CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Rauner ally Illinois Policy Institute seeks spending cuts on universities, care for poor, teacher pensions – Kim Geiger
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-illinois-policy-budget-bruce-rauner-met-20170131-story.html
— Will February be budget month for Illinois? – Editorial
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-illinois-budget-rauner-madigan-edit-0201-md-20170131-story.html
— Drain the swamp of the federal bureaucracy — and start with middle management – Steve Frank is an attorney and writer who, until he recently retired, served for more than 30 years in the U.S. Department of Justice.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-bureacracy-drain-the-swamp-trump-perspec-0201-jm-20170131-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: In a front page editorial with a big color picture unethically made to look like a news article, Democrats and RINOs promote mass immigration.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-jewish-muslim-fathers-viral-photo-met-20170131-story.html
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Obama fights back: Former president’s team resists Trump – AP
http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/obama-fights-back-former-presidents-team-resists-trump/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: It seems that for Democrats, promoting Islam is now a higher priority than promoting LGBTQ activity. What do those who promote LGBTQ activity have to say about that? What about the conflicts between Islam and LGBTQ activity?
http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/brown-trump-wont-make-america-great-again-without-refugees/
DAILY HERALD
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: In a front page top of fold editorial with a color picture unethically made to look like a news article, Democrats and RINOs promote mass immigration.
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20170201/news/170209959/
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH PENSION DATA ON CHASE, GILGIS, IOZZO, MAIO, AND WESTROM: Ex-DuPage County board members profit from pension loophole – Jake Griffin (DIERSEN: What pension loopholes have you benefited from? My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes would argue that for almost 3 years 1966-1969 while I worked for the Park Forest Post Office, I earned full-time credit toward a Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) pension even though I only worked part-time. One of my Democrat GAO superiors bragged that when he found out about that in 1980, I successfully got Congress to eliminate that, so that now such CSRS credit is prorated. My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes would also argue that I benefited from taking an early retirement “offer” in 1997 when I was 49 years old. But so far, my taking that offer has cost me in today’s dollars $1,400,563 in lost income ($10,249/mo. salary X 233 months minus $4,238 pension X 233 months).
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20170201/news/170209960/
— Suburban residents worry about health insurance as ACA enrollment ends – Jamie Sotonoff (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always been furious that as a federal employee for almost 30 years and as a federal retiree for more than 19 years, I have been a member in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/). They have not and will not seek a job with the federal government a) because the pay and benefits are terrible, b) because the advancement opportunities are terrible, c) because they lack required education, work experience, professional certifications, and/or professional licenses, d) because they cannot pass an employment examination, e) because they cannot pass a background investigation, f) because they cannot pass a physical examination, g) because they cannot take the demonization, denigration, and condemnation that comes with being a federal employee or federal retiree, and/or h) because they are Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran and they know that the federal government discriminates against its employees who are Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20170201/news/170209961/
NBC5
— Meet the 29-Year-Old Suburban Democrat Running for Governor “I was getting sick of how politics were being done, how things were being run, partisan politics being everyone against everyone else with no one actually listening to other people’s opinions,” Paterakis said. – Tom Schuba (DIERSEN: From what I see, it is extremely difficult to win an election if those who have the most religious, government, political, and financial clout do not want you to win.)
http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/-29-Year-Old-Suburban-Democrat-Running-for-Governor-412357043.html
ABC7
— POLICE: EMPLOYEE STRUCK DISABLED ADULT AT ELMHURST GROUP HOME
http://abc7chicago.com/news/police-employee-struck-disabled-adult-at-elmhurst-group-home/1730719/
FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— Chicago Police release January crime stats
http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/crime/232982768-story
— Mayor Emanuel opens his home to ‘Dreamers’ – Lisa Chavarria (DIERSEN: This encourages people to come to America illegally, to stay in America illegally, and to bring others to America illegally. From what I see, those who promote Dreamers are anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, anti-draft avoiders, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.)
