A Fundamentally Flawed Fiduciary Foundation

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e·con·o·my

iˈkänəmē/

noun

1. 1.

   the wealth and resources of a country or region, esp. in terms of the production and consumption of goods and services.

   synonyms:

   wealth, (financial) resources; More
2. 2.

   careful management of available resources.

   "even heat distribution and fuel economy"

   synonyms:

   thrift, thriftiness, providence, prudence, careful budgeting, economizing, saving, scrimping,restraint, frugality, abstemiousness More

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Here's the deal. Unless you and your family are invested in the economy, you're getting screwed by the economic policies on which the economy of America is based.

Well then, you say, everyone should just invest in the economy, and the problem would be solved.

Not so fast, my friend. You're starting to sound like Paul Ryan and the rest of the "I've got mine; tough shit for you." right-wing crowd.

Are you familiar with the term disposable income?

That's the money one has left over after taxes have been paid.

How about discretionary income?

That's the money one has left after taxes and all bills have been paid.

Discretionary income is disposable income (after-tax income), minus all payments that are necessary to meet current bills. It is total personal income after subtracting taxes and typical expenses (such as rent or mortgage, utilities, insurance, medical, transportation, property maintenance, child support, food and sundries, etc.) to maintain a certain standard of living.^[6] It is the amount of an individual's income available for spending after the essentials (such as food, clothing, and shelter) have been taken care of:

Discretionary income = Gross income - taxes - all compelled payments (bills)

The Good News: More Americans have discretionary income.

The Bad News: 82 percent of all discretionary income is held by those earning $100,000 and more.

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So, if you earn more than $100,000, and the fundamentals of the economy are good, you've been doing quite well lately.  Congratulations.

However, if your income barely covers or falls short of your expenses, you are hurting despite the recent phenomenal upswing in the economy, and that's not going to change as long as the GOP controls the House of Representatives.

And even if you have a a bit of discretionary income to invest but are gullible enough to fall for the false promise of trickle down economics and the  race and class baiting rhetoric designed to pit white Americans against "the dreaded other," Paul Ryan and a bunch of Republican con artists have a plan for you. They want to sell you the deed to some swampland in the economy's  equivalent of Death Valley, and they'll let you have it in November for something they believe you're willing to give them without thinking about the consequences - the tiny bit of effort it takes to cast a vote for them and against your less-fortunate fellow citizens.

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