On Fixed Income               
     As of 2014, the latest update, the richest 1 percent of American taxpayers receive 20 percent of national income. Next are Britain and Canada - 14 percent each, then Denmark and the Netherlands - 6 percent.
 

Both political parties ruled at various times over the 34 years 

      since the share doubled from 10 to 20 percent. Most of that time, 

   the party that claims to represent average folks held Congress. 

   Reasons for disparity are not trade, information technology, unions or immigration. There is no correlation between changes occurring in these areas and the income gap.   

   Studies analyzed by the New York Times reveal that most growth for top earners happens in just three economic sectors: professional services, finance and insurance, and health care. These groups benefit from regulatory barriers that protect them from competition. 

   They include physicians, executives, managers, sales supervisors, analysts in finance, professional and legal-service industry executives, lawyers, consultants and sales reps. 

We add, since an annual income of $390,000 qualifies,     

  every major league baseball player - not minor leaguers    

          brought up for short stints - is well into the 1 percent bracket.   
Of course, their careers on the field are limited.              

   Elite professionals in the 90th percentile make 3.5 times what the median worker earns in all occupations. This ratio is common in all countries with similar economies.

   Some claim that laws benefiting the rich are a primary cause of income disparity. Also, people in the upper middle class can shape both legal and cultural norms to their advantage. They have political power, regardless of party. 

   Methods include subsidies for financial risk-taking, over protection of patents, and favoritism (state licensing regulations) for market incumbents, such as blocking para-professionals from providing routine services. 

         Jimmy