Let's say that there is this little town in Ohio that has 100 people in it. These 100 people have a total net worth of $1,000,000. That's one million dollars altogether.
Divided equally, that's $10,000 for each of them, right? But the money isn't divided up that way. The money is divided up in the way that money is currently divided up in the United States of America.
What does that mean? Well, it means that one man in this little town has a total net worth of $430,000. Out of the $1,000,000, he has $430,000.
Then there are 19 people in this little town who, together, have a net worth of $500,000. They have $500,000 among them, which would be close to $26,300 each, but they don't have equal shares. Some have more; some have less.
Then there are the other residents of this little town, a total of 80 persons. These 80 people get what's left, and what's left is $70,000. That's $70,000 for 80 people.
That would be about $875 each, but, again, the money isn't divided evenly. Some have $10,000 or so; some have only a few dollars. That's the way it is in this little town.
Over time, the situation gets worse. Net worth becomes divided less and less evenly. And finally some of the people at the bottom get restless; you might even say resentful. They look at the one guy with the $430,000 all to himself and they wonder, "Why should he have all that money while I have so little - even though I'm working hard?" So, they go to the guy with the $430,000, and they let him know how they feel.
Now this guy sees the way the wind is blowing, and he says to the crowd, "You know," he says, "I agree with you. This isn't fair. I'll tell you what, think of it this way: think of me as your job creator. I'll take this extra money and create better jobs for you all, and that will increase your share and even things out."
So, the crowd is satisfied. When they leave, the guy with the $430,000 gathers up all his money and skips town. He's currently living in the Cayman Islands with a beautiful native woman - along with other members of the one-percent club - in the lap of luxury. He goes to the beach every day, gambles, drinks, has a wonderful time, and never thinks about "jobs."
L. P. McGovern
Williamstown
