Why "RICH" ain't a four letter word.

Think about the last couple of movies or TV programs that you've watched. I'm willing to bet that the bad guy was some corporate Fat Cat. What about the latest political rants? Have you heard about the evil, rich "speculators driving up the price of oil"? How about "the rich getting rich off the backs of the poor"? What about taxes? That the rich should be made to pay their fair share? "The rich get richer and the poor get poorer"?

I'll guess that you are familiar with these statements or maybe you've even repeated these things to other people. It's okay, this sentiment is everywhere, unfortunately they are not based in fact. Just a couple of facts that argue with these statements; on taxes, The top 5% of wage earners in this country pay 75% of all tax revenue that the government receives. The top 10% pay over 90%. At the other end of the spectrum the poorest aren't paying any taxes apart from sales and local taxes. In fact they are receiving money through "Earned income tax credits" which is a phrase designed to hide the fact that wealth is being taken from the rich and given to the poor. I'm not making a value judgement on welfare. My only point here is to dispel the myth that the rich aren't paying their fair share, or that they are getting rich off the backs of the poor.

So what is my agenda here? Why am I defending the rich? Well it sure as hell ain't because I'm one of them. I aspire to be. I think that this country should continue to be structured to allow as many people to become rich as possible. I think that demonizing the rich insures that a person will never become wealthy. Why would anyone want to become a greedy, money grubbing miser?

Here is why; when has a poor person ever built a hospital, created a scholarship fund, supported a church, saved the animals, protected the environment? Whatever your favorite cause it takes a wealthy society to do these things. That's why we have such a great country.
I'll say it again, I'm not making a value judgement against the poor. I'm just trying to point out that instead of believing that "it takes money to make money" (which is another way of saying that only the rich can make any money), the saying should read "it takes money to give money". When you are worried about putting food into your children's mouth, you're more than likely thinking, "screw the spotted owls, I gotta get a better job".
I'm sure I've just offended a lot of people who are not rich and yet have donated to different causes. For those of you who are offended, we are making this distinction between rich and poor, not between rich and middle class. And yes I understand that poor people tithe to their churches too. Okay I get it. The thing that I want people to get, is that part of the greatness of this country lies in the fact that anyone can get rich here. But only if you do certain things. And one of those things is to stop hating the rich. Change your perception.
As motivational speaker Jim Rhone is fond of pointing out, "Find out what the poor people do and DON'T DO IT! Find out what they read and DON'T READ IT! Find out how they speak and DON'T TALK THAT WAY!
The opposite if this is equally important. If you constantly blame your place in life on the greedy rich people, and despise them, how can you emulate them and copy their success? You can't. Find out the good positive things they do and make it part of your life, it worked for them.
Hiding behind old stereo-types about the rich only insures that you will never join their ranks.
And don't forget that when you are successful, you'll be able to be as generous as you want to be.

JT