>The people in the
>bottom 20% income bracket have seen a whopping 53% income increase (33%
>when corrected for inflation) and are spending it. Keep in mind they're
>almost 60% of the population
I'm still trying to figure out how the people in the lowest-20% income bracket make up 60% of the population. Chavez really is a hero if he can change statistics like that.
But non-smartassly, from what I've read the income gains have been pretty polarized. The very poor are doing much better, but the not-so poor and the middle, like the very wealthy, have not fared all that well. I've also read that the upper-middle class have seen huge gains. Am I getting bad information, or is there at least a little truth to what the reactionary assholes say, that Chavez is throwing sops to the poor?