish that I were working...  so I could be laid off and collect unemployment in the amount of more than what I would be earning working, so I can stay at home doing nothing...

I really like DEMOCRATS who take money from the WEALTHY and redistribute it to the NOT SO WEALTHY...  because every time they do that, my wife and I benefit...  and, I really don't give a damn if this approach hurts our country or not because, being retired, allows me to SIT BACK and just look at those who want to work, spend 60+ hours at work, leaving them only a little time at home with their families, unable to really enjoy what their money is buying them...

GO DEMOCRATS GO...

Raising Taxes

PERSONALLY...  I really really really really really really like the idea of the WEALTHY paying more in taxes so the rest of us lazy slobs can continue to be lazy; BUT, unless you are like Bezos, Gates, or Zuckerberg who are actually thrilled at the prospect of pay more taxes to an inefficient, incompetent, depressed Federal Government, then you are going to find some way to HIDE your frigging money away from the prying eyes of the IRS, typically in offshore bank accounts or relocating your operations to a jurisdiction that has less taxes, so that you can in turn sell your lower cost goods to an unsuspecting American public at a substantially higher profit than you were earning before...

Come to think of it, you might be the ones who are encouraging the Democrats to raise taxes...

It does my heart good to see wealthy people, especially those who are arrogant and egotistical and look down their noses on the rest of us to finally be backed into a corner by a halfwit Democratic President and a Vice President who thanks the good Lord that she WAS NOT born white.  But, I have no idea is she really believes in a higher power or not, so I cannot say that this comment has any merit to it or not.

All I can say now is that it is a good thing that Forrest Gump was released in 1994 and not 2021 because if it were the latter then it would have been cancelled before the first seat ticket was sold.

Ain't Nothing Free

When I attended Graduate School to pursue an MBA, my Economics Professor, Dr. Peter Peacock lectured to the class that there was no such thing as a FREE LUNCH...  from the standpoint that someone had to pay for the lunches that others got free...  I am sure that there were many lessons learned from his class but this lesson is the one that stayed with me all my life.

So...  when our Federal Government says that its citizens will now be receiving free education or free healthcare or free meals...   someone else in the country will be paying for that who may or may not want to give people free education or free healthcare or free meals because they had to earn the money and pay for all of that themselves...  so why can't these other people do the same?

Our Federal Government using the TAX Codes and Laws steals money away from others for these purposes...   I say steal because our Democratic Republic from of governments has been authorized by the US Constitution to protect us, negotiate trade deals and treaties with other governments, and enforce the laws but really nothing else.

It is not the government's responsibility to provide:

• public education
• public housing
• public mail service
• public healthcare
• public transportation
• public parks and recreations
• Social Security
• Unemployment Insurance

And yet...  this is exactly what our country does...  and, they do this by collecting taxes...  and, anytime the Federal Government want to offer more to its citizens, in order to do that they need to raise taxes or reduce spending in other areas which is not an option.

The question is, what do WEALTHY people think about giving more money because the rest of us are basically lazy and do not want to work as hard as they do.

If you have a wealthy relative how often do they volunteer to share their money with you?  Typically, if you want any of their money you have to ask for it...  and, when you do ask for it, they typically then RESENT the fact that you have asked.

BUT, our Federal Government can TAKE THEIR MONEY whether they like it or resent it or not...  however, most of the wealthy people have their money in tax shelters and AVOID paying more taxes...  and, one would think that our GOVERNMENT would finally realize that they are GETTING PLAYED by the wealthy.

Not Our Fault

There is a crisis at our Southern Borders with the influx of Immigration from Mexico, Central and South America, many of whom cross over into the United States illegally and President Biden says that it is not my fault...  even though it is on his watch that it is happening...  and, even though he has reversed all the restrictions that the previous administration had imposed...  yet, it is not his fault...

I don't mean to be rude, but that is a careless, reckless, and a totally irresponsible and illogical statement to make...

How many days, months, years will it take for the present administration to STOP BLAMING THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION?

AND...  how long will it take for mainstream media to come to their senses and realize how stupid these comments really are because it does not reflect the reality of the situation...

The irresponsible mainstream media believes beyond a shadow of a legal and reportable doubt that:::>

• Liberals good
• Conservatives bad
• Democrats good
• Republicans bad

💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛

The Liberals, Democrats, and Progressive Democrats basically believe that a large Federal Government is good while a small Federal Government is bad...  and that everything that society needs should be paid for by the wealthy regardless of whether or not the wealthy approve of that logic.

First...  let me state that government bureaucracy is more incompetent than it is competent.  Government workers are not effective or efficient in their output because being fired or reprimanded is never going to happen so why should they work hard?

Second...  the wealthy for the most part is not stupid or ignorant and knowing that they are going to be heavily taxed by the Democrats, understand that they MUST HIDE THEIR MONEY in tax shelters to substantially reduce their tax burden.

