1: Complexity
Define the problem and the different perspectives on wealth and poverty in America Other Information:
If we think about wealth and power in monetary terms, we see a ridiculous concentration of wealth. A recent study by Mark
Rank of Washington University showed that 79% of all Americans will face economic insecurity by the time they are 60. That
means that the majority of all Americans will face either joblessness, dependency on public assistance or an income that falls
below the poverty line. While poverty does not discriminate, how does such disparity happen? Not just in the US, but worldwide?
How does it grow? What are the systems that perpetuate our economic inequality? We recognized numerous needs in terms of housing,
hunger, education and policy making. Most of all, we realized not only the number but the profound complexity of the barriers
to reducing or eliminating income disparity. Sometimes, the problem feels like a runaway train, and attempting to halt it
or even keep it on the rails seems futile. However, we did arrive at some themes that offer hope. The solution to these systemic
issues though is not obvious and depends on how we define the problem and the push for change. Are we pushing for socialism?
A growth economy? Do we need to restore the middle class or to reinvent it? Depending on what side you are on, what you are
doing is going to be a very different thing. So, how we define the problem and what the different perspectives are for the
people involved are all very important.
Objective(s):
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