Friday Fun Video: Pyramid Economy

We’ve all heard of pyramid schemes, where everyone at the bottom supports those at the top. Those at the top get what they need before the pyramid collapses, leaving everyone else in ruins. Jon Stewart has an interesting take on the economy as a pyramid — with Goldman Sachs at the top. With Goldman raking in huge profits in the second quarter, it seems clear that the banking industry is going to be just fine. But what about the rest of us?

The news is getting a little bit better. Today, it was revealed that the unemployment rate has actually dropped. This is a surprise, since analysts had forecasted a rise from 9.5% to 9.6%. Instead unemployment eased down to 9.4%. This news is heartening, and could be an indicator that the recession is winding down, and the effects on the “regular folks” are starting to reverse.

Of course, that doesn’t make most of us feel better about the trillions that went to bail out banks during the Bush II Administration (don’t forget: then-Treasury secretary Henry Paulson was a Goldman CEO in a former life), and the billions that still went to them after the change in political leadership. But at least the bottom of the pyramid is starting to see some positive changes.