Third...  the rest of the world does not give a shit about our internal problems other than the fact that it is easier to take over and/or surpass a divided country than it is a united country.

Fourth.... having a little debt is necessary and offers a certain degree of financial leverage but having a lot of debt is financially irresponsible and will eventually bite those in debt in the ASS and that bite is like a snapping turtle...  it ain't about to loosen its grip.

It's Just The Way It Is

It really does not matter what our Federal Government wants to do anymore because whatever it is that they do will not really impact a majority of Americans other than increasing taxes.  Taxes pretty much effects everyone, but if we move into actual socialism what will change?  The poor will get more but they still will not have as much as the rest of us.

The poor will still be able to afford to do any of the following:

• Attend musical concerts
• Professional Sports Events
• Buy a $200,000 homes
• Buy a Luxury Cars
• Book passage on Cruise Ship
• Fly to Europe or Hawaii
• Join the Country Club
• Buy new clothes every year
• Pay down their debt
• Earn a 6 figure income
• Gamble at Los Vegas

NOTE:  however it is possible to get seats in the nose bleed section of an outdoor arena and stadium but it is doubtful that the individual will be able to see unless there is a large movie screen...  and, if you are watching the action on a screen, it is really no better than staying home.

There is always the possibility that poor people can borrow money to do these things but after a while their credit will sour when they don't pay anything off.

Still...  if this new administration grants free college tuition to people then those poor people who dropped out of high school or just barely graduated from high school will be able to attend college...  but, are the odds on their side to pass courses?  YES...  because the schools they are attending will DUMB DOWN education for them.

The other question is will they get hired by employers and if so, how long will they remain employed when they have trouble producing?

As Americans receive more and more from their Federal Government, people like me who are RETIRED and don't need anything more, will also receive more from their Federal Government...  and, since our income is low, our tax burden is low as well.

TAXES will come from CORPORATIONS and the WEALTHY...

But, will the WEALTHY be allowed to put their money in offshore accounts to reduce their tax burdens?

And, will CORPORATION hire less people and/or increase prices to compensate for higher taxes?

Whatever happens will happen and whatever happens was supposed to happen from the getgo...  because...

IT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS...

America's Greatest FLAW

From the moment that I understood what my parents were trying to tell me even though I did very little about it, I found it hard to believe that the most important aspect of one's life was the quest for money or GREED.  And, those who were incredibly more greedy than others, were praised because they were so financially successful.

All my classes in high school were specifically designed not for me to go out and get a job after graduation but to matriculate to a college or university because the pursuit of education would, in fact, allow me to earn more money during my career.  GREED.

The advice of my mentors during the years I was beginning my career was to do those things that would promote me through the ranks with the sole purpose of eventually getting to the top of the organization so that I could have more POWER and MONEY or GREED.

Immigrants come to the United States so that they can earn more money...   GREED

Problem:

As more and more Americans pursue GREED, it is obvious that 80% of Americans (or more) will be left behind and never acquire the GREED for which they have pursued all of their lives.  

So...  how does that work actually?

Well, if you have superior athletic skills then you can become a PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE in the areas of"

• football
• baseball
• basketball
• tennis
• gold
• soccer

OR... 

if you have artistic skills, you can become a:L

• professional musician
• professional singer
• professional artist
• actor or actress

If you do not have the SPECIAL SKILLS and most Americans do not have those SPECIAL SKILLS then your pursuit of GREED goes nowhere...  And, as you try harder and harder to pursue GREED, all it does is allow the WEATHY TO GET WEALTHIER...

Racism is not going to change this

BLM is not going to change this

White Privilege is not going to change this

White Supremacists are not going to change this

Black reparations is not going to change this

Socialism is not going to change this

Censoring conservatives is not going to change this

TAXES

The requirement to pay taxes to the Federal Government will never work like it was intended until our Federal Government does two issues....

First --  remove all the tax loopholes that allow individuals to shelter their money

Second  --  eliminate the ability for wealthy people to hide their money in offshore bank accounts in the Caymans

Right now we have a PROGRESSIVE TAX STRUCTURE that increases with one's taxable income, and many people favor a FLAT TAX that incorporates no deductions.

TAXES in America are not FAIR and EQUIABLE because we allow deductions and exemptions and oftentimes, the wealthy actually pay less taxes that do the not so wealthy.

WHY"

Because the wealthy can influence the politicians with their contributions to their re-election campaign.  Politicians care more about their re-election than they do about doing WHAT'S RIGHT for the American People.

College Degree = Success = Happiness

Many well educated and well experienced people belief beyond a shadow of a doubt that having a college degree in the KEY to having a successful career and happy life.  In fact, some believe that not just a BA/BS degree is required to achieve success and happiness but that one should seek out a Masters Degree as well.  HOWEVER, I would submit to you that MONEY and GREED are at the foundation of success and happiness not necessarily one's education.

In addition to one's education, one must be willing (more often than not) to violate their values, integrity, honor, and sometimes morals in order to achieve success and happiness...  Yet, it is true that education opens the door...  but, there is much more to it than that.

