Idiot's Guide To Inequality, By Barbara Ehrenreich

There are many varying opinions on whether freedom or safety is more significant to survival that is reinforced with evidence seen in daily life. This evidence is found in numerous careers as well as informative documents or articles being published. In modern society, this discussion has gained popularity due to certain tragic events, causing persuasive articles to be published in which authors state their opinion on the event and its impact on society’s safety. Social critic and essayist H.L. Menken’s idea “the average man does not want to be free. He simply wants to be safe” is portrayed in contemporary society and is supported with similar ideas found in Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich, “An Idiot’s Guide to Inequality” by Nicholas …show more content…
In the article “An Idiot’s Guide to Inequality”, Steven A. Shaw explains how disregarded this issue is. According to Kristof, “Inequality causes problems by creating fissures in societies, leaving those at the bottom marginalized or disenfranchised.” This quote is stating that each social class is being taxed the same amount, causing the upper class to keep their wealth while the lower class loses the majority of theirs, spreading a need within the lower class for economic stability. Certain benefits to the upper class’ tax rate are offered that are not offered to the lower class’ tax rate. As stated in the article, “financiers are wealthy partly because they’re highly educated and hardworking— and also because they’ve successfully lobbied for the carried interest tax loophole that lets their pay be taxed at much lower rates than other people’s.” (Kristof). These benefits allow the upper class to pay less taxation than the lower class, and under certain circumstances, causes the lower class to pay additional taxation. In order to pay for this additional taxation and avoid financial debt, low-wage workers will frequently apply for numerous jobs and prioritize them over certain privileges, such as their living conditions. The quote also refers to the idea that the majority of the upper class received a superior education than that of the lower class, which facilitated the upper class’ financial success. Unfortunately, the United States “spends less educating the average poor child than the average rich one” (Kristof) which indicates the biased treatment of the social classes and provides an explanation for why it is challenging for the lower class to improve their social status. This article demonstrates that in contemporary society there is not only economic inequality but also unfair treatment of the different social classes that allow the upper class to be