- The statistic on wealth inequality in the US that made the biggest impression on me was that the top 1% owned between 14 and 50% of the nation’s total wealth, which was more than the combined wealth of the bottom 90%. This statistic wasn’t completely shocking to me because I’ve closely followed Bernie Sanders, who has consistently spoken about wealth concentration among the richest Americans. But still, seeing the numbers laid out this way always surprises me because it shows how large the gap is between the wealthiest Americans and everyone else. What stands out the most to me is that this level of wealth inequality can exist while so many working people struggle to afford basic necessities.
- Some of the implications of living in a society with such huge wealth inequality could be increased financial hardship, rising health problems, and even higher levels of crime in some communities. When people struggle financially, they may become desperate to afford basic necessities, and they may also put off going to the doctor or getting the healthcare they need because they literally cannot afford it. I definitely see this dynamic playing out in everyday life because even working-class people who have jobs can still struggle to get by. People may have to choose between paying rent, buying food, going to the doctor, or paying other important bills, even though these are all basic necessities. To me this shows how having a job and working hard does not necessarily mean that someone is financially secure, especially when the cost of basic necessities continue to rise, and people are unsure if they’ll be able to afford what’s next.
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Your answer really reinforces how much “Work for a living, not for a living wage,” is definitely something that leaves a lasting impression. Same for crime, it made me think about the section on homelessness, where instead of shelters, cities and counties turn to laws against loitering, sleeping, etc in public punishing instead of helping.
Since you’ve followed Bernie, do you think his focus on the “billionaire class” is more closely aligned with Heiderman’s view of class as a structural position, or with the liberal ladder view?