September 28, 2010 /

The Real Problem Facing America: Increased Economic Disparity

It has been a growing problem in this nation for decades and it continues to increase every year – income disparity: The income gap between the richest and poorest Americans grew last year to its widest amount on record as young adults and children in particular struggled to stay afloat in the recession. The top-earning […]

It has been a growing problem in this nation for decades and it continues to increase every year – income disparity:

The income gap between the richest and poorest Americans grew last year to its widest amount on record as young adults and children in particular struggled to stay afloat in the recession.

The top-earning 20 percent of Americans – those making more than $100,000 each year – received 49.4 percent of all income generated in the U.S., compared with the 3.4 percent earned by those below the poverty line, according to newly released census figures. That ratio of 14.5-to-1 was an increase from 13.6 in 2008 and nearly double a low of 7.69 in 1968.

A different measure, the international Gini index, found U.S. income inequality at its highest level since the Census Bureau began tracking household income in 1967. The U.S. also has the greatest disparity among Western industrialized nations.

The census also shows that those making over $180,000 a year (the top 5%) saw an increase in income last year, while those making less than $50,000 saw their income decline. Like wise lower-skilled adults from 18 to 34 saw the largest increase in poverty levels last year.

This data should be a real eye opener to those people whining to keep the Bush tax cuts for the top 2% intact. These are the people doing great in a struggling economy, and while the rest of America struggles to eat or stay in their home, the Republicans turn their backs on them in order to extend a deficit increasing gift to the country’s wealthiest. That’s the kind of mentality that makes me want to piss on a poster of Boehner.

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