If they earn it. Usually you dont just start out earning 100k unless you do something exceedingly difficult. However, CFO (Chief Financial Officers) can earn up to 300k, and they run an entire business like Microsoft for Google's finances. They also are usually older, and have been in the busines for many many years. Those salaries are also given to people to people who have been in a company long enough and have gone up the Ladder. As an accountant, I know you can expect to earn in the upwards of 78k if you are with a (big) business for a while, and distinguish yourself. Add a CPA license (which roughly gives you about 15% more on your salary), and thats almost 90k, and if your employer likes you or you're one of the "leaders" you can clear that 100k mark easy.
now, consider this. The average middle income most people think they want to make is between 40-60k. Thats not bad, and thats usually the people who live in decent houses they spend all their lives in and raise their kids (most likely the OP's background). The 100k earners are usually the people you see a house with a garage, two cars, and are working off their loans. So roughly, those loans would include the 100-200k college debt, a 20K car loan, and probably a 375K house (I dont know if thats still true, just what I saw the last house like I described go for). Thats 490-590K debt over their life, plus the cost of raising kids and such. So that 100K doesnt add up ot much if you're the sole owner, and not if you're married and your spouse earns a higher salary (70-100K) cause they bring thier debt too.
Just cause you have that 100K doesnt make you priviledged and pompous or mean you cant raise a child in a decent matter without spoiling tjhem. In fact, of the 4 or so households I know that earn a 100K (of which I am not one), their kids all know the value of a dollar, arent spoiled by any means, and have to work as well. This is because the Parents are setting them off with small savings accounts, as well as putting money into a retirement plan for themselves. So that 100k goes fast in those houses, but are still more decent then people I know who live in 50K or even 30K households.
Now, I would agree, as you get steadily richer you seem to lose touch on whats its like to live with people of a lower paying bracket (unles you live among them or keep yourself on their level). But I've seen that more in the people who earn 250k+, not the 100k. And even then, thats not true. Look at Bill Gates and his wife. They're so rich that it would be more of w aste to him to stop and pick up a ten dollar bill on the street then it would be to walk on by. But they do a lot of charity work and are decent people so far as I can tell. Now, I dont know anything about his kids (if he has any) but he seems like the kinda guy that would raise them right.
Really it all depends on the person. your argument is based on anyone with high excess income (as you seem to think these 100k salary people have) should give it away or do something to benefit those with less money. But what is really excess income. If you had money left over after paying all the necessities did you spend it on yourself and not give it to someone less fortunate? That shiny new PS3 or 360 or wii or gaming computer is excess income you are selfishly keeping for yourself. You dont need that tv, or really that car, or that bike. You could walk to work if pressed I'm sure. By American standards, you only NEED these few things: Shelter, Food, Clothing. Everything else is excess and WANTS.
but then again, I live in America and thats a capitalist nation where we believe you should be rewarded with a pay equal to the job you do.
