I don't doubt that the aggregate American wealth has increased in the last couple years, mostly thanks to the revival of stock prices.
Likewise, mostly thanks to the real estate value meltdown, the standard deviation of wealth inequity in A,merica has probably grown significantly, too.
Thanks to trickle down economic policies, the wealth inequity spread has been growing for the last 40 years or so, and this latest economic meltdown (as it typically does during severe depressions) exascerbates that spread in wealth distribution.
That's not exactly the wealth distribution formula for good times for a great nation, but it is a great wealth distribution for a third world, police state shithole.
I hear what you are saying, but I still have faith in America.
I have seen an idealism in the young people in OWS, that amazed me.
Likewise, some of the young people I know are asking the same questions.
Is a system that only rewards people at the top fair?[/QUOTE]
Let me focus on this, like you I don't think the current system is all that fair. We probably disagree on why and what to do about it though.
You know why I have a problem with the tax the rich mantra from the left? Cuz it's not going to fix the system. You can't raise taxes on the rich enough to make much difference to the poor, the real answer is in structural changes that promote competition and economic growth. Better education and training, incentivizing entrepeneurship, changing the business tax code to be more competitive world wide and evenly applied so the big corps don't catch a break over small biz, we gotta do things to create more opportunities in the private sector and with private investment.