Economic Inequality is the problem; Our politics needs to address it
A Single Chart that Everyone Needs to See
How is this chart not a part of every Democratic candidates campaign?
I found this video on YouTube years ago and it still shocks me every time I see it. Entitled simply, Wealth Inequality in America, it provides such a clear answer to the root causes of our problems. Yet, I am convinced that the vast majority of Americans are ignorant to the dramatic extent of inequality in our country. As this video shows, what we believe is the actual distribution of wealth is far removed from reality.
This truth is also shown in a Princeton Study that warns that America is no longer a democracy, but is now an oligarchy. In short, this study finds that the wealthy always win, and the people only sometimes win in the political process.
However, making people aware of the depth of the problem is just the first step. Public opinion polling finds that people are aware of some level of inequality, and that they think it is unjust and needs to be changed. Alas, due to an erosion in trust of our political system in general, the American citizens do NOT want the government to redistribute wealth by taxing the rich to provide services for the poor.
But if it isn’t done by the government, who will do it? I have begun hearing the term “social engineering” coming from the political right. This has become a talking point. However, it ignores a basic fact — all governments are exercises in “social engineering”. The Constitution itself is such an exercise. All the laws we pass, the taxes we levy, the business we subsidize, and the rulings the courts make are all efforts to change and direct human activity.
This being the case, what is to be done? We have to distinguish between what is, and what should be.
The United States SHOULD be more fair. Labor SHOULD be getting a fairer share of the wealth that is produced. The wealth generated by automation and our data SHOULD be directed back to the people. In general, I do think that the vast majority of Americans (The video above states that 92% agree) want these changes. But currently, they do not trust the government enough to enact the policies that would facilitate these changes.
So now let’s look at what IS.
What Americans do support is fair policies that apply to everyone equally. This is why raising the minimum wage enjoys such broad support. Similarly, the inherent “fairness” of a Universal Basic Income is a political winner. It has the advantage of applying to everyone, whereas a Universal Jobs Program, or a Universal Basic Services, or a Negative Income Tax all fail in this regard and would be much more difficult to pass in the current political climate.
While I do believe that politicians should be in the business of educating and changing public opinion, I am also realistic to know a political winner right now. UBI is a political winner. It has the advantage of being perceived as fair, AND would achieve many of the goals laid out above. It would redistribute wealth, it would allow labor to benefit from the new economy by paying people for the wealth generated by their data, it would account for job loss due to automation, for instance.
It is time to get the word out better about the extent of income inequality. This issue is the cause of the increasing instability in the United States. Mass shootings, racism, suicide, and community breakdown are all the effects of inequality, not their cause. Simply, when people feel secure about their economic future, they don’t tend to want to oppress their neighbors.
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