Successful people (not necessarily happy ones) put their FAMILIES SECOND behind their EMPLOYMENT and the company that employees them.  Successful people (not necessarily happy ones) are willing to work 60-80 hours a week, including nights and weekends...   and, in many cases are sent out-of-town on business trips at the drop of a hat.

Their family life is non-existent...  Their vacations are oftentimes spent conducting business as well...  and, many people enjoy combining business with pleasure but not all families with children are able to cope with this lifestyle.

My father's job for instance, took him away from the family for 9 months out of 12 and he allowed this to happen for about 10 years until he could find himself in a position where options were being presented to him.  Those options were being presented ONLY BECAUSE HE WAS SUCCESSFUL at accomplishing a variety of goals at which many others before him had failed.

SO...

there is a new criteria to add to education and experience and that is SUCCESSFULLY ACCOMPLISHING GOALS AND OBJECTIVES...  If you don't there is no promotion and one could face termination of employment.

LIVING UNDER THESE CONDITIONS is not a good methodology by which one manages STRESS.

Additionally, many people are awarded PhD's and decide to teach for a living and even with that amount of education, teachers never become WEALTHY...  They are financially well off, but never WEALTHY...   and, if success and happiness is based upon WEALTH, then these people are never considered to be successful or happy.

I believe after working in a career for 45 years, I can say that the happiest I have ever been is when I had eliminated my stress...  and, once stress was eliminated, I also felt like I was finally successful in life.  Success and Happiness was NOT BASED UPON EDUCATION OR MONEY, but on living a life of contentment and wanting for nothing.

WANTING FOR NOTHING goes against the concept of GREED.  Our entire economic system is predicated upon GREED.  If and when Americans stop wanting more, life as we know it will become meaningless...  and yet, that is exactly what one needs to achieve in order to be successful and happy.  Many wealthy people do not considered themselves successful because there is more money to be earned...  and, while these wealthy people have all sorts of toys, the fact that they want/needs more is an indication that they are NOT HAPPY.

Breaking Down Capitalism

What the Wealthy Control                              What the Wealthy Do Not Control

Employment                                                                    Education

Wages                                                                              Art

Taxes                                                                               Writers and Writing

Wars                                                                                Recreation

Healthcare                                                                       Fishing/Hunting

Government/Congress                                                    Buying Habits

Freedoms                                                                        Who to Marry

Logistics/Transportation                                                 Having Children

Resorts                                                                            Religion

Automotive Production                                                  Voting Decisions

Hollywood                                                                      Our Free Wills

Music Industry                                                                Our Hate/Love

Marketing Influence                                                       Passive Resistance

Professional Sports                                                         Our Minds/Thoughts

News Media                                                                    Our Drug Use

Law Enforcement                                                           Our Alcohol Use

Military                                                                           Our Breaking Laws

Money Supply                                                                Social Media

                                                                                        Bill of Rights

                                                                                        Socialism                            

NOTE:  CAPITALISM is what gives the WEALTHY their POWER...   SOCIALISM takes power away from the wealthy and gives it to the POOR and those that are RICH but not wealthy.  SOCIALISM increases the size of government but REDISTRIBUTES the wealth...  and in time, the wealthy and their control will begin to disappear...

LET'S ASK THE WEALTHY TO GIVE HALF OF THEIR WEALTH BACK TO THE PEOPLE... JUST HALF OF THEIR WEALTH...  AND, IN SO DOING THEY WILL STILL BE WEALTHY BUT THE REST OF AMERICANS WILL HAVE A LITTLE BIT BETTER LIFE...

The Rest of the World Baby...

Millions are starving in South America

Millions are starving in Africa

Millions are starving in China

Millions are starving in Asia

How many people in America really care about that?

Americans care about only one thing...   GREED...

It may seem hard to believe at times but all you have to do is look around your little corner of the world (here in the US of A) wherever that might be and simply take in and appreciate all that you see.

How many obese people do you know that have no desire to quit eating as much as they do?

How many people do you know that refuse to exercise?

How many of you co-workers only work for that raise or bonus or both and could care less about anything else they are doing for the company?

How many of you went to college not for the education but to get more money during your lifetime?

How many of you are planning on buying a bigger house?

How many vehicles do you own?

How often do you drink alcohol and how much is consumed?

How often do you smoke a joint or snort a line?

How many of you are DEBT FREE?

In a way...   Americans are pathetic in how they try to live their lives and then on Sundays attend church and say otherwise...  Our entire ECONOMIC SYSTEM is based upon GREED and it is ONE GIANT PYRAMID SCHEME with the wealthy sitting on the top of the pyramid trying to convince us to buy more...  and when the wealthy are tired of poking the bear, they try to open markets in other countries and convince them that they need more...

THE WEALTHY ARE ONLY WEALTHY BECAUSE OF US....

BUT...  more importantly...

WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF THE WORLD...  BABY...