I don’t often look at the “Detroit News.” It seems that every time I do, I find myself getting pissed off. The last time I looked at a copy was in 2004, during the presidential race, and I caught them lying. Now, today, I see this terrific piece of journalism by Thomas Sowell claiming that the disparity between rich and poor in this country, despite what we’re being told, is not growing wider. Unfortunately, the facts say something else. Here’s a clip from a 2007 piece by David Cay Johnston in the “New York Times”:
…The top 10 percent, roughly those earning more than $100,000, also reached a level of income share not seen since before the Depression.
While total reported income in the United States increased almost 9 percent in 2005, the most recent year for which such data is available, average incomes for those in the bottom 90 percent dipped slightly compared with the year before, dropping $172, or 0.6 percent.
The gains went largely to the top 1 percent, whose incomes rose to an average of more than $1.1 million each, an increase of more than $139,000, or about 14 percent.
The new data also shows that the top 300,000 Americans collectively enjoyed almost as much income as the bottom 150 million Americans. Per person, the top group received 440 times as much as the average person in the bottom half earned, nearly doubling the gap from 1980….
How does the “Detroit News” get away with this shit?
6 Comments
Oh Mark. Thomas Sowell is a “columnist” not a “journalist.” He’s just one random opinion the News publishes to be inclusive and broaden conversation. Think of him as professionally paid letter to the editor.
What? You don’t want the Detroit News to print letters to the editor?
Yes, it is nice of them to include the African American persceptive. I retract my criticism.
Sowell is (or was) an economics professor at Stanford University. He is despised by many because of his anti-affirmative action stance. Many view him as a sell-out–a professional sell-out. I’ve read a few books by him, and I can see why conservatives latch onto his ideas. His view is all about ethnic groups, and as we see here, the poor, pulling themselves up the by bootstraps without governmental intervention or support. I think he overlooks a lot. He is also stubborn in his views, seemingly explaining why he bends the facts to fit his views rather than bending his views to fit the facts.
Many truly great American Black leaders of the past and present share Mr. Sowell’s views.
They no straps on boots. Bothers he’s putt’n down done lace up or zip up or belt up ‘day. Gam’n the streets s’bout slouch’n, n’counch’n and fix’n, not mix’n.
Sowell is totally out of touch with his own people and with the majority of us who find America too focused on stuff, artificial “food”, distractive media pleasure, and not focused clearly on family, neighbor, those in need and a healthy planet.
The Legacy of George W. Bush:
http://www.thealders.net/blogs/2008/01/25/the-bush-legacy/
Wonderful link. Thanks, Dirtgrain.