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"A Federal Reserve survey reports that most US families didn't have a wage increase between 2010 and 2013, while income and wealth for the top 3% of US families rose to historically high levels during that period." If I were running for president for United States of America, I would say that this is a big problem that many Americans face, and that it would need to be addressed. You can't have a country that has only 3% of its people functioning at their best while the other 97% is in bad shape, because the country would fall apart. With the bad economy that we live in today, it would seem unreal to not have some sort of fund that would help increase family wages, allowing a much smoother life for Americans without an absorbent amount of wealth in their family. What makes this even more ridiculous, is that the rich benefit from the less wealthy peoples' loss in pay. It may come to the point where the 3% can't benefit anymore because the other 97% has been drained, dry. I think that this topic about our society in America can compare with the situation in the United States of America, because the Plebeians, who are very similar to the 97% of Americans living in harder conditions, had the same issue with their government. The Plebeians protested in Ancient Rome because the Patricians who were the really wealthy people, just like the 3% of rich Americans, didn't let the Plebeians have any say in their government. I think this can relate to the situation here in the United States of America, because it could certainly come to the point where Americans start protesting in the streets about low job wages.

"Since then, wealth inequality in America has followed a U-shaped trajectory, declining through the Great Depression until the mid-1980s, then steadily increasing since then. Now, the richest Americans have a share of the country's wealth almost big enough to rival those in the late 1920s, according to a new study" This article shows how the wealthiest people in the United States own a large share of the country's wealth. The article also discusses the income difference between the middle and lower classes. The middle/lower classes earn $84,000, while the income of the upper class is $160,700. Finally, the article shows how almost all of the United States is composed of the lower classes (90%), while the wealthiest control 11.2% of the country's wealth according to the article. 

"In the late 1920s, the top 10 percent of Americans possessed 84 percent of the country's wealth. Since then, wealth inequality in America has followed a U-shaped trajectory, declining through the Great Depression until the mid-1980s, then steadily increasing since then. Now, the richest Americans have a share of the country's wealth almost big enough to rival those in the late 1920s, according to a new study" This article first covers how the unemployment rate in America is going down. But even though less Americans are jobless, it remains true that the top 1% of America is still getting an unrealistically high amount of that wealth. This has been a common theme throughout America and has prompted several people in the lower-middle class to riot.

"Since then, wealth inequality in America has followed a U-shaped trajectory, declining through the Great Depression until the mid-1980s, then steadily increasing since then. Now, the richest Americans have a share of the country's wealth almost big enough to rival those in the late 1920s, according to a new study" This article shows how the wealthiest people in the United States own a large share of the country's wealth. The article also discusses the income difference between the middle and lower classes. The middle/lower classes earn $84,000, while the income of the upper class is $160,700. Finally, the article shows how almost all of the United States is composed of the lower classes (90%), while the wealthiest control 11.2% of the country's wealth according to the article. 

"Some economists have long argued that a widening income gap suppresses economic growth and job creation, and may be one reason this economic recovery doesn't feel like a recovery at all." This article represents my viepoint on the issue of income inequality. Although there are a few benefits to different incomes, the cons outweigh the pros. People of the middle and lower classes have been discovered to spend more of their income then the wealthy. This causes an overall decrease in the economic growth of the country. This is just one of the many bad effects income inequality has on America. Other effects include the greater lifespan of rich people compared to poor people, and the difference in the quality of education that children receive.

""The 400 richest people in the United States have more wealth than the bottom 150 million put together," said Berkeley Professor and former Labor Secretary Robert Reich on a recent CNNMoney panel on inequality." This Website really makes you think about how money is distributed in America today, but you also still have to think didn't these rich people earn their money? I mean don't you think it would be unfair to take their money away and give it to other people if they earned it a worked hard for it?

""The 400 richest people in the United States have more wealth than the bottom 150 million put together," said Berkeley Professor and former Labor Secretary Robert Reich on a recent CNNMoney panel on inequality. Meanwhile, the median wage earner in America took home 9% less last year than in 1999. But the rising income gap is manifesting itself in American society in other ways too. Social scientists have long said income inequality is bad for society. Yet popular measures of social stability -- crime rates, voter non-participation -- have been going down over the last couple of decades." The article talks about how income inequality is very bad for america and that it needs to be discussed. It effects economic growth and ever peoples' lifespan.

