Summaries: “The Rich Are Different From You and Me” In today’s society, the gap between the wealthy and the not wealthy has become quite large. Currently, about half of the United State’s income goes to the richest 10 percent. The last time the gap between these classes was this big was in the 1920’s. Even though this fluctuation in the economy is happening in the U.S., it has also become an international development. The upper class has made a world of their own by tripling their incomes; it’s their decision to help those who are falling behind or not.
“The Broken Contract: Inequality and American Decline” In earlier time periods in the United States, institutional forces held together different aspects of the country. However, in …show more content…
I believe inequalities shouldn’t exist in today’s society, especially those along the lines of race and economic value. Author Paul Krugman of “We Are the 99.9 Percent” believes the middle class and super-elite divide is a problem. The author states “so should the 99.9 percent hate the 0.1 percent? No...But they should ignore all the propaganda about ‘job creators’ and demand that the super-elite pay substantially more in taxes,” (p. 46). Author Henry Louis Gates Jr. believes there is a large divide between African-Americans in the economy. He explains “the gap between the black middle class and underclass shows that ending discrimination would not eradicate [poverty]. We also need intervention, to promulgate a middle-class ethic of success among the poor, while expanding opportunities for economic betterment,” (p. 49). Author Chrystia Freeland of “The Rich Are Different from You and Me” believes the gap between the rich and those who aren’t has “varied widely,” (p. 51). Freeland states “the rise of today’s rich is a global phenomenon...they are forming a nation unto themselves,” (p. 52). Finally, author George Packer of “The Broken Contract: Inequality and American Decline” believes inequalities throughout history have weakened the government of the U.S. Packer explains “inequality saps the will to conceive of ambitious solutions to large collective problems...inequality undermines democracy. Inequalities throughout the whole world and the entirety of history have created problems for everyone. As the authors of these texts state, it is a common dilemma in today’s society, and it is up all of humanity to fix
“The Broken Contract: Inequality and American Decline” In earlier time periods in the United States, institutional forces held together different aspects of the country. However, in …show more content…
I believe inequalities shouldn’t exist in today’s society, especially those along the lines of race and economic value. Author Paul Krugman of “We Are the 99.9 Percent” believes the middle class and super-elite divide is a problem. The author states “so should the 99.9 percent hate the 0.1 percent? No...But they should ignore all the propaganda about ‘job creators’ and demand that the super-elite pay substantially more in taxes,” (p. 46). Author Henry Louis Gates Jr. believes there is a large divide between African-Americans in the economy. He explains “the gap between the black middle class and underclass shows that ending discrimination would not eradicate [poverty]. We also need intervention, to promulgate a middle-class ethic of success among the poor, while expanding opportunities for economic betterment,” (p. 49). Author Chrystia Freeland of “The Rich Are Different from You and Me” believes the gap between the rich and those who aren’t has “varied widely,” (p. 51). Freeland states “the rise of today’s rich is a global phenomenon...they are forming a nation unto themselves,” (p. 52). Finally, author George Packer of “The Broken Contract: Inequality and American Decline” believes inequalities throughout history have weakened the government of the U.S. Packer explains “inequality saps the will to conceive of ambitious solutions to large collective problems...inequality undermines democracy. Inequalities throughout the whole world and the entirety of history have created problems for everyone. As the authors of these texts state, it is a common dilemma in today’s society, and it is up all of humanity to fix