US More Unequal Than Ancient Rome

http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox/2011/12/19/us_more_unequal_than_anciet_rome.html

90% Of Life Is Just Showing Up, And The 99% Don't

It may seem obvious that the disproportionate political influence of the top one percent of the income distribution comes from their ability to bribe politicians with campaign contributions, but it's worth noting that the economic elite are considerably more politically engaged in a fairly comprehensive way:

For example, 41 percent of the very wealthy reported attending a political meeting.  Only 9 percent of Americans did so in 2008.  And 68 percent of the very wealthy reported giving money to a political candidate, party, or cause in the last four years.  In 2008–a year in which “small donors” were numerous–only 13 percent of Americans donated to a political candidate or party.  Again, there are small differences in the wording of the questions between the two surveys, but they are not likely responsible for the 55-point gap.

read more:
http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox/2011/12/18/rich_people_are_politically_active.html