Speech- James Jones

I would like to discuss an issue that we should all be familiar with. I aim to propose a few things and avoid boring you by actually letting you hear something new. My topic is the wealth gap that exists in the U.S., I’m sure you are all very excited… that pause was to allow the disappointment show up on your face while you anticipate listening to me drone on about the one percent but if you would lend your attention for a few minutes it would be much appreciated. People often avoid discussing the persistent wealth inequality in the U.S. because the discussion usually follows a manuscript of the same argument. However it is a discussion we must not avoid, we need to understand the problem and begin to take action.                                                                                          What is this wealth gap I speak of? Well it is the difference in the amount of wealth owned between the middle and lower classes and the upper class. Not only does the gap exist between these but also within the upper class itself, the “super rich,” as Anne Lowrey of the New York Times has deemed them, enjoys their well-earned title while the “middle rich” are beginning to fall behind. As somewhat privileged people we may not realize why any of this matters, we may not all have first-hand experience with the results of wealth inequality. The result is an increasing amount of those with virtually no wealth besides the clothes on their backs and a decrease of the wealth held by the middle class. As a nation fairly dependent on the middle class for consumerism and the health of the economy this is a big deal. In reality the strength of the middle class is a necessary component for a healthy nation, this is asserted by many economists. While those who own the companies creating products that the middle class would consume make more and more money that the middle class will enjoy very little of, they don’t realize that eventually there won’t be much money for  their most common consumers to buy their products.                                                                                                          To be able to fully understand why the wealth gap is actually a big deal we need perspective. Over the years the increase of the wealth gap has been a global trend. The U.S. is obviously not the only country suffering an unequal wealth distribution; however for a country that has always aimed to be the city upon a hill we haven’t been too successful. As the current world super power one would assume that our wealth gap couldn’t possibly be that bad on the international scale. Well, one shouldn’t assume anything, especially when considering that the U.S. is ranked fourth on a list of countries’ degree of wealth inequality. For clarification that doesn’t mean we are fourth most equal, it means that we are the fourth most unequal. Naturally the patriot would remember to consider those three countries that are worse than us, sorry patriot it doesn’t change the fact that we have to change. With this ranking in mind you should all be able to realize that something is wrong, and something, should change.   

This becomes the part of my spiel where you have the choice to give me a chance and listen, or, dismiss everything I say. Pick what you like, for the sake of our nation pick the first. We have options and proposals to solve this gap, nothing is guaranteed, but an action of some kind is needed, and that is non-negotiable. The idea of the rich being taxed more heavily than the poor is often proposed however many find it to be a waste of time and don’t understand why their money would have to be taken in order to help the inequality, after all that would be an unequal distribution of taxing. However the “many” neither think about the fact that the highest taxes would be collected from the “few” that hold the majority of wealth nor realize that the poor don’t have the money to pay the taxes that others have the ability to. I apologize if taxing a specific portion of people more seems unfair, but if life was fair we wouldn’t be in this predicament to begin with. Those at the highest points of wealth often take advantage of tax breaks such as donation to charity, if they receive higher taxes they seemingly could just donate more. Well, a decrease in said tax breaks would allow them to contribute to the bettering of the economy as well as the success of the charities they participate in. With more money flowing in from the wealthy the government is aided while a little bit of the strain is taken off of the lower classes. No solution has very immediate effects, however over time solutions can eventually lead to a better U.S. These are just my proposals, if you have a better idea I urge you to give it.                                                    

No one solution can be universally agreed on, but we should have ideas. If you disagree with the proposal I have already given I can give one more. Take your ideas and express them, as individuals we all have the ability to express what we believe, if you have a solution you must propose it to someone. As students you may not think that you could make much of a difference, but very soon you will be able to vote and participate in politics directly. Take advantage of that, go out and do what you can to change what you believe what must be changed.                                      

  I recently met a homeless man that made me happier than most people make me on a daily basis. He walked up to my car after I rolled my window down and greeted him. I handed him money while he thanked me, we talked for about thirty seconds before I had a green light and had to leave. I only gave him a few dollars which obviously didn’t solve his problems, but I wanted to help and I tried. The result was a change in both his and my mood; he was elated as was I. That little action of mine made a little change, it was really that simple. If you want to help with this issue, go forth and give it a shot, because the first step to ending closing this wealth gap is making an attempt.   

•Inequality for All. Dir. Jacob Kornbluth. Perf. Robert Reich. RADiUS-TWC, 2013. Netflix.  

•"Economist Thomas Pikkety Explains Why Income Inequality Is Just Getting Started." Interview. The Huffington Post. N.p., 16 Apr. 2014. Web. 19 June 2014. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/16/thomas-piketty-inequality_n_5159937.html>. 

•Lowrey, Annie. "The Wealth Gap Is Growing in America, Too." The New York Times. N.p., 2 Apr. 2014. Web. 21 June 2014. 

•Davidson, Jacob. "Wealth Inequality Doubled Over Last 10 Years, Study Finds." TIME. N.p., 25 June 2014. Web. 26 June 2014.   

•Wilkinson, Richard G., and Kate Pickett. The Spirit Level: Why Greater Equality Makes Societies Stronger. New York: Bloomsbury, 2010. Print.