Monday, September 12, 2011

Inequality Brings Social Ills

Our local newspaper, the "Register-Guard," ran an op-ed today by Bob Doppelt entitled, "Ecological Woes Linked to Inequality." Mr. Doppelt posed the question: since the U.S. economy today is far larger than 30 years ago, where did all the money go? He answers that question when he points out that we have the greatest concentration of wealth at the top since the 1920's.

Mr. Doppelt presents data from the fabulous book, The Spirit Level, that links inequality to many ills found in the United States.

The good news is that, even though our hierarchies produce serious problems, each of us can help. Even when our country's problems seem overwhelming, we can create our families, workplaces, or communities to reduce inequality and therefore reduce the social, economic, and environmental problems that they cause. It's our collective efforts in ending hierarchies that will change the world.

http://www.registerguard.com/web/opinion/26842450-47/inequality-economic-debt-percent-problems.html.csp