Americans on Hard-working Rich: Admirable, Greedy

Oh, and more intelligent and less honest: Pew Research Center poll
By Kate Seamons,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 27, 2012 5:15 PM CDT
Americans on Hard-working Rich: Admirable, Greedy
Got a lot of Benjamins? Americans may consider you more intelligent than the average Joe.   (©Damian Gadal)

Good news for the 1%: A little more than 40% of Americans think you are more intelligent and more hardworking than the average Joe, according to a new Pew Research Center poll. And if you worked hard to get your money, then 92% of middle-class Americans would describe you as admirable. But don't pat yourself on the back just yet: 55% of Americans classified the rich as greedier than the average person, and 34% consider them less honest.

Oh, and you're also not paying enough in taxes, according to 58% of respondents. But 26% say you're doing just fine, and 8% say you pay too much. So what kind of salary would make a family of four in your area "rich"? At least $100,000. The median response was $150,000, with 39% saying between $100,000 and $249,999, and 30% saying more than that. Click for many, many more findings, including some that might surprise: Like the fact that only 49% of upper-class respondents are "very satisfied" with their financial situation. (More rich stories.)

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