http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/local/232926615-story
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel opened his home to “Dreamers” on Tuesday night. The six young people who joined the Emanuel family for dinner all attend Chicago public high schools. They are all undocumented immigrants who were brought here as children. The “DREAM” Act would have given them a path to citizenship, but it’s not clear that path will remain clear with Donald Trump in the White House. Emanuel, who has vehemently protected Chicago’s status as a sanctuary city, says Trump’s anti-immigration efforts are contrary to American values. “The power of the United States is that people from all walks of life, every part of the world, can come to Chicago, the most American of American cities,” Emanuel said. “And they can give their children a chance at a better life.” Archbishop Blase Cupich, who is an outspoken supporter of immigration, also attended the dinner.)
CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Trump immigration order cause for ‘grave concern’ – ADAM KINZINGER
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20170201/OPINION/170139956
— Libertarians offer no-tax-hike state budget – GREG HINZ
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20170131/BLOGS02/170139967/libertarians-offer-no-tax-hike-state-budget
WTTW
— Is It Really Possible to Balance the State Budget Without a Tax Hike? – Amanda Vinicky
http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2017/01/31/it-really-possible-balance-state-budget-without-tax-hike
PEORIA JOURNAL STAR
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, universities side with foreign countries and their citizens against America and against its citizens.
http://www.pjstar.com/news/20170130/bradley-university-says-end-ban
BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH
— State of the Standoff: ‘The state of Illinois is on fire’ – Devan Patel
http://www.pantagraph.com/news/state-and-regional/state-of-the-standoff-the-state-of-illinois-is-on/article_2b61d7ba-952f-5e0d-9662-85ad510c0b99.html
SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Trump’s interim U.S. attorney general Dana Boente formerly from Carlinville – Brian Robbins
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20170131/trumps-interim-us-attorney-general-formerly-from-carlinville
NORTHWEST HERALD
— AS THE DEMOCRAT PARTY’S STRANGLEHOLD ON ILLINOIS TIGHTENS: Report concludes 1 Illinois home in 5 ‘seriously’ underwater High property taxes hamper McHenry County’s housing recovery – KEVIN P. CRAVER
http://www.nwherald.com/2017/01/30/report-concludes-1-illinois-home-in-5-seriously-underwater/ajdl3t9/
TIMES
— Lawmakers may break anti-tax pledges – David Giuliani
http://www.mywebtimes.com/news/local/lawmakers-may-break-anti-tax-pledges/article_627520b3-27b6-5a79-92ea-7d89f7317efe.html
— Proposed laws aim to reform Illinois group homes
http://www.mywebtimes.com/news/local/proposed-laws-aim-to-reform-illinois-group-homes/article_80785849-f9d5-514b-8bc5-624903170d0b.html
WAND
— Illini Republican Organization Reacts to Protests Against President Trump’s Executive Order – Meredith Hackler
http://www.wandtv.com/story/34395601/illini-republican-organization-reacts-to-protests-against-president-trumps-executive-order
FOX ILLINOIS
— Rauner Urges Mendoza To Fight Stopping State Employee Pay – Jordan Abudayyeh
http://foxillinois.com/news/local/rauner-urges-mendoza-to-fight-stopping-state-employee-pay
NPR ILLINOIS
— AS THE DEMOCRAT PARTY’S STRANGLEHOLD ON ILLINOIS TIGHTENS: Bleak Future For Illinois Economy – BRIAN MACKEY
http://nprillinois.org/post/report-bleak-future-illinois-economy#stream/0
POSITIVELY NAPERVILLE
— STEVE FORBES TALKS SIMPLY ABOUT CAPITALISM AT NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE
http://www.positivelynaperville.com/2017/01/31/limited-number-tickets-remains-available-steve-forbes-talk-tonight-wentz-concert-hall/69548
WHEATON PATCH
— DuPage Voters Will see Tax Questions on April Ballot 16 different taxing bodies will pose questions to voters about future funding – Patrick Martin
http://patch.com/illinois/wheaton/dupage-voters-will-see-tax-questions-april-ballot
EVANSTON NOW
— Anti-Trump group strategizes at Curt’s – Charles Bartling (DIERSEN: Where do anti-Trump groups strategize in your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, and in Illinois?)
