Income in America graphic

I'm currently working on a longer post about the situation in Wisconsin, but in doing so I came across this graphic which charts trends in income growth (and inequality) in America over the last century. It shows some fairly disturbing trends that might make us think twice about our role in the world, and whether or not something like we've seen in Egypt and many other Middle Eastern nations could in fact happen here.

As that graphic shows, ALL income growth in America from 1971 to 2008 went to the top 10%; wages for the bottom 90% actually declined. Whether or not that kind of trend is economically sustainable is questionable, and whether or not it is socially sustainable is doubtful, as we've learned from our foreign friends. Interesting food for thought.

[Economic Policy Institute]
(h/t Paul Kedrosky)