Conventional wisdom on government's role in inequality often has it backwards. Tax reforms have resulted in a more progressive federal income tax government transfer payments have become less progressive.
It all comes down to interest rates. As an investor all you're doing is putting up a lump-sump payment for a future cash flow.
Don't forget what I discovered that over ninety percent of all national deficits from 1921 to 1939 were caused by payments for past present and future wars.
I'm still very connected to my family to the world I grew up in. I understand what it means to be afraid that you can't pay a doctor's bill. Or to have to make the choice between buying a band uniform for a seventh-grader and making the insurance payment on time. That will never leave me. It was how I lived until I was well into my adult years.
Without in any way minimising the economic and psychological blow that people experience when they lose their jobs the unemployed in affluent countries still have a safety net in the form of social security payments and usually free healthcare and free education for their children. They also have sanitation and safe drinking water.
What charitable 1 percenters can't do is assume responsibility - America's national responsibilities: the care of its sick and its poor the education of its young the repair of its failing infrastructure the repayment of its staggering war debts.
When you're nearing 35 going 'Hey Dad I can't make these payments ' just isn't cool.
Divorced men are more likely to meet their car payments than their child support obligations.
I'm lucky because my dad taught me to be frugal and save. And that's important because I want to know that I don't have to take an acting job for two or three years if I don't want to and that I'll still be able to make my house and car payments and buy food for my dogs.
When life was worrying about a car payment or a rent payment and a bill you're so consumed with that you really don't have time to know yourself. That's surviving and getting by.