http://evanstonnow.com/comment/40652
ILLINOIS FAMILY ACTION
— U.S. Senator Rand Paul Offers Worthy Obamacare Alternative – Joshua Withrow
https://illinoisfamilyaction.org/2017/01/u-s-senator-rand-paul-offers-worthy-obamacare-alternative/
ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— The Radical Trans-Formation of America For decades the Left has embarked on a science- and morality-defying quest to advance a sexuality ideology that undermines human flourishing. There is no better illustration of that than the radical “trans”-formation of America with regard to “transgenderism.”
https://illinoisfamily.org/podcast/podcast-radical-trans-formation-america/
ILLINOIS REVIEW
— CONSERVATIVE INITIAL REACTION TO GORSUCH PICK IS OPTIMISTIC, BUT CAUTIOUS
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2017/02/conservative-initial-reaction-to-gorsuch-pick-is-optimistic-but-cautious.html
GOPUSA
— McCain Emerges as Leader of #NeverTrump GOP Establishment in Congress
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=20088
— CEO predicts Trump assassination within 100 days
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=20097
FOX NEWS
— Obama may challenge Trump more forcefully in coming months (DIERSEN: Anti-Trumps will use that to justify violence against Trump and against his supporters.)
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/02/01/obama-may-challenge-trump-more-forcefully-in-coming-months-report-says.html
WASHINGTON TIMES
— Picking and choosing: Fired AG defended Obama’s unlawful immigration amnesty – Valerie Richardson
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/jan/31/sally-yates-obeyed-obama-after-immigration-amnesty/
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Democrats running Tea Party playbook against Trump – W. JAMES ANTLE III
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/democrats-running-tea-party-playbook-against-trump/article/2613568
PUBLIUS FORUM
— The Hysteria Over Trumps Nonexistent ‘Muslim Ban’ Grows by the Minute – Warner Todd Huston
http://www.publiusforum.com/2017/01/31/hysteria-trumps-nonexistent-muslim-ban-grows-minute/
LIFE SITE NEWS
— Illegal Aliens Really Do Commit voter fraud – and always for Democrats
https://www.lifesitenews.com/blogs/illegal-aliens-really-do-vote-and-always-for-democrats
JOHN BIVER
— Identity Politics and Paraphilias: Man’s Search for Meaning
http://johnbiver.com/identity-politics-paraphilias-mans-search-meaning/
AMERICAN THINKER
— An ungood reading of Orwell – Jonathan F. Keiler
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2017/02/an_ungood_reading_of_orwell.html
FREEDOM’S JOURNAL
— MERCY FOR THE ‘DREAMERS’ – Star Parker (DIERSEN: Yes, but the more that you give the Dreamers, the more people who will come to America illegally, the more people who will stay in America illegally, and the more people who will bring others to America illegally. Soon, if not already, employers will stop hiring American citizens and only hire Dreamers. In 1971, to settle an EEOC complaint, Oldsmobile stopped hiring Whites. Because of that, Oldsmobile withdrew a job offer that I had accepted. That directly resulted in my accepting a job offer from IRS.)
https://freedomsjournalinstitute.org/latest-news/opinion/mercy-for-the-dreamers/
— LOWER CONDUCT STANDARDS FOR LIBERALS – Walter E. Williams
https://freedomsjournalinstitute.org/latest-news/cartoons/lower-conduct-standards-for-liberals/
DAILY CALLER
— The Mass Protests Facing Trump Are Hardly Unprecedented – Doug Ibendahl
http://dailycaller.com/2017/01/31/mass-anti-trump-protests-are-hardly-unprecedented/
WORLD NET DAILY
— U.S. MUSLIMS URGED: DON’T COOPERATE AT BORDER Travelers who raise suspicion instructed not to answer questions – ART MOORE (DIERSEN: While I worked for the federal government for almost 30 years, my Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates frequently asked me questions to bring out the fact that I was baptized, raised, and conformed as a Missouri Synod Lutheran and that I was conservative, Republican, old (born in 1948), non-poor, a gun owner, 100% German American, non-veteran, and that my ancestors have been in America since the 1840s. Of course, they used the aforesaid facts against me.)
