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OpEdNews Op Eds    H3'ed 6/24/12

Inequality Apparently Increasing

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Message Ellen Kadransky

Capitalism so favors the richest of the rich that we no longer see bribes as bribes, but as support for lobbyists and campaigns.   Gary Hart recently said "Our greatest promise is not in the realm of material wealth.   National interest for the heart of Americans should be a way to gain health and well being, along with our dreams, that will enable the country to prosper for all."   Prize-winning economists are telling us that we should now be making public investments in society.   When more are employed, we can then work better on the deficits.   Looking at Europe it can easily be seen that austerity is not a very good plan unless you really want to sink from recession to depression.

When peoples' needs are not met promptly, they start to become far more expensive.   Outpatients end up in hospitals, and people in good health end up sick because of lack of nutritious food or proper housing.   People elected to work for their constituents are not doing their job in any decent way.   They are out to destroy just as much of the government as it is possible to do, in what was a society   of justice and liberty they inherited from many sources.   If enough people do not become aware of what is happening,   we are going to find a number of programs we took for granted abolished.

At this time, if we compare out standards of living with the developed countries, we find that we are lacking many educational, social and safety net programs for people in trouble.   The outcomes for health matters are certainly not near the top in most cases.   The government role in these countries is being used to make life better for their population.   Frequently, taxation may be higher, but we are paying   with other less fair methods.   As an example, I pay $340 per month for my Medicare Supplement which then helps to pay for the people who use the emergency room because they cannot afford insurance.   How about the extra police protection we are paying for where I live on the edge of Philadelphia, because we do not have enough services for mentally ill and criminally-minded people.

Charter schools are being used more in the school districts, but unfortunately some funding from public schools is being diverted to make it possible.   The pupils remaining in public schools will not even be getting as good an education as they were getting in the past.

According to a recent poll, 72% of Americans believe that inequality is not good for the country.   It is not good for middle class persons or for those living in poverty.   The lack of support for unions   is an ongoing problem, that certainly helps to keep people in the lower income brackets.   When you meet people who were only high school graduates, but could finance vacations or a new car, they are usually middle aged or beyond.   A high school diploma is now seen like college degree was in the past.   College graduates now look into master's degrees or better yet   a PhD.  

People who have done the necessary steps to join the middle class often find it impossible to do so.   They seem struggle to send their children to college and also save for retirement and help their aged parents.   It is an understatement to reflect that many of our elected officials do not have any idea of what it is like to live on salaries that most people are living on today.   Those people do not see a future which will be as good as the previous generation was.  

If you agree with my observations, try to find an organization which is attempting to close the gap between the rich and the not too well off citizens.   Go to protests, petition, write, phone or visit your elected officials.   Give some time and effort to check out the accuracy and fairness of the elections this year.

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Free Lance Writer. OpEds published in Daily News and other Philadelphia area newspapers. Graduate of Temple University School of Communications with a major in journalism. Also an activist for many progressive causes in Philadelphia area.
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