Comment by cm2187 | Hacker News Reader

Comment by cm2187 | Hacker News Reader

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If you mean in term of quality of life, I actually think that in absolute terms it is probably marginal. They might enjoy a more comfortable life, going to places where the normal middle class doesn't go, tasting food which is slightly better. But they don't eat more calories than the average american, if they get sick they will be treated with the same molecules than the average american, the shinny tesla car they will drive will not transport them much better than the cheap Ford of the average american, they will not sleep much better in their big house than the average american, etc.

If you think in term of investment opportunities, clearly there are many investments that are only accessible to wealthy people, because of the amount of risk they involve, or because owning a tiny fractional share of a company is a sort of anomaly. Most investments (building, company, project) have few and require few investors, not the least to ensure proper governance.

But at one point the marginal benefit of the accumulation of wealth becomes zero. I don't think someone who own 1 billions lives much better than someone who owns 50 millions.

> If you mean in term of quality of life, I actually think that in absolute terms it is probably marginal

You are severely underestimating the importance of peace of mind. When you are poor, you are always worried about making rent. When you are middle class, you might be a few paychecks (or a hospital bill) away from insolvency. The wealthy don't have to worry about those things.

John Scalzi has an awesome post about the cost of being poor[1] on his blog.

http://whatever.scalzi.com/2005/09/03/being-poor/

Edit: d'oh, my reply is off-topic because I misread GP's post - missed that the distinction is between 1%ers and 0.1%ers. Considering that; I suspect the difference is in influence (my guess is the 0.1% are likely to be more 'politically involved' or better connected)

I don't think there is a single item on the list of this blog that applies to the american middle class or even lower end of middle class. Poverty is a different issue but what this article is referring to is the gap between the "1%" and the rest of the population, and I think a typical middle class american is the right comparison to assess whether this is such a gap in quality of life.

I think @sangnoir was too quick to retract the point. A typical middle class American is one job loss or disability away from despair. Funding a child's postsecondary education is also expensive. The middle class are certainly better off than the poor but the 1 percent have much additional peace of mind.

This is nonsense. There's a direct link between wealth and life expectancy, likelihood of surviving surgery, likelihood you'll be killed by the police, sentenced to prison etc.

Like the comment from sangnoir, I think you have in mind the poorest fraction of the population. I don't think the middle class has a different life expectancy or likelyhood to end up in prison than the top 1% / .01%.

I do think the middle class and the top 0.01% have a different life expectancy and likelihood of ending up in prison.

See https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_Walton#Automobile_inci...

As others have said, even most of the top 1% isn't immune. They have to work to make money. Many people who are not billionaires probably spend more than they earn making them vulnerable to losing almost everything if they have to spend a year or two in prison.

Why is someone not surviving surgery? Do they have a poor diet, which contributes to riskier health situations?

Why will they be killed by the police? Are they threatening someone or do they look like they will?

All of the things you listed come down to attitude and personal choice.

Yeah, really the takeaway message from much of the news coming out of the US over the last year or so is pretty much that everyone is treated both equally and fairly. I don't understand anyone who complains about racism, the ever widening gulf between rich and poor etc.

Yup, everything bad that has ever happened or will ever happen to you is your fault.

In many places in the U.S. "look like they will" is synonymous with "having dark skin". What a horrible attitude and personal choices these people must have.

Your post has no basis in reality. Stop believing the media. It just makes you look foolish.

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