The Economic Policy Institute and the Center on Budget Priorities ranks Massachusetts number 11 out of the 50 states in having the widest income gap between the top 5% and lowest 20% of families: $233,108 versus $19,690.
In other words, the wealthiest Mass. residents have almost 12 times the income of the lowest 1/5.
That’s ONE FIFTH – one out of every five families gets by on about 1/12 the amount of the richest among us, or should I say the richest among THEM.
Massachusetts may be one of the worst cases, but this income gap was seen in literally every state in the US. In Wyoming, the “best” case, the income of the lowest 20% of families is still only 1/8 of the income of the wealthiest.
Angel and Demons
Pure good and unredeemable evil are real: MSNBC reported the unbelievable story of an Atlanta woman whose purity of heart and flawless instincts saved two children from a pair of low-life child molesters.
Hamas
So far, the fundamentalist political party/terrorist group Hamas has won 76 of 132 seats in the Palestinian legislature, which gives them control of the government.
A Good Son
Yesterday, while crossing one of the bridges over Fort Point Channel, I called Peter to tell him something long overdue, that he is a good son, and I appreciate him.
McLean’s Laws of Meetings
Individual meetings should last no more than 45 minutes.
If you can’t finish a meeting in 45 minutes, then you weren’t prepared for it in the first place, so have mercy on the participants and announce as soon as diplomatically possible that you are scheduling a follow-on.
A Little Snow Goes a Long Way
Yesterday, we were hit by a morning snowstorm that turned rush hour traffic into a misery. The road conditions in Southeastern Mass. and the Boston area weren’t bad, but visibility was way, way down.
One More Reason…
… to swallow hemlock if you’re a homely woman in America:
Ohio State University research scientist Jay Zagorsky published a study showing that by early middle age, married people have a net worth that is a whopping 93 PERCENT HIGHER than single or divorced people.
The study was based on a group of over 9,000 people between ages 41 and 49. Net worth included home value, stocks, retirement and savings accounts.
The reason for the difference is – no great insight here – most married couples have two sources of income.
Major Error
I made a huge mistake this week, electing to work on a project at “home” rather than in town over the past two days.
As a result, the depression that’s dogged me for so many months is back in full force this morning.
I Don’t Know About You …
… but I know people who have lost their jobs for a LOT less than the 3 years of incompetence by the DSS staffers who were “following” the case of Haleigh Poutre, the 11 year old Westfield girl who is currently on life support, having been beaten literally senseless by her adoptive parents after 3 years of near-continuous physical abuse.
Naturally, the DSS Commissioner, Harry Spence, announced that he has “no plans” to discipline any of his staff, presumably on the basis that these so-called experts were “duped” by this poor child’s crafty, duplicitous adoptive mother.
If there’s any justice in this at all, it’s that the bitch killed herself two days after being held on child-abuse charges. Let’s hope she’s found her just reward in the afterlife, having gotten her sick, perverted jollies in this one by torturing someone else’s child.
Townie Times
I was lucky enough to get a contract with a company in Boston, a very good company in fact, with a long-standing and distinguished reputation in web development and design.