The Widening Gap Between the Rich and the Poor

The percentage of poor Americans who are living in severe poverty has reached a 32-year high, millions of working Americans are falling closer to the poverty line and the gulf between the nation’s “haves” and “have-nots” continues to widen.
A McClatchy Newspapers analysis of 2005 census figures, the latest available, found that nearly 16 [...]

How Can We Have Barack Obama and Katrina in the Same Country?

I (J) had an interesting conversation with a white friend of mine about the ascendancy of Barack Obama, and what Obama’s prominence means for race relations in America. In short, how can we have such a large and seemingly permanent black underclass, but also have a black man with a serious chance of becoming President [...]

Who Should Pay for the Elderly and the Poor?

Many of us in the “Sandwich Generation” are caring for elderly parents as well as children. How should America, particularly the government, deal with the growing elderly population?
“The table shows the rise of the American welfare state. In 1956, defense dominated the budget; the Cold War buildup was in full swing. The welfare state, [...]