Why the Trickle-Down Theory is Complete BS

I'm going to divert from my usual subject matter today and spend some time introducing my political views. I hinted a little bit in my Fashion Pet Peeves post, but let me just expose how liberal I really am.

I HATE the Trickle Down Theory. I hate it with all my guts. For those of you that are unaware, trickle down is the idea that if the government allocates money to the rich/upper class, that money will eventually "trickle down" the social classes and will magically reach the poor. Advocates of the theory argue this kind of example: If a rich businessperson receives government funding, that person can now enjoy a lavish lifestyle; as this person spends, he/she hires people to do work (thus, this person's money "trickles down" to the lower class). That example in and of itself might strike some massive red flags at you.

Moving on.

I really cannot stand this idea because clearly, it doesn't fucking work. Even though the example above is true for many people, Trickle Down clearly doesn't benefit the poor as much as conservatives would like us to believe. When the government allocates money to the upper class, they're essentially giving rich people the green light to be as corrupt as they please so long as they keep the economy running. And I can never tolerate that. If Trickle Down were actually successful, America's unemployment rate would be significantly lower, and poor Americans would find work more easily.

Another major reason why trickle down doesn't work is because it not only widens the gap between high and low incomes, it perpetuates the idea that people with money can control whomever they want. Trickle down obviously benefits the rich, keeping them at the top of the social food chain (for what seems to be forever). These rich people--and I'm not saying that all of them do--can keep hiring (or is subjugating a more proper term?) lower class workers, keeping them "in their place." I refuse to support the idea that having more money makes you a better person. We need to understand that poor people are people too. 

My solution, and it seems quite obvious, is to allocate government funds to the poor and create an opposite system--a Transpire Up Theory, if you will. If the government gives its money to the lower class (in the form of food stamps, welfare, healthcare, etc), the lower class will be able to provide for themselves and have all the resources they need to contribute to the economy. This contribution would inevitably go up the social classes and benefit the rich in the long run. As my Economics teacher says, "If you give money to the rich, it benefits the rich. But if you give money to the poor, it benefits everyone."


Bite me, Ronald Reagan.