If we were to house everyone in the U.S. in a single skyscraper based on income level, how many floors would it have?

The top floors would be for the wealthy and the bottom floors for the less wealthy. And in keeping with our sense of just entitlement, an additional $100,000 in income (or wealth) would be required to move up one floor.

The first floor would house those earning $0 – $100,000. The second floor would require earnings of $100,001 – $200,000, while those on the third floor earned $200,001 – $300,000 etc. If you were fortunate enough, or as some would say, if you worked hard enough to have an income of $900,001 – $1,000,000, you would live on the tenth floor.

Nationally, the median individual income for an adult working full time is $64,220 a year (Bureau of Labor & Statistics). The overwhelming majority of us, 80 percent, would live on the first floor.

Referring to Investopedia’s figures (May 25), the first three floors would house over 90 percent of us with earnings of $300,000 or less annually.

The top 10 percent hold 68 percent of the nation’s wealth (wealth includes property, stocks, and savings). This is the group that republican politicians work so hard to protect. These republicans, not daring to offend those who fund their political careers, work hard to reduce this group’s income tax rate (37%), their capital gains tax rate (20%), while increasing the estate tax shelter cap to $30 million (per couple). They carve out tax loopholes, tax shelters, and special deductions. All quietly designed to advantage the rich.

Continuing, the 8th floor or higher is reserved for the top 1 percent, 1.2 million households, with an average annual income of $731,000 (2025).

As a reflection of Republican success, the ultra-rich are getting richer. In 1990, the top 1% held 22.5 % of national wealth, by 2025 it was almost 32% (https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/WFRBST01134).

Forbes compiled a list of the ultra-rich. Results showed that we have more billionaires than any other country in the world. These 989 billionaires would all reside on the 10,000th floor or higher! The infamous trillionaire, Elon Musk, would live on the 10 millionth floor!

I know of no political candidate, Republican or Democrat, who said they would raise taxes on anyone earning less than $300,000 a year.

However, every time it’s suggested that taxes be raised on the ultra-rich, Republican politicians do everything to gaslight you and obstruct.

Tens of millions of working Americans struggle to put food on the table, pay for daycare, finance a home, fund training and education, or even access affordable health care. The poor and working class don’t have lobbyists and it is they, not the ultra-rich, who need the support of their government.

This Nov. 3rd, you can sit back and watch those in need continue to struggle, or you can vote to stop the transfer of wealth.