Trickle Down or Gush Up?

A recent news report claimed that six members of the Walton (WalMart) family have more wealth than 30% of Americans. Assuming this to be true, these six have more wealth than over 93 million other people. Before crying “class warfare”, consider what this means to the overall economy. Contrary to the idea of supply side or trickle down, there is no possible way six can come close to having the same economic impact as ninety-three million. How many shoe stores, restaurants, car dealers, grocery stores, and other businesses would prefer the business of ninety-three million customers as opposed to six customers regardless of the spending of the six. How many more jobs would be created by the economic activity of ninety-three million rather than six with the last name of Walton? For years, economic conversation focused on the “haves” and “haves not”. Today, the shift in wealth from everyone except the top 2%, the other 98%, if you will, has resulted in there being a class of “have the most”, “have the rest” and “have not”. If the “have the most” segment was a growing segment of the population there would be far less cause for worry. However, the only growing segment is the “have not” group. It is from this group that the greatest amount of need for public or private assistance is born. It is also from this group where the greatest need for prisons, jails, and other punishment arises. Finally, it is from this group in other countries where action to overturn government originates.