"Students from historically disadvantaged families have just a 51 percent Opportunity to Learn compared to White, non-Latino students. Closing this opportunity gap is essential to closing the academic achievement gaps that separate most Black and Hispanic students from their White and Asian peers." This topic brings up education from a racial perspective because in the United States of America, we have people from all over the world, making us one of the most diverse and cultural societies. I would say that in the United States of America, there are some opportunity gaps, because like I said, we are a diverse country, and everybody doesn't have the same opportunity unless that individual who is at a disadvantage works harder than others. For example, there are people who come to the United States of America and aren't as educated in certain topics compared to the colleagues sitting next to him or her. So I think that it is very valid to say that there is an opportunity gap in the United States of America. I think that you could relate the unfairness of the American education system with the Roman education system in various ways. I think that the biggest point though, is that the Roman education system revolved more around money more than education, because only the wealthiest received an education in Rome, this is because education wasn't a standard in Roman society. The rest of the Romans were laborers. In the United States of America, you don't need to own a mansion in order to be educated in school. Even though there is some difference in who got educated based on either wealth or brains, there's still an opportunity gap in both societies. I think that no matter where you go, someone will be at a disadvantage, but that's life.

This website and article discuses the opportunity gaps in american education. It provides an overview along with details to how big of a problem this is. It also talk about how race can fall into play of the gaps in america.

In America today, an academic achievement gap separates kids growing up in poverty from their peers in higher-income communities. Only 8% of students growing up in poverty graduate from college by age 24, compared with 80% of students in more affluent areas. This website gives lots of detail about the problems with educational opportunity gaps in America. It also has many videos going along with the articles.

"The 1940s to the late 1970s, while by no means a golden age (as evidenced, for example, by the perpetuation of gender, ethnic, and racial discrimination in the job market), was a period in which workers from the lowest-paid wage earner to the highest-paid CEO experienced similar growth in incomes. This was a period in which "a rising tide" really did lift all boats. This underscores that there is nothing inevitable about top incomes growing faster than other incomes, as has occurred since the late 1970s. The unequal income growth since the late 1970s has brought the top 1 percent income share in the United States to near its 1928 peak." This article explains the ever increasing income inequality in modern day society. It verbally and non-verbally describes how the income of the top 1% of America is rapidly occupying a greater percentage of the income of all the populaces of the United States of America and that the income share of top one percent is nearing the peak it reached in 1928.

"Nonetheless, there is growing anxiety in America about higher education." This article talks about how even though America has one of the best schools and colleges, education-wise it is decreasing. The article says this is because how students have to be extensive and expensive tuition, loans, etc.

""We're facing right now a divided America when it comes to the economy. It is true that the top 1 percent are doing great under Barack Obama. Today, the top 1 percent earn a higher share of our national income than any year since 1928," he said, quoting an oft-cited (by liberals) statistic from the work of economists Piketty and Emmanuel Saez." This article is about the problems with income inequality we are facing in America.

""Extreme economic inequality is damaging and worrying for many reasons," the report said. "It can have negative impacts on economic growth and poverty reduction; and it can multiply social problems. When wealth captures government policymaking, the rules bend to favor the rich, often to the detriment of everyone else."" This article talks about the economic inequality America is facing. It also talks about how the rich/upper class people are often more focused on getting more money for themselves rather than even thinking about those who can barely afford a relatively comfortable life.

"Americans simply do not have equal opportunities. This is more than an ethical or social issue: Underinvestment in human capital leads to lower productivity, which is to say, lower national income. Comparative data show that the U.S. offers less social and economic mobility than do many of its peer countries -- a startling rebuke to the mythology of America as the land of opportunity." This article talks about the reality of income inequality.  It tells that people who work harder earn more money in America, and that is what they think it should be.

"Here's the story of income inequality in America over the past 40 years." Shows in numbers how income inequality is an actual thing, and is out there. Very good solid background information and has numbers that can be used to reference.

