Trump’s 17 cabinet-level picks have more money than a third of American households combined

[libertybele]

Trump’s 17 cabinet-level picks have more money than a third of American households combined

The 17 people who US president-elect Donald Trump has selected for his cabinet or for posts with cabinet rank have well over $9.5 billion in combined wealth, with several positions still unfilled. This collection of wealth is greater than that of the 43 million least wealthy American households combined—over one third of the 126 million households total in the US.

Affluence of this magnitude in a US presidential cabinet is unprecedented....

...The household data on which we based our comparison is from the 2013 Survey of Consumer Finances. Collected by the Federal Reserve, this survey is the most recent comprehensive data source on American wealth. The estimates were adjusted for inflation and an increase in the number of American households. It is possible that the wealth of low-income Americans has changed since 2013, but trends over the last several decades suggest a large change is unlikely.
It is worth noting that almost 13% of American households have zero or negative wealth because of debt, so we are adding together these households with those that have at least some wealth....

http://qz.com/862412/trumps-16-cabinet-level-picks-have-more-money-than-a-third-of-american-households-combined/

[thackney]

Trump’s 17 cabinet-level picks have more money than a third of American households combined

The 17 people who US president-elect Donald Trump has selected for his cabinet or for posts with cabinet rank have well over $9.5 billion in combined wealth, with several positions still unfilled. This collection of wealth is greater than that of the 43 million least wealthy American households combined—over one third of the 126 million households total in the US.

Affluence of this magnitude in a US presidential cabinet is unprecedented....

...The household data on which we based our comparison is from the 2013 Survey of Consumer Finances. Collected by the Federal Reserve, this survey is the most recent comprehensive data source on American wealth. The estimates were adjusted for inflation and an increase in the number of American households. It is possible that the wealth of low-income Americans has changed since 2013, but trends over the last several decades suggest a large change is unlikely.
It is worth noting that almost 13% of American households have zero or negative wealth because of debt, so we are adding together these households with those that have at least some wealth....

http://qz.com/862412/trumps-16-cabinet-level-picks-have-more-money-than-a-third-of-american-households-combined/

Is selecting very successful people for the jobs supposed to be considered a bad thing?

[geronl]

Trump thinks poor people (poorer than himself) are losers.

[jmyrlefuller]

In all fairness, a person with $0 in his bank account and no debt has more money than a quarter of American households combined. This says more about how bad society has dug itself into personal debt to keep up with their neighbors than it does about these guys.

[geronl]

Better than selecting professional pols sucking off the government teat.  Only a Lib would bitch about the money aspect of his picks.

You should look at his cabinet a bit closer if you think they aren't professional pols and professional teat suckers.

[HonestJohn]

Is selecting very successful people for the jobs supposed to be considered a bad thing?

I thought 'experts' were a bad thing in Trumplandia?

[Wingnut]

I don't have a problem with this.

[Chosen Daughter]

Hmmm well have to think about that.  I don't know does it matter?  How did they make their wealth?  By cheating or stealing?  Were they charitable and humble with their wealth or is their identity in the money?

[Frank Cannon]

Were they charitable and humble with their wealth or is their identity in the money?

People can do whatever they want with their wealth. It's their wealth.

[MajorClay]

Wow, I have more money than the lowest 13% combined!!!!

[sneakypete]

"The 17 people who US president-elect Donald Trump has selected for his cabinet or for posts with cabinet rank have well over $9.5 billion in combined wealth, with several positions still unfilled. This collection of wealth is greater than that of the 43 million least wealthy American households combined—over one third of the 126 million households total in the US."

So what,Comrades?

Maybe you think he should have picked homeless drifters or people working the counter at Mickey D's that are in their 40's or 50's?

[beandog]

I don't have a problem with this.

I don't either.  When did having a lot of money become a bad thing.

[Wingnut]

I don't either.  When did having a lot of money become a bad thing.

About the time Obama sanctioned the 1 percent/Occupy movement....

[Fantom]

Trump thinks poor people (poorer than himself) are losers.

Really? Any evidence of that?

This Bricklayer is willing to give Trump a chance... certainly better than Hillary... and so far so good.


A Simple Bricklayer.

[Silver Pines]

I don't have a problem with this.

@Wingnut

Neither do I.  The size of their bank accounts isn't relevant, IMO.

[Cripplecreek]

I don't have a problem with this.

What I have a problem with is him running against exactly this kind of governance only to turn around and do exactly what he accused all others of doing.

[Wingnut]

@Wingnut

Neither do I.  The size of their bank accounts isn't relevant, IMO.

:Cheers:

[bilo]

I don't see any problem with having successful people in Cabinet positions. As far as I know they acquired their wealth honestly.

What is exciting is seeing so few career politicians, academics and lawyers in Cabinet positions. Only time will tell if Trump's approach will work, but trying something different is definitely something that should be applauded.

[Right_in_Virginia]

What I have a problem with is him running against exactly this kind of governance only to turn around and do exactly what he accused all others of doing.

You've misunderstood @Cripplecreek  Had you listened to Trump you would have heard him say two things over and over and over again:  He will be owned by no one when he enters the White House, and he will bring the best and the brightest into his administration to help implement his agenda. 

So far, so good.   ^-^

[LMAO]

I suspect most people in this country do not care about the net worth of Trump's appointments. It's the left and the press that are making it a bigger issue than it is.

If there is one person who I hope has a major influence on the Trump administration is Mulvaney. More him and less Ivanka. Far, far less Ivanka. I compliment Trump on this pick. We wouldn't have gotten someone like him for Budget Director had Hillary won. The question is will Trump listen to him? I hope so.

[sneakypete]

What I have a problem with is him running against exactly this kind of governance only to turn around and do exactly what he accused all others of doing.

@Cripplecreek

You think maybe he should have nominated homeless guys that dropped out of elementary schools,or fast food joint counter help instead?

[GrouchoTex]

It's just the left being the left.
JFK had appointed some pretty wealthy people in his cabinet, and we never heard any nonsense about it.
I have no problem with Trump appointing wealthy people.
If they were good at what they were doing, why shouldn't they be paid well for it?

[Cripplecreek]

It's just the left being the left.
JFK had appointed some pretty wealthy people in his cabinet, and we never heard any nonsense about it.
I have no problem with Trump appointing wealthy people.
If they were good at what they were doing, why shouldn't they be paid well for it?

I don't have a problem with him hiring wealthy people.

I have a problem with the way he lied and attacked everyone else before turning around and doubled down on exactly the things he ran against.

The moral cowardice is astounding.

[sneakypete]

What a childish dumbass thing to say.

GFY

@Cripplecreek

It was YOUR brain fart I was responding to,Bubba. Either defend it or admit your jerking knee posted it.

[sneakypete]

I don't have a problem with him hiring wealthy people.

I have a problem with the way he lied and attacked everyone else before turning around and doubled down on exactly the things he ran against.

The moral cowardice is astounding.

@Cripplecreek

In other words you are having a hissy-fit because he won the nomination instead of JEB or some other piece of shit.