“There’s class warfare, all right – but it’s my class, the rich class, that’s making war, and we’re winning.” – Warren Buffett
2008 Sealed Our Fate
Did you know that America’s wealth gap is even worse now than before the Great Depression? How could this be possible? There was a turning point after the 2008 Great Recession, in which most everyday Americans, especially millennials, have never financially recovered. In fact, during the years 2007 and 2016, among white, black and Hispanic lower-income families, the gap between households shrank by approximately 50%.
Bail Out The Bankers
Another factor worth noting, is that until 2007, the U.S. minimum wage steadily remained at $5.15 an hour. A decade later, the minimum wage has only risen to $7.50 an hour. This income is below the federal poverty line. Working a full-time job no longer means someone is above the poverty line.
Many people slipped off of a financial cliff in 2008 and big banks received government bailouts. Families and elderly people on pensions, along with millions of hard-working Americans lost their homes. Yet, not one CEO was criminally charged, and only one lone banker spent time in jail. The Great Recession was felt in every corner of the planet and just one banker spent time behind bars?
*record scratch* That doesn’t seem right.
This is confusing, even today, because based on the rules of the free market system, if one fails to manage their business wisely, he or she goes bankrupt. At least, that’s what would happen to you or me. Yet, different rules applied to the big banks and bankers during the 2008 recession.
The JOBS Act Life Jacket
Financial systems can be ultra complicated and take a long time to change. While many everyday people may never own stock in Apple or Facebook, they now have the opportunity to invest and receive equity. Thanks to the JOBS Act, everyday people can invest in fast growth, high-value startup companies for as little as $10. And they can do this right alongside the wealthy who have been getting richer this way for decades. The road to building generational wealth has finally widened to include the 99% of us.
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