Wealthiest More Likely to Lie, Cheat, & Steal (for 2/29/12)

High-income people lie and cheat more often, compared to those of average income or wealth, according to a recent study.  The wealthy also cut off other drivers on the road and believe in breaking the rules while working.  Greed is one thing that drives the wealthy to exhibit these various socially unacceptable behaviors that may ultimately lead to corruption which angers Americans of average or below-average income.  When the wealthy amass so much riches that they are in th top 1%, they often fail to see how their actions affect others.  This type of attitude may affect how they conduct interviews with potential employees, to whom they withhold important information regarding the positions they seek.  In the workplace, they are more likely to justify stealing money, bribery, and ripping off customers.  When extremely wealthy individuals are heavily involved in philanthropy, it can make one wonder if they are merely using it as a cover for these anti-social behaviors.  The recent reports of the wealth divide between Congressional members and their constituents indicated that insider trading is surely going on among members of Congress.  Constituents are left to wonder if their Congressional Representative or Senator believes it is all right to lie, cheat, and steal.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/02/27/1068884/-The-1-more-likely-to-lie-cheat-and-steal-Science-says-so-?via=spotlight

Another Romney Gaffe - Wife Has 2 Cadillacs

Leading GOP Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney cannot stop flaunting his wealth and finds new ways to show how out of touch he is with average Americans.  In a speech on Friday in Detroit, Michigan, the city home to the auto industry that he wanted to go bankrupt, he said that his wife Ann drives two Cadillacs.  Mitt said he has a Ford Mustang and a Chevy pickup truck.  But, in a recent poll, 71% of registered voters believe Romney cannot see the economic realities that average Americans  currently face.  He lived in Michigan in his youth and his father successfully led this state as its Governor.  But, that is meaningless to unemployed workers in Michigan, which has one of the highest rates of unemployment in the country.  While someone pursuing the Office of President should be very successful, a man of his wealth ought to do much more in terms of charity or philanthropy than he does in order to connect with people of average income.

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/The-Vote/2012/0224/Another-Mitt-Romney-clunker-Ann-drives-a-couple-of-Cadillacs-actually

The 99% are More Giving Than The Top 1% (for 12/28/11)

While the wealthiest 1% of Americans donate more overall income than all other Americans, they are actually less charitable than other Americans. Wealthy people often establish their own philanthropic foundations for giving. Their donations often go to cultural causes, their alma maters, and other causes not primarily interested in helping those in great need. The rest of Americans donate through their churches. The wealthiest Americans' giving is most often influenced by tax breaks. Their donations are fully tax deductible, but the law requires a foundation to only give away 5% of its total funds annually. But, charitable donations have ranged from 1.7 to 1.95% of earnings per year, even as the top individual tax rate has dropped from 70% in 1980 to 35% in 2003. The result of this is huge public sector losses of around $250 billion, maybe more, to Federal and State Governments. Sometimes, as in the case of Charles Koch, their giving serves their own purposes. Since 2008, Koch has donated money to Florida State Univeristy to hire economics professors according to his preferences. Therefore, he can pick professors who will teach students his views on free market capitalism and why government is bad. http://www.alternet.org/story/153560/the_giving_season%3A_why_the_99_are_actually_more_philanthropic_than_the_1/

The Top 1% Cares Most About Deficits, Wants Private-Sector Solutions (for 12/18/11)

Of America's Wealthiest 1%, about 32% thought the U.S. Budget Deficit and Debt is the U.S.'s biggest problem and only 11% thought economic growth/jobs was. Nearly half of all Americans think the economy and jobs are the biggest problem, and only 5% thought the Debt was. The wealthiest 1% often prefer private sector solutions such as philanthropy to the economic problems. But, they often do not engage in more charitable activity, even if they do not trust government. http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/14/the-politics-of-the-1-percent/?hp