"Among households headed by high school dropouts, incomes grew roughly in lockstep - and were basically stagnant at all levels. Among households headed by high school graduates, and in those headed by college graduates, those in the middle actually saw their wages fall. The only group that saw significant gains was households headed by high-earning college grads. Labor economists call this "the hollowing out of the middle." Globalization and technological change have made middle-skill, middle-income jobs harder to find. Low-skill, low-paying jobs have stuck around. And there are high-paying jobs for those at the top with the skills to put technology to profitable use." This article talks about how higher-income families gradually get more, and middle- and lower-income families gradually get less. It also discusses how, in the past 40 years, the problem is getting worse and worse.

"Among households headed by high school dropouts, incomes grew roughly in lockstep - and were basically stagnant at all levels. Among households headed by high school graduates, and in those headed by college graduates, those in the middle actually saw their wages fall. The only group that saw significant gains was households headed by high-earning college grads. Labor economists call this "the hollowing out of the middle." Globalization and technological change have made middle-skill, middle-income jobs harder to find. Low-skill, low-paying jobs have stuck around. And there are high-paying jobs for those at the top with the skills to put technology to profitable use." This article talks about how higher-income families gradually get more, and middle- and lower-income families gradually get less. It also discusses how, in the past 40 years, the problem is getting worse and worse.

"We can build on children's strengths, supporting them and challenging them to excel. The good news is that closing the opportunity gap doesn't require a magical quick fix; the bad news is that to do it we need to stop grasping at those magical quick fixes. Instead, we must turn to evidence-based, best practices."

"In particular, we have failed to build capacity or increase opportunities to learn.   Our intense focus on achievement gaps needs to be combined with an equally intense focus on opportunity gaps. The status quo of test-based accountability reform needs to give way to new, evidence-based approaches dedicated to building the capacity to accomplish accountability goals." I believe that there is no opportunity gap in Henrico because of the fact that we have so many options for high school specialty centers, extracurricular activities and clubs, sports, etc. These things give us a good amount of opportunity in order to "close" the gap and give us a well rounded education that can sustain us for a lifetime.

"Much has happened in the last 30 years. But let's fast forward, past the 1989 Charlottesville Education Summit and past President Clinton's "Goals 2000" legislation in 1994. Let's jump right to the "No Child Left Behind Act" of 2001. That law, along with the current administration's Race to the Top policies, has placed American school reform on a stark path best defined as "test-based accountability reform" - just as was called for 30 years ago in A Nation at Risk."

This article talks about the income gap between some of the lower income students and the children from higher income places. It goes with question #2 and also talks about some different states' efforts to fix the gap.

"America faces an opportunity gap. Those born in the bottom ranks have difficulty moving up. Although the United States has long thought of itself as a meritocracy, a place where anyone who gets an education and works hard can make it, the facts tell a somewhat different story."

It is more difficult for lower-income children to be successful because they are unlikely to get a high level education.  But those born into high income have a better chance of becoming middle class or higher because they are more likely to get a high level education or a degree.

"It is no secret that the past few decades of widening inequality can be summed up as significant income and wealth gains for those at the very top and stagnant living standards for the majority. I think it is appropriate to ask whether this trend is compatible with values rooted in our nation's history, among them the high value Americans have traditionally placed on equality of opportunity." "America, on the other hand, is lousy at moving many people out of poverty but great at making a very few very rich." Within the last year America has had created the most millionaires in the world. Economist argue that the recent rise in economic inequality stems from the massive salaries of high income earners. Basically as the upper class grows, those who are in the middle and lower class, will most likely stay there, with very few becoming millionaires

"Putnam's data verifies what many of us have seen anecdotally, that the children of the more affluent and less affluent are raised in starkly different ways and have different opportunities. Decades ago, college-graduate parents and high-school-graduate parents invested similarly in their children. Recently, more affluent parents have invested much more in their children's futures while less affluent parents have not." This Article basically explains what the opportunity gap is and how it affects education in America. It talks about how higher class children typically have more opportunities than lower class children. It also explains why jobs have an affect on opportunities because, the parents of children need money to send them to college, so without a good job children may not make it to college.

