12 Charts Show HOW Trickle-Down Fails, Gross Income Inequality, and WHY You feel pinched

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Tuesday January 08, 2013 · 5:12 PM PST

2013/01/08 · 17:12

Pictures speak a thousand words. Listen to what these charts/pictures are saying. But first, this quote from that screaming liberal, William F. Buckley

“Conservatives pride themselves on resisting change, which is as it should be. But intelligent deference to tradition and stability can evolve into intellectual sloth and moral fanaticism, as when conservatives simply decline to look up from dogma because the effort to raise their heads and reconsider is too great.”

I love this quote. So, what do the charts have to say about Trickle-Down, Income Inequality, and your financial pickle?

Where did all the money go?

Again, where did all the money go?

Although this chart only goes to 2005, you can see where the money went. Into the pockets of insatiably greedy CEOs

By 2011, the CEOs benefited with even greater gains DURING the Great Recession:

NOT SINCE THE GREAT DEPRESSION HAVE WORKERS BEEN THIS EXPLOITED while the rich get richer. Corporate profits are also at a 60 year high!

Here's the truth about median income in America as of 2009:

US Workers are mostly living hand-to-mouth these days. Don't feel badly if you are, too. It's the new American norm, the USA is becoming one of the worst Income Inequality countries in the western world, and you should be feeling a tad upset about being bilked!

75% earn less than $42,000
50% earn less than $26,000

40% earn less than $20,000

The Median Income in the USA is only $26,000 a year.

Why does it feel like your pay check doesn't go far enough?

Why does it feel like everything but your check is rising.

They are!

Prices for everything are rising.

Rents Rise as More Americans Flock Back Into Cities

Nationally, rents were up 4.6 percent, even as home values have skidded along near 2003 levels.

The cost for child care is exceeding the costs of rent:

In the past year, consumer food prices have increased 4.4% Food prices will continue to increase in 2013

Health Insurance Premium costs 2002 - 2012

College tuition has risen 4.8%

Why is meat getting so expensive? The cost of hay has gone way up

Lastly, many here are over age 50. Have you noticed that wages seem to peak at age 50? Is this Brookings Institute chart an indication of ageism?

Speaking of aging. The charts above make a good case for increasing the lowest Social Security amount from a little over $700 a month for the millions of us FORCED INO EARLY RETIREMENT IN 2007/08 due to Wall Street malfeasance and layoffs/NO JOBS FOR OLDER WORKERS. No one can live on $700 a month and many in the USA have only SSI to live on.

So, if you are feeling a little more pinched than usual, I hope the charts help explain why and that you are not all alone. There is a lot of shared suffering these days, unless you are in the higher tax brackets, and even they are complaining.