The Rich are Getting Richer Lie

 The Rich are getting richer and The Poor are getting poorer. Everybody knows that because it's repeated over and over. Only, it isn't true. Over time, both The Rich and The Poor have become richer. But maybe recently that's changed? The Democrats rant every day about incomes becoming more unequal. Surely the recession has disproportionately impacted poorer households.
The most recent report from the Congressional Budget Office shows this data over the last three reporting years (which coincide with the most recent economic downturn).

 

Every income quintile increased it's share of after tax income except the top quintile. This is a result of a huge income decline amongst the very highest earners (The bottom quintile actually gained in after tax income).



Lies may make good political fodder, but that doesn't mean that they are not lies.