[steeljack]

Originally Posted by LancYorkYankee

That may be true Ian. However, most of us ~80% are in the middle class range.

I believe there are many other countries around the world, especially in Africa/India, with excessively rich leaders/dictators and the rest of their populations ~90% extremely poor.

These 90% are also much poorer then the poorest American. We do not have people forced to starve in the streets, live in shanty towns, nor denied health care. Just to clarify, it is illegal for ANYBODY to be denied health care by any hospital.

Our "poor" for the most part have roofs over their heads, television sets, telephones, indoor plumbing, fresh water, electricity (heat in winter/air conditioning in summer), food, health care, education, etc., all available for them.

Couple of things I will disagree with you on this , Most of the Political elite and/or their families in the US are in the top 5% of earned/unearned income tax bracket, (Remember the old saying ...We have the best politicians money can buy) no way can 80% of Americans be classed as middle class, thats just political retoric, probably nearer 40% , and supposedly anyone who doesnt recieve their TV by cable (average rates in Ca. $50 per month) is seen as living below the 'poverty' line .