Fun With Charts: Making the Rich Look Poor

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Jon Chait takes a closer look at a Wall Street Journal chart intended to suggest that the middle class has all the money:

The chart has been making the conservative blog rounds, from Powerline to Hoosierpundit to Reihan Salam to (not really conservative) Andrew Sullivan, who reproduces it under the headline "Where the Money Is." The chart most certainly does not demonstrate the

Journal's

point. It instead relies upon an optical illusion. Democrats have been arguing that their tax increases should solely affect income over $250,00 a year. The

Journal

makes that pot of income appear small by divvying it up into seven different lines. See, the $100,000-$200,000 line is

tall

, and all the other lines to the right of it are

short

. That tall line must be where the money is!

As a public service, I've redrawn the chart for the Journal. On the left is the original. On the right is the chart that shows the actual amount of money earned by the tiny handful of people making over $200,000. It's a lot.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?app=forums&module=post&section=post&do=new_post&f=145

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

You've got some issue with my chart?

[Zero Sum 305]

Poor Rich People, paying for their lazy neighbors unemployment riches.

[elmcitymaven 9,711]

Man, I wanna start a class war. Today is boring, might liven things up.

[Robert&Liliya 31]

I like Pie, can we get a Pie Chart next time?

[Zero Sum 305]

Man, I wanna start a class war. Today is boring, might liven things up.

Revive the abortion thread.

[HappyInHawaii 6]

I like Pie, can we get a Pie Chart next time?

hehehhehe :lol: - Here some pie for ya

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Anyone here ever get a job from a poor person?

[Vi-Jay 218]

Anyone here ever get a job from a poor person?

Good question Gary.

I can think of 2; a hand-job and a blow-job.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Anyone here ever get a job from a poor person?

How is that a relevant question?

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Anyone here ever get a job from a poor person?

Logic spin - If the only ones in society that do not create jobs are the poor, we must make the poor richer so they too can create jobs. Ultimate Job creation.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Logic spin - If the only ones in society that do not create jobs are the poor, we must make the poor richer so they too can create jobs. Ultimate Job creation.

Jobs are created from need, and that need isn't necessarily bound to capital resources. The people that buy into the fallacy that only the rich (people with lots of capital) create jobs, played too much Monopoly as children and lack a more adult understanding of how job creation works.

Edited May 13, 2011 by 8TBVBN

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Jobs are created from need, and that need isn't necessarily bound to capital resources. The people that buy into the fallacy that only the rich (people with lots of capital) create jobs, played too much Monopoly as children and lack a more adult understanding of how job creation works.

Indeed. Otherwise we'd have a shortage of labor given the trillions of dollars that businesses sit on. But I suppose those that want to make the rich richer in the hopes that some of that wealth will eventually trickle down never cease to exist. They should go around affluent neighborhoods offering to shine some shoes.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Indeed. Otherwise we'd have a shortage of labor given the trillions of dollars that businesses sit on. But I suppose those that want to make the rich richer in the hopes that some of that wealth will eventually trickle down never cease to exist. They should go around affluent neighborhoods offering to shine some shoes.

They long for the good 'ol days...

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

They long for the good 'ol days...

Ah, the good ole' days.