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Thom's blog
We've lost 90 years in the fight for economic equality
The wealth gap today is as bad as it was in the 1920s. New research from economists Emmanual Saez and Gabriel Zucman shows that those at the very top hold more of the wealth than at any time since 1928. In fact, only the super-wealthy, the top tenth of the top one percent, have seen huge gains in assets over the last three decades. Even people in the top ten percent of income earners have been losing ground compared to the super rich.
Most of us know that wages have been stagnant for decades thanks to Reaganomics, but the growing inequality problem is not just about our weekly pay. Average Americans have lost wealth from home values, pensions, savings, and total assets, and our broken economy prevents them from making up any ground. Meanwhile, the wealthy elite have seen larger and larger income gains, and they've stashed billions away in property, savings, and various types of low-or-no-tax investments.
After the Great Depression, progressive tax systems helped keep inequality at bay. High tax rates on the super rich leveled the playing field, and encouraged business growth and investment. For decades, it made more sense for the corporate elite to higher more employers or expand operations. But today, low taxes make it more lucrative for the rich to screw workers and cash out. If we ever want to close the wealth gap, we need to break this cycle.
We need to return to a progressive tax system – one that rewards hiring workers more than sitting around collecting a dividend check. In fact, let's put a 100 percent tax on income over a billion, and leave the super-rich with no other money-saving option except investing in our great nation once again. Find out more at NoBillionaires.com.
-Thom
(What do you think? Tell us here.)
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Tonight on The Big Picture on RT TV at 7pm and 9pm... Dr. Guy McPherson and Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson (check your local listings for stations or stream at RT or Free Speech TV, and catch past shows on Youtube)
Watch the video 'Last Hours' narrated by Thom Hartmann about the "time bomb" that is ticking underground, underwater and under ice… frozen methane that is now escaping and could trigger runaway climate change. www.lasthours.org
Have a question or comment for Thom? Grab your phone, hit record and send your video to YourTakeMyTake@gmail.com and we may air it on "The Big Picture."
Conversations with Great Minds - Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson, The College of William & Mary / Chief of Staff to Secretary of State Colin Powell (2002-05).
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Thursday's Daily Stack
Hour One: No GOP bill has helped average person since Nixon?
PLUS, Marching against slavery- Joe Madison, The Joe Madison Show
Article: " 10th Amendment" " The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people".
Quote: "We have lost the South for a generation." by Lyndon B. Johnson, immediately after signing the Civil Rights Act in 1964.
Hour Two: The conservative death panel
PLUS, Geeky Science - the origins of procrastination
Hour Three: Jesus was a communist- Dr. Alex McFarland, 10 Issues That Divide Christians
Bible: " 1 Peter 2:13", " Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution".
Quote: " Wouldn't today's GOP love to vote for a guy who is a peaceful, radical, non-violent, revolutionary, hung around with lepers, hookers and criminals who never spoke English, who was not an American citizen, who was anti-capitalism, anti-wealth, anti-public prayer..." (Jesus) - John Fugelsang".
Quote: "When fascism comes to America, It will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross" by Sinclair Lewis.
Article: "" by .
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Friday on The Thom Hartmann Program, 3-6pm ET
Hour One: If it's Friday, it's "Brunch With Bernie"... the honorable Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) will be here with all the news from our nation's capitol and as always he'll be spending the hour taking your calls and answering your questions too...
Hour Two: It's Anything Goes on Townhall Friday
Hour Three: It's Anything Goes on Townhall Friday
And, the best of the rest of the news and your calls right here on...
The Thom Hartmann Program...your media support group for "we the people"...
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Monday on The Thom Hartmann Program, 3-6pm ET
We'll have the best of the rest of the news...all the latest news & information you won't be hearing from the corporate owned news media...
And, the best of the rest of the news along with your calls right here on...
The Thom Hartmann Program, Occupying The Media 3 hours a day 5 days a week" for "we the people"
And don't forget...Democracy is NOT a spectator sport...it begins with you...
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Thom's Poll
Should the Progressive Budget be taken as seriously as the GOP's?
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Watch & Listen to Thom
Watch the Full "Big Picture" Show...
Full Show 4/10/14: BofA to Pay $800 Million for Duping Customers
Thom discusses the passing of Paul Ryan's austerity budget with Congressman Mark Pocan and Bank of America's $800 Million penalty for illegal credit card practices with Project 21's Cherylyn Harley LeBon. Thom takes viewer video questions and phone calls in "Your Take, My Take Live" and in tonight's "Daily Take" Thom discusses why it's time to kick Republican governor's out of office for killing their constituents.
Caller: A Republican Created the Interstate Highway System
Caller: The Civil Rights Act was Passed by Republicans
The Thom Hartmann Program - April 10, 2014
Caller: Taft-Hartley Helped Working Americans
No GOP Bill Helped Average Person Since Nixon?
Marching Against Slavery
Jesus was a Communist...
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Thom and Louise Hartmann founded the New England Salem Children's Village (NESCV) in New Hampshire in 1979. With states delaying payment for the children they entrust to the village, they need help with cash flow. Can you help? Now on Facebook.
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Show Info
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