The stat that really stood out to me the most on page 29 was how the top 1% own 40–50% of the nation’s wealthmore than the bottom 90% combined. I always heard we’re a “middle-class” country, but seeing it laid out like that, plus the note that most families have less than $2,000 in investments, really shocked me. Living in a society with that kind of wealth difference simply means a small group controls not just the money but also power, schools, housing, health care, and even politics, which are shaped to fit their interests. Parents also point out that there’s less upward mobility now than a generation ago, so most people stay in the class they’re born into . I notice this every day in Brooklyn, especially in neighborhoods like mine are getting priced out by luxury buildings, and companies and businesses make thousands, even billions, while many of their workers still need public assistance because they only pay $17 an hour. It’s a clear example of how the rich benefit from a system that keeps wages low for everyone else.