"The children of the more affluent and less affluent are raised in starkly different ways and have different opportunities. As a result, poorer kids are less likely to participate in voluntary service work that might give them a sense of purpose and responsibility. Their test scores are lagging. Their opportunities are more limited." This article explains the differences between the social classes of America, and their relation to education. Families who have a larger income than others tend to invest more time and money into their children. Kids who come from families who are wealthier are roughly twice as likely to participate in after school sports, and be members of nonsporting activities, also receiving better test scores and a sense of purpose and responsibility. Those with a larger amount of money are exposed to a plethora of opportunities which open doors to countless others, while those who are not so lucky do not get the same chance. Affluent individuals are more likely to raise children with other prosperous individuals in self-segregated areas where they are not exposed to those who do not share the same blessing. This is the reason for the lack of equality in the nation, as stated by the article, making the societal opportunity gap wider and wider.

"Affluent parents also invest more money in their children. Over the last 40 years upper-income parents have increased the amount they spend on their kids' enrichment activities, like tutoring and extra curriculars, by $5,300 a year. The financially stressed lower classes have only been able to increase their investment by $480, adjusted for inflation." This article talks about how higher income parents (Haves) spend more time and money invested in their children and because of this their children in the future will be as successful. This article also states how the gap will keep growing bigger and bigger.

"Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin has buzz. He has impressed conservative activists in Des Moines and is the front-runner for likely Republican Iowa caucus-goers, according to a Bloomberg Politics-Des Moines Register poll published over the weekend. Supporters say Mr. Walker, who is 47, has more diverse qualifications than the other Republicans: a non-Washington Republican who has won tough contests in a blue state, has taken on labor unions, and appeals to Christian conservatives and the business constituency. There is one credential that he doesn't have: a post-high school education. America hasn't elected a president without a college degree since Harry S. Truman." This article focuses on how the governor of Wisconsin might try to run for president without having a college education. According to the article, more than 40% of voters and all members of the Senate have higher education. Many strategists in both parties believe that Scott Walker's lack of college education could be troublesome if he chooses to run for president.

"Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin has buzz. He has impressed conservative activists in Des Moines and is the front-runner for likely Republican Iowa caucus-goers, according to a Bloomberg Politics-Des Moines Register poll published over the weekend. Supporters say Mr. Walker, who is 47, has more diverse qualifications than the other Republicans: a non-Washington Republican who has won tough contests in a blue state, has taken on labor unions, and appeals to Christian conservatives and the business constituency. There is one credential that he doesn't have: a post-high school education. America hasn't elected a president without a college degree since Harry S. Truman."

"Decades ago, college-graduate parents and high-school-graduate parents invested similarly in their children. Recently, more affluent parents have invested much more in their children's futures while less affluent parents have not." This article is about how important a college diploma is for a stable future. High-school-graduate parents are less likely to invest in their children's future, setting their family up for trouble down the road.

"While most studies look at inequality of outcomes among adults and help us understand how America is coming apart, Putnam's group looked at inequality of opportunities among children. They help us understand what the country will look like in the decades ahead. The quick answer? More divided than ever." This article explains how children from unequal income families have different chances in later life success. Also about an attention gap with college-educated and working-class parents and their children.

"While most studies look at inequality of outcomes among adults and help us understand how America is coming apart, Putnam's group looked at inequality of opportunities among children. They help us understand what the country will look like in the decades ahead. The quick answer? More divided than ever."

In a poor, mixed Chicago neighborhood, different children are tutored 2 on 1 for math in hopes to increase testing scores and reduce drop outs. This decrease of gap in education can hopefully boost the economy and lower poverty rates of people in America.

In a poor, mixed Chicago neighborhood, different children are tutored 2 on 1 for math in hopes to increase testing scores and reduce drop outs. This decrease of gap in education can hopefully boost the economy and lower poverty rates of people in America.

"other economists warn that a minimum wage hike to $10.10 - the level Obama and Congressional Democrats are calling for - would be bad for business. The CBO estimates that the $10.10 option would reduce total employment by 500,000 workers once fully implemented in the second half of 2016." This excerpt does a good job of highlighting just how debilitating income inequality can be. With an addition of as little as $3.00 to minimum wage payments, total employment would reduce by 500,000 workers. I agree with the article that income inequality is a major struggle faced in America. President Obama said, "[income inequality] jeopardized middle class America's basic bargