• Starting today August 7th, 2024, in order to post in the Married Couples, Courting Couples, or Singles forums, you will not be allowed to post if you have your Marital status designated as private. Announcements will be made in the respective forums as well but please note that if yours is currently listed as Private, you will need to submit a ticket in the Support Area to have yours changed.

Elites out of touch? Study shows the influential 1% hold different views from average Americans

FenderTL5

Κύριε, ἐλέησον.
Site Supporter
Jun 13, 2016
5,671
6,639
Nashville TN
✟772,645.00
Country
United States
Gender
Male
Faith
Eastern Orthodox
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-American-Solidarity
When you drop the income to 150K to include them, you have radically expanded the definition of "elite 1%" to include far beyond 1%..

What percentage of the people living in a major urban center are educated and earn above 150K?
The idea that it would be limited to an elite 1% is ridiculously stupid.
 
Upvote 0

Hazelelponi

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Jun 25, 2018
11,807
11,214
USA
✟1,045,693.00
Country
United States
Gender
Female
Faith
Baptist
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Constitution

It was not about wealthy people.

It's about people who influence our laws and our media...

The elite 1% is not the wealthiest 1%, it's just the 1% most influencial over peoples lives. Professors, judges, prosecutors, teachers, politicians etc.
 
Reactions: Vambram
Upvote 0

FenderTL5

Κύριε, ἐλέησον.
Site Supporter
Jun 13, 2016
5,671
6,639
Nashville TN
✟772,645.00
Country
United States
Gender
Male
Faith
Eastern Orthodox
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-American-Solidarity
It was not about wealthy people.

It's about people who influence our laws and our media...

The elite 1% is not the wealthiest 1%, it's just the 1% most influencial over peoples lives. Professors, judges, prosecutors, teachers, politicians etc.
Again, you are expanding the notion of an elite 1%. The more you include in your list, the percentage gets higher not lower.
Just curious; why did you exclude business leaders and owners from your list? Do you consider them non-influential?

The only way to get to your conclusion is to start cherry picking individuals and saying "this well educated person making over 150K is influential" and then exclude hundreds more just like them as non-influential. Again it's preposterous.
 
Reactions: comana
Upvote 0

Hazelelponi

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Jun 25, 2018
11,807
11,214
USA
✟1,045,693.00
Country
United States
Gender
Female
Faith
Baptist
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Constitution

We need to differentiate between a percentage who most influences society from a percentage of super wealthy people.

You have two groups that you're trying to bunch together I think.
 
Reactions: Vambram
Upvote 0

FenderTL5

Κύριε, ἐλέησον.
Site Supporter
Jun 13, 2016
5,671
6,639
Nashville TN
✟772,645.00
Country
United States
Gender
Male
Faith
Eastern Orthodox
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-American-Solidarity
We need to differentiate between a percentage who most influences society from a percentage of super wealthy people.

You have two groups that you're trying to bunch together I think.
Then the statistical data included in the article is worthless window dressing. To include those in the 150K range was intentional cherry-picking to include some group or individual to sway the outcome one way or another.
It doesn't take another study to know that the US is an oligarchy where only the rich few are the one's wielding actual influence.

There's no way on earth that a rank and file school teacher in St. Louis (or any other major urban center) carries the level of influence of the Koch Bros, George Soros, Elon Musk, Bill Gates or the Walton Family.


but.. I suppose that latter grouping does make more than 150K... [/sarcasm]
 
Upvote 0

BCP1928

Well-Known Member
Jan 30, 2024
8,921
4,522
82
Goldsboro NC
✟266,449.00
Country
United States
Faith
Other Religion
Marital Status
Married
We need to differentiate between a percentage who most influences society from a percentage of super wealthy people.

You have two groups that you're trying to bunch together I think.
You don't think our super wealthy influence society?
 
Upvote 0

comana

Senior Veteran
Site Supporter
Jan 19, 2005
7,919
4,481
Colorado
✟1,118,937.00
Country
United States
Gender
Female
Faith
Atheist
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Others
Not just vilifying the educated but specifically educated who fit into the list below-

Basics of the Elite 1%​

  • 73% Identify as Democrats
  • 67% are 35-54 Years of Age
  • 86% are White
  • 47% Support "Sanders like Policies"
 
Reactions: iluvatar5150
Upvote 0

SimplyMe

Senior Veteran
Jul 19, 2003
10,645
10,391
the Great Basin
✟403,752.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married

But, as keeps being pointed out on this thread, that isn't the "Elite 1%" -- instead it is a cherry picking to get the results they want and should instead be termed the Elite 15% (or so). You have to get close to earnings of $1 million to get to the 1% -- and the opinions they are trying to put on the "Elite 1%" change drastically when you remove those who earn under $1 million.
 
Reactions: iluvatar5150
Upvote 0

RoBo1988

Well-Known Member
Sep 3, 2021
1,377
968
64
Dayton OH
✟146,150.00
Country
United States
Gender
Male
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
John "Heinz" Kerry, who made his money the old fashioned way - he married into it; is a great example of this:
 
Upvote 0

ralliann

christian
Jun 27, 2007
8,230
2,592
✟275,485.00
Country
United States
Gender
Female
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Widowed
You seem to be confusing wealthy with elite.
Yep.
It appears the pollster is looking at the people who wield actual power and influence within major urban centers as opposed people who just made good in life.
They think they know best and we do not. So we should not have the freedom to choose government.
 
Upvote 0