The Wealth Gap Is Painful For Too Many Children
1April 18, 2015 by Chris Kite
Much has been said about the wealth gap in the US in recent years. It isn’t improving. Republicans think the best way to improve it is to increase the measures they’ve been putting in place since Reagan was President. Oddly enough, that is also when the wealth gap started it’s current trend.
Trickle down economics doesn’t work. The rich are never rich enough and generally have no interest in sharing. The notion that somehow tax cuts for the rich are going to create jobs is insane. Jobs are only created by demand for products and services. Demand is created by people having enough money to buy such jobs and services. In a consumer economy like the United States, the poor and middle class need to improve their financial position in order to be able to afford the products and services that create jobs.
Despite being one of the wealthiest nations on earth, we also have one of the highest rates of child poverty. Republicans want to cut child benefits. They want children to work for their food. Quite simply, they don’t care about anyone that isn’t giving to their campaigns.
I have friends that say “they’re all the same” when it comes to politicians. These friends are discouraged and don’t see the point in voting for one party or the other. There is certainly a measure of truth to the notion that politicians are ALL mostly interested in getting re-elected and securing a wealthy future for themselves and their donor friends. But Democrats do consistently also take measures to help the poor. Not enough for sure. But I see a very clear difference between Democrats and Republicans. Democrats actually want to build the middle class and see that the poor have at least tolerable living conditions. They want children to have food and a roof over their head. Republicans want children to pay for themselves. That is heartless!
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The wealth gap is embarrassing for so many reasons. For example, we’re the ONLY civilized country on the globe without decent maternal/paternal family leave. Moms have to take sick and vacation days to care for newborns? Or, if they work for a company of 50 or more for more than one year, they get 12 weeks of unpaid leave. How is that sane? The data on loss of productivity in bringing in a new employee is solid as are the benefits of subsidized family care for employee performance and long-term commitment: it’s far more economical to help a new mom and dad. Kids and parents are happier, too. But businesses can’t see the big picture on this one–really? It becomes a gender equality and civil rights issue — that’s the problem. Everyone suffers on the back of the 1% who would throw their misguided Christian values in the face of humanity.
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