WASHINGTON - The income gap between the richest and poorest Americans grew last year to its widest amount on record as young adults and children in particular struggled to stay afloat in the recession.
The top-earning 20 percent of Americans - those making more than $100,000 each year - received 49.4 percent of all income generated in the U.S., compared with the 3.4 percent earned by those below the poverty line, according to newly released census figures. That ratio of 14.5-to-1 was an increase from 13.6 in 2008 and nearly double a low of 7.69 in 1968.
A different measure, the international Gini index, found U.S. income inequality at its highest level since the Census Bureau began tracking household income in 1967. The U.S. also has the greatest disparity among Western industrialized nations. (My emphasis)
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An -GfK Poll this month found that by 54 percent to 44 percent, most Americans support raising taxes on the highest U.S. earners. Still, many congressional Democrats have expressed wariness about provoking the 44 percent minority so close to Election Day.
"We're pretty good about not talking about income inequality," Danziger said.
My, my, we ARE good at sticking our heads in the sand and keeping them there when the subject of income inequality comes up. You'd think that the Democrats running for office would feel pressed to spell out policies for reducing the income gap between the rich and the poor. You'd think that they'd promote policies for restoring the numbers of the disappearing middle class. You'd think that these matters would be major talking points in their campaigns, but if you thought that, you'd be wrong.