http://www.wnd.com/2017/01/u-s-muslims-urged-dont-cooperate-at-border/
NEWSMAX
— Trump Picks Neil Gorsuch to Replace Antonin Scalia on Supreme Court
http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/trump-picks-neil-gorsuch/2017/01/31/id/771358/
CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN NEWS
— ANTI-TRUMP PROTEST LEADER ARRESTED ON CHILD SEX CHARGES
http://conservativerepublicannews.com/2017/01/31/anti-trump-protest-leader-arrested-on-child-sex-charges/
BLAZE
— State legislature considering making all of California a ‘sanctuary state’ – Tre Goins-Phillips
http://www.theblaze.com/news/2017/01/31/state-legislature-considering-making-all-of-california-a-sanctuary-state/
BREITBART
— Flashback: Chuck Schumer Considered Refugee Pause in 2015 – JOEL B. POLLAK
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/01/30/flashback-chuck-schumer-considered-refugee-pause-2015/
EAGLE FORUM
— Eagle Forum Thanks President Trump for Keeping His Promise
http://eagleforum.org/publications/press-releases/ef-applauds-gorsuch-selection.html
THE HILL
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “Bannon’s power puts Republicans on edge.”
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/317236-bannons-power-puts-republicans-on-edge
— Trump White House clashes with resistant civil servants – BEN KAMISAR
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/317238-trump-white-house-clashes-with-resistant-civil-servants
CNN
— Budweiser is accidentally political in Super Bowl ad – Alexandra Larkin (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, if you are a Republican, the longer that your ancestors have been in America, the more that Democrats and RINOs a) blame you and your ancestors for all the problems that minorities and women have had, are having, and will have and b) demonize you, denigrate you, and condemn you as being a racist, sexist, bigot, and even worse things.)
http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/31/us/budweiser-immigration-commercial-trnd/index.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: This year, Budweiser’s sneak peek of its commercial departs from their normal content and instead tells the story of company co-founder, Adolphus Busch, as he emigrates from Germany to the United States. The commercial, titled “Born the Hard Way,” and set in the 1800s, follows Busch as he sails through storms to reach the United States, faces discrimination because of his German heritage (Americans he meets tell him “go back home” and “you’re not wanted here”). Eventually, he arrives in St. Louis, Missouri, where he would meet Eberhard Anheuser and go on to create the brewing giant. The advertisement comes as the nation witnesses widespread protests over President Donald Trump’s controversial immigration ban, but Budweiser insists that the coincidental timing is just that — a coincidence. Ricardo Marques, vice president of marketing at Budweiser, has said in a statement that the commercial is “a story we believe will resonate with today’s entrepreneurial generation — those who will continue to strive for their dreams.” Budweiser stressed that the commercial focuses on the universal story of the immigrant. Mike Bryne, the chief creative officer of the advertisement agency that helped create the commercial, Anomaly, said in a statement, “When Budweiser told us that they wanted to celebrate those who embody the American spirit, we realized the ultimate story lived within their own brand history. Adolphus Busch is the hero of the Anheuser-Busch American dream.”)
