17 Charts About Economic Inequality Obama Should Read Before The State of The Union

IN THE UNITED STATES, INCOME INEQUALITY IS AT ITS HIGHEST SINCE 1928

BY THE END OF 2013 AMERICA'S POOREST 23 MILLION CITIZENS FAILED TO EARN AS MUCH AS THE WEALTHIEST 3,000 AMERICANS

 

FOR EXAMPLE, IT TAKES THE AVERAGE MCDONALD'S EMPLOYEE SEVEN MONTHS TO EARN WHAT ITS CEO MAKES IN AN HOUR

IT ISN'T JUST WAGES, DIFFERENCES IN CAPITAL INCOME HAVE SKYROCKETED OVER THE LAST DECADE

TOP MARGINAL TAX RATES REMAIN BELOW THE HISTORIC AVERAGE

EVEN THOUGH PRODUCTIVITY IS RISING, WAGES REMAIN FLAT SINCE 1970 (ASSUMING ADJUSTMENTS FOR INFLATION)

AND PEOPLE EARNING LESS THAN $50,000 ANNUALLY ARE THE MOST FEARFUL OF LOSING THEIR JOB

AN AVERAGE WHITE FAMILY IS SIX TIMES AS WEALTHY AS A BLACK OR HISPANIC FAMILY

WOMEN STILL ROUGHLY EARN 77 CENTS ON THE DOLLAR

THE TYPICAL MINIMUM WAGE EMPLOYEE WORKS IN LEISURE AND HOSPITALITY OR RETAIL

AND MINIMUM WAGE WORKERS ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE WOMEN

THINGS ARE POISED TO GET WORSE AS THE BOTTOM 90% CONTINUES TO GO FURTHER INTO DEBT

AMERICANS WANT THE GOVERNMENT TO REDUCE INCOME INEQUALITY, BUT THEY LACK THE CONFIDENCE THAT THE GOVERNMENT CAN PULL IT OFF

FOR EXAMPLE, SAFETY NET PROGRAMS CAN LIFT HALF OF ALL HOUSEHOLDS OUT OF EXTREME POVERTY

YET THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IS PROJECTED TO SHRINK IN 2014

ON AVERAGE FAMILIES RECEIVING PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SPEND LESS THAN OTHER FAMILIES

OTHER WEALTHY NATIONS UTILIZE SAFETY NET PROGRAMS TO BETTER REDUCE POVERTY