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b_b  ·  3952 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Capitalism vs. Democracy

    My point is that b_b can create his own wealth simply by investing his time and effort, without necessarily harming or taking from anyone else. I am not sure if anyone disagrees with this, but he seems to imply that people at "the bottom" are necessarily harmed somehow when the wealthy increase their wealth.

Like I said before, the economy isn't a zero sum game. There's money to be made by everyone in some circumstances.

However, in the last several years, corporate profits have increased to record levels, while revenues have stayed flat. The difference has been made up by cutting costs, mainly worker pay. That is taking from the bottom. The net share of wealth held by the very top has increased much faster than the total net wealth in the world. Upward transfer of wealth has undeniably occurred.