NEW YORK TIMES
— Fear of Protesters Prompts Cancellation of Trump Trip – JONATHAN WEISMAN and GARDINER HARRIS (DIERSEN: Anti-Trumps crow that their threats of violence are working.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/01/us/politics/donald-trump-administration.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Americans say “A Government on Edge and in the Dark.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/31/opinion/a-government-on-edge-and-in-the-dark.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: The more that you insult Trump, the more that anti-Trumps promote you.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/01/arts/jon-stewart-trump-colbert.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, Democrats glorify and praise foreign countries and their citizens.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/01/opinion/how-trump-has-taken-away-our-homes.html
WASHINGTON POST
— It will take 170 years for women to be equal to men — unless some things change, study says – Amanda Erickson (DIERSEN: Democrats and RINOs promote Islam. Under Islam, women will NEVER be equal to men.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/01/31/it-will-take-170-years-for-women-to-be-equal-to-men-under-current-conditions-study-says/
— Many federal employees don’t like Trump’s program, but they’re not revolting – Joe Davidson
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/02/01/many-feds-dont-like-trumps-program-but-theyre-not-revolting/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, Democrats make it clear that they are anti-Jewish.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2017/01/31/sean-spicer-sounds-like-a-holocaust-denier/
NEW YORK POST
— Democrats vow to fight Trump’s Gorsuch nomination – Marisa Schultz and Bob Fredericks
http://nypost.com/2017/02/01/democrats-vow-to-fight-trumps-gorsuch-nomination/
USA TODAY
_ FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH COLOR PHOTO OF BANNON: HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: Bannon takes dark view of Islam – Steve Reilly and Brad Heath (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, Democrats and RINOs a) glorify and praise Islam and b) talk and act like they are going to get rid of all individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that do not promote Islam.)
HOUSTON CHRONICLE
— Analysis: To resist or not, the federal employees’ dilemma – Joe Davidson
http://www.houstonchronicle.com/national/article/Analysis-To-resist-or-not-the-federal-10896345.php
CBS SACRAMENTO
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, anti-Trumps side with Mexico and with other foreign countries against America.
http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2017/01/31/california-lawmakers-aim-to-protect-rights-of-immigrants-under-trump-administration/
WASHINGTON BUSINESS JOURNAL
— Reince Priebus, wife settle on 6,000-square-foot home just outside the Beltway
http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2017/01/31/reince-priebus-wife-settle-on-6-000-square-foot.html
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps want America to continue to pander to Mexico.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/mexicos-bad-luck-gets-even-worse-1485908893
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps demonize, denigrate, and condemn Trump.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/nothing-redeems-trumps-travel-ban-1485907087
— Amid Trump’s visa storm, a German reminder of what bad policy looks like. – Holman Jenkins
https://www.wsj.com/articles/incompetence-is-the-norm-1485907006
FORTUNE
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “Less Than a Third of Americans Believe Trump’s Immigration Order Makes Them Safer.”
http://fortune.com/2017/02/01/trump-immigration-order-safer-survey/
FEDERAL TIMES
— Connolly calls for 3.2 percent raise for federal employees – Carten Cordell (DIERSEN: Virtually all my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes are filled with hatred of federal employees and federal retirees. I was a federal employee for almost 30 years and I have been a federal retiree for more than 19 years. They have not and will not seek a job with the federal government a) because the pay and benefits are terrible, b) because the advancement opportunities are terrible, c) because they lack required education, work experience, professional certifications, and/or professional licenses, d) because they cannot pass an employment examination, e) because they cannot pass a background investigation, f) because they cannot pass a physical examination, g) because they cannot take the demonization, denigration, and condemnation that comes with being a federal employee or federal retiree, and/or h) because they are Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran and they know that the federal government discriminates against its employees who are Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran.)
http://www.federaltimes.com/articles/connolly-calls-for-32-percent-raise-for-federal-employees
(FROM THE ARTICLE: But the Virginia congressman — whose constituency consists of many federal workers — said the group has been wrongly maligned by the administration and the House, following the reinstitution of the Holman Rule, which allows it to make program or employee cuts in its appropriation bills. “For too long Republicans have bullied our federal workforce, falsely painting the civil servant as the scapegoat for all our country’s problems,” Connolly said in a statement. “They’ve endured shutdowns and furloughs, attacks on pay and benefits, and an across-the-board hiring freeze. Their hard work was questioned. Now, thanks to the Armageddon Rule, even individual positions could be on the congressional chopping block.” The measure won support from the National Treasury Employees Union and its president, Tony Reardon, who decried the disparity in pay increases federal employees face compared to the private sector. “Federal employees are dedicated public servants. They are highly trained and educated and work hard every day to help all Americans,” Reardon said in a statement. “They should not have to accept substandard pay raises and face continual attacks on their rights and benefits.”)
