Why Widening Inequality is Hobbling Equal Opportunity
Is it to be inequality or equal opportunity? 
Under a headline "Obama Moves to the Right in a Partisan War of Words," The New York Times' Jackie Calmes notes Democratic operatives have been hitting back hard against the President or any other Democratic politician talking about income inequality, preferring that the Democrats talk about equality of opportunity instead.
Is it to be inequality or equal opportunity?
Under a headline "Obama Moves to the Right in a Partisan War of Words," The New York Times' Jackie Calmes notes Democratic operatives have been hitting back hard against the President or any other Democratic politician talking about income inequality, preferring that the Democrats talk about equality of opportunity instead.
"However salient reducing inequality may be," writes Democratic pollster Mark Mellman, "it is demonstrably less important to voters than any other number of priorities, incudlng reducing poverty."
The President may be listening. Wags noticed that in his State of the Union, Obama spoke ten times of increasing "opportunity" and only twice of income inequality, while in a December speech he spoke of income inequality two dozen times.
But the President and other Democrats -- and even Republicans, for that matter -- should focus on the facts, not the polls, and not try to dress up what's been happening with more soothing words and phrases.
In fact, America's savage inequality is the main reason equal opportunity is fading and poverty is growing. Since the "recovery" began, 95% of the gains have gone to the top 1 percent, and median incomes have dropped. This is a continuation of the trend we've seen for decades. As a result:
(1) The sinking middle class no longer has enough purchasing power to keep the economy growing and creating sufficient jobs. The share of working-age Americans still in the labor force is the lowest in more than thirty years.
(2) The shrinking middle isn't generating enough tax revenue for adequate education, training, safety nets, and family services. And when they're barely holding on, they can't afford to -- and don't want to -- pay more.
(3) Meanwhile, America's rich are accumulating not just more of the country's total income and wealth, but also the political power that accompanies money. And they're using that power to reduce their own taxes, and getcorporate welfare (subsidies, bailouts, tax cuts) for their businesses.
All this means less equality of opportunity in America.
Obama was correct in December when he called widening inequality "the defining challenge of our time." He mustn't back down now even if Democratic pollsters tell him to. If we're ever to reverse this noxious trend, Americans have to hear the truth.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. In a few short weeks, US voters will have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
Is it to be inequality or equal opportunity?
Under a headline "Obama Moves to the Right in a Partisan War of Words," The New York Times' Jackie Calmes notes Democratic operatives have been hitting back hard against the President or any other Democratic politician talking about income inequality, preferring that the Democrats talk about equality of opportunity instead.
"However salient reducing inequality may be," writes Democratic pollster Mark Mellman, "it is demonstrably less important to voters than any other number of priorities, incudlng reducing poverty."
The President may be listening. Wags noticed that in his State of the Union, Obama spoke ten times of increasing "opportunity" and only twice of income inequality, while in a December speech he spoke of income inequality two dozen times.
But the President and other Democrats -- and even Republicans, for that matter -- should focus on the facts, not the polls, and not try to dress up what's been happening with more soothing words and phrases.
In fact, America's savage inequality is the main reason equal opportunity is fading and poverty is growing. Since the "recovery" began, 95% of the gains have gone to the top 1 percent, and median incomes have dropped. This is a continuation of the trend we've seen for decades. As a result:
(1) The sinking middle class no longer has enough purchasing power to keep the economy growing and creating sufficient jobs. The share of working-age Americans still in the labor force is the lowest in more than thirty years.
(2) The shrinking middle isn't generating enough tax revenue for adequate education, training, safety nets, and family services. And when they're barely holding on, they can't afford to -- and don't want to -- pay more.
(3) Meanwhile, America's rich are accumulating not just more of the country's total income and wealth, but also the political power that accompanies money. And they're using that power to reduce their own taxes, and getcorporate welfare (subsidies, bailouts, tax cuts) for their businesses.
All this means less equality of opportunity in America.
Obama was correct in December when he called widening inequality "the defining challenge of our time." He mustn't back down now even if Democratic pollsters tell him to. If we're ever to reverse this noxious trend, Americans have to hear the truth.
Is it to be inequality or equal opportunity?
Under a headline "Obama Moves to the Right in a Partisan War of Words," The New York Times' Jackie Calmes notes Democratic operatives have been hitting back hard against the President or any other Democratic politician talking about income inequality, preferring that the Democrats talk about equality of opportunity instead.
"However salient reducing inequality may be," writes Democratic pollster Mark Mellman, "it is demonstrably less important to voters than any other number of priorities, incudlng reducing poverty."
The President may be listening. Wags noticed that in his State of the Union, Obama spoke ten times of increasing "opportunity" and only twice of income inequality, while in a December speech he spoke of income inequality two dozen times.
But the President and other Democrats -- and even Republicans, for that matter -- should focus on the facts, not the polls, and not try to dress up what's been happening with more soothing words and phrases.
In fact, America's savage inequality is the main reason equal opportunity is fading and poverty is growing. Since the "recovery" began, 95% of the gains have gone to the top 1 percent, and median incomes have dropped. This is a continuation of the trend we've seen for decades. As a result:
(1) The sinking middle class no longer has enough purchasing power to keep the economy growing and creating sufficient jobs. The share of working-age Americans still in the labor force is the lowest in more than thirty years.
(2) The shrinking middle isn't generating enough tax revenue for adequate education, training, safety nets, and family services. And when they're barely holding on, they can't afford to -- and don't want to -- pay more.
(3) Meanwhile, America's rich are accumulating not just more of the country's total income and wealth, but also the political power that accompanies money. And they're using that power to reduce their own taxes, and getcorporate welfare (subsidies, bailouts, tax cuts) for their businesses.
All this means less equality of opportunity in America.
Obama was correct in December when he called widening inequality "the defining challenge of our time." He mustn't back down now even if Democratic pollsters tell him to. If we're ever to reverse this noxious trend, Americans have to hear the truth.