Congratulations! You're the 1%

On September 17, 2011, protesters descended on Zuccotti Park in Manhattan and began what we now know as the Occupy Wall Street movement. Their aim was to shine a spotlight on what they saw to be blatant greed and opulence by the richest 1% of Americans. This was during the time of corporate bailouts, ‘too big to fail’, and golden parachutes for executives that left the rest of America simmering.

The Occupy Wall Street movement gave voice to the 99%, the rest of America. In fact, that was the phrase that stuck from the movement, “We are the 99%.” If you’re in the top 1%, shouldn’t you have some type of responsibility to share the wealth, to help out, to do something for those less fortunate? I mean, it shouldn’t just be yours to hoard, right?

What I’ve always thought interesting is that if you change one simple word, the picture changes dramatically. Consider these two statements:

The top 1% of income earners in the United States make an average of $506,000 a year.

The top 1% of income earners in the world make an average of $48,000 a year.

Congratulations! You’re the 1%. While we can rightly complain against the greed of the Wall Street fat cats, the 7 billion people on this planet can rightly complain against the greed of the world’s top 1% (half of which live in one country: ours). Many of the Occupy Wall Streeters who complained against the one per centers were actually one per centers themselves!

Don’t think you’re that well off? Consider:

• How many of you would say that you probably have enough food to eat for the rest of today, and probably enough food to eat for tomorrow as well? You’re blessed.
• How many of you have more than one bedroom for your family? Your family of 5 or 6 doesn’t all have to live in and share one room? You’re blessed.
• How many have more than one bedroom with air conditioning, heater, a toilet that flushes, all that? You’re blessed.
• How many of you own more than three outfits? You’re blessed.
• How many of you have access to education? Your kids get a solid education? You’re blessed.
• I know we’re all fighting about healthcare, but how many of you actually have access to healthcare? There’s a hospital and doctors nearby if you need them? Congratulations! You’re the 1%. You’re blessed.

If you’re in the top 1%, shouldn’t you have some type of responsibility to share the wealth, to help out, to do something for those less fortunate? I mean, it shouldn’t just be yours to hoard, right?

QUESTION: How does it feel to be in the top 1-2% of wage earners in the world?