1.Looking at page 29, one statistic really stood out to me. The top 1 percent own between 40 and 50 percent of all wealth in America. This is more than what the bottom 90 percent own combined. This number is shocking because it shows how extreme wealth concentration has become. What makes it worse is another detail from the text. About 40% of families do own some stocks or bonds. But almost all of them have investments worth less than $2,000. When you add in their debts and mortgages, 90% of American families have little or no real wealth. This shows that most people live paycheck to paycheck. Only a tiny group of people actually have real wealth and financial security.

2.This huge gap in wealth creates serious problems in our society. These problems affect our daily lives in many ways. The wealth gap shapes who gets opportunities and who doesn’t. This pattern continues from one generation to the next.

We can see this clearly in our schools. Rich families can pay for private schools. They can hire tutors and pay for test prep. Their kids go to college without taking on debt. Poor families deal with underfunded public schools. Their kids graduate with huge student loans. The rich kids also get better networking opportunities. They meet people who can help their careers later. These advantages build up over time.

The author makes a harsh but true point about this system. He says if you’re not rich, it’s because you didn’t pick the right parents at birth. This comment captures how this system undermines the American promise of equal opportunity.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​