FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:

When I read these numbers I was stunned. I had no idea that Americans make up fully one half of the world's richest 1%.

When you look at the world's population as a whole, it only takes $34,000 a year per person - after taxes - to be part of the world's richest one percent. A family of four with after tax income of $136,000 would be among the world's richest.

60 million people make up the world's richest one percent. And, according to world bank economist Branko Milanovic, half of them - or 29 million people - lived in the United States as of 2005.

Another 4 million live in Germany. And the rest are scattered throughout Europe, Latin America and parts of Asia.

None of the world's richest 1% live in Africa, China or India - statistically speaking.

Although places like China and India are seeing economic growth, and people there are getting richer, they're starting from a very low base. This also means the emerging middle class in these countries isn't the same as the middle class in developed nations. No cars. No retirement plans. They don't own their own homes.

Milanovic says people in the world's true middle live on around $1,200 a year.

Which means even the poorest 5% of Americans are richer than two-thirds of the entire world. Something to think about.

While the Occupy Wall Street movement targets the so-called 1% with protests in New York, Los Angeles, Denver and Washington.

These numbers give one percent a whole new meaning.

Here’s my question to you: What does it mean when Americans make up half of the world's richest 1%?

Interested to know which ones made it on air?

Johnny in Los Angeles:

Hi Jack. It proves first and foremost that an economy based on free enterprise will make a nation rich.

M.L.:

All well and good. But what does that have to do with the discrepancy in America, between the rich and the poor middle class?

Robert in Florida:

It means that until recently America was the land of opportunity. It means until recently the government didn't try to control every aspect of the American business community. It means that government regulations didn't always stifle growth and punish success.

B. in Missouri:

The United States has the "richest" poor people in the world. Most have a home, many have transportation and most don't have to beg for food on the street even though sometimes they don't have enough food.

Michelle on Facebook:

It means that's the reason everyone wants to come to America. The land of the free where anything is possible.

Rahn:

It means that people really don't know how good they really have it living in the U.S. Do any of those "Occupy Wall Street" people want to trade positions with the average person in Africa, Asia, or India?

Larry in Georgetown, Texas:

Count my blessings on a daily basis and give more to others in need. We are the most fortunate people on earth at this time, but at our current rate we'll be joining the people in China, India and Africa.