SOCIALIST WORKER
— The people versus the president (DIERSEN: Who claims to be “the people” in your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, in Illinois, and in America? From what I see, they are anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, anti-draft avoiders, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.)
https://socialistworker.org/2017/02/01/the-people-versus-the-president
INCOME INVESTORS
— 3 Things the Media Won’t Tell You About Wealth Inequality – Robert Baillieul (DIERSEN: If you are not poor, what do your critics/opponents attribute that to? My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes hint/imply/argue/shout I am not poor a) because I was born a White male, b) because I have been blessed with good health (aside from poor eyesight and partial red-green color blindness), c) because I avoided the draft, d) because I got married, e) because my wife and I gave up trying to have children, we did not adopt, and we did not become foster parents, f) because the federal government overpaid me, and g) because my federal pension and health, dental, and vision insurance subsidy is too generous.)
https://www.incomeinvestors.com/3-things-media-wont-tell-wealth-inequality/13662/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: First, take the idea getting rich requires wealthy parents. Today, 9.6 million households in America have more than $1.0 million in assets. Of this total, 86% of them are first-generation rich; in other words, they earned their money. (Source: “10 Things You Didn’t Know About Millionaires,” CNN Money, July 31, 2014.) Most millionaires are working, and not sitting on a beach drinking cocktails. In terms of jobs, you’ll find them employed as managers (17%), educators (12%), executives (7%), business owners (6%), and professionals. (Source: “29 Valuable Facts about Millionaires,” FactRetriever.com, December 27, 2016.) Education is a key theme. Most millionaires have a college degree. Many hold advanced certifications, including a Master’s degree (18%), law degrees (eight percent), medical degrees (six percent), and PhDs (six percent). (Source: “$1 Million Isn’t Worth What It Used To Be,” Visual Capitalist, November 22, 2016.) They’re experienced, too. The average millionaire takes 32 years to hit the seven-figure mark. While the media focuses on startup founders, real wealth building is a slow process. (Source: “It takes the typical self-made millionaire at least 32 years to get rich,” Business Insider, March 5, 2015.) Skills attained. Customers served. Ladders climbed. Not a trust fund in sight. Second, we often hear the rich need to pay their “fair share.” The idea gained steam after Warren Buffett wrote his famous wealth inequality op-ed. In 2011, the billionaire investor pointed out he paid a lower tax rate than his secretary. Capital gain taxes, he argued, were unfairly low compared to levies placed on earned income. (Source: “Stop Coddling the Super-Rich,” The New York Times, August 14, 2011.) Fact is, the rich are paying a bigger load than ever. In 1950, 89% of Americans paid income taxes. Today, only 47% do so. (Source: “T15-0138 – Tax Units with Zero or Negative Income Tax,” Tax Policy Center, October 2, 2015.) On average, the top 20% pay $50,176 in income taxes. In total, this group pays 87% of all income taxes collected. By comparison, four in 10 people at the bottom end of the income spectrum end up collecting money from the government. (Source: Ibid.) Buffett’s affairs are not typical, either. Only about a quarter of those making more than $1.0 million per year pay a lower tax rate than middle-class taxpayers, according to a 2012 study by the Congressional Research Service. Never mind that these studies often skip the corporate taxes owners pay as well. (Source: “An Analysis of the “Buffett Rule,”” Congressional Research Service, March 28,2012.) And finally, the idea that America’s wealthy class is some sort of gilded elite. Once again, the numbers don’t bear that out. Nearly 70% of millionaire families lose their wealth by the second generation. Over 90% are out of the country clubs by the third. (Source: Visual Capitalist, November 22, 2016, op cit.))
