All Work is Valuable
It is a fundamental tenet of America that we reward hard work. For many years, income inequality was in check in the United States by guardrails placed upon the system by fair labor laws, labor unions, and a progressive tax system. People were able to make a living whether they started out with much money or not. These policies produced a significant boom in the economy from the 1940s to the late 1970s.
We must ensure that all people have access to the resources they need to be successful, including a good education or vocational opportunities. Able Works asserts that some of our greatest minds are currently living in poverty or on the brink of it due to financial hardship. We cannot allow brilliant young minds to fail to see a college campus because they can't afford it. At the same time, we cannot allow a college degree to be a prerequisite for success. The best way that we can ensure equal opportunities is by addressing our income inequality problem and providing more paths to success. If everyone has the same opportunity to make as much money as they want, America will continue being the land of opportunity where dreams can come true.
The Case for A Living Wage
While it may be the goal of an ideal capitalist society, where every person is paid the fair market value for their work, we must take into account that some people simply cannot do certain jobs because of physical or mental limitations. For these people, working 40+ hours at minimum wage can be downright impossible and is not enough to cover basic costs.
Part of the problem with income inequality is the truth that certain jobs, such as those within the fast-food industry, require unskilled labor and offer wages far below what most Americans need to live decently. While these jobs can be fulfilling and rewarding for people who enjoy them, they simply do not provide a living wage in today's economy. It’s true that they provide a necessary experience for entry-level workers, students, or retirees looking for extra income, for most, there isn’t a clear pathway to parley these jobs into a viable career. For many there simply aren't many options beyond these jobs given the loss of semi-skilled jobs in manufacturing or other careers resulting in limited pathways for a large swath of the economy. Further exasperating the problem, automation is a serious risk to low-skill jobs. Some argue that the current labor shortage is already pushing up incomes for entry-level jobs, which is partially true. I see this as a temporary situation based on the Covid-19 pandemic and the trends will reverse as the pandemic ends. The first step to solving this issue is to ensure that every job is compensated fairly, a living wage based on real economic realities, for what it provides to workers and companies alike. Yes, we will likely pay more for the goods and services we enjoy, but the result is better economic conditions for families and individuals.
Failing to Fix Income Inequality Will Destroy Our Democracy
Failing to address income inequality in the United States will not only hurt America's economy but could also destroy our democracy itself. I believe this is at the core of the recent insurrection. The reason democracies work so well is that every person has an equal voice and their votes count just as much as anyone else's. If we allow people who can afford to lobby our politicians for economic policy the system will be directed by the wealthy and powerful. Policies like term limits for politicians the restriction of lobbying and publically funding elections would go a long way to helping the problem and restoring faith in American democracy.
If income inequality isn’t addressed in a meaningful way, more and more of America's wealth will end up in the hands of a few mega-corporations and individuals, effectively creating an oligarchical society. It will give these interests far too much power in our society. I'm not arguing for communism or extreme socialism. Those systems have fatal flaws. I am arguing for compassionate capitalism, where the core outcome is that, as the saying goes, "a rising tide raises all boats". This will require hard work from everyone and sacrifice for some. The current civic mood, contrary to past generations, is based on individualistic success without care for the common good. The vision of the Judeo-Christian scripture is based on the concept of shalom for a society, where none lack and everyone has a place to play in the economy.
Conclusion: We Must Create an Economy for Everyone
As President Franklin D. Roosevelt once said: "The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have little."
Unchecked, Income inequality is baked into the very DNA of oppressive capitalism. A capitalist society depends on low-wage workers to drive production. However, in American capitalism, there was always a contract with the worker. Hard work would pay for future generations. However, the American Dream is dependent on a pathway for all to have a pathway to a bright future. Seeing a pathway, a future, is the prime motivating factor for upward economic progress. It has been proven over and over again in the generations of immigrants who have found their way to our borders and found a place in our economy. However as time has progressed, our version of capitalism has evolved, instead of allowing the wealth to be concentrated into the hands of a few while many others are unable to find success. We must find ways to level the playing field for all who want to work hard through education and vocational career paths. If we don't I fear we may lose the essence of our democracy and the January 6th insurrection will be just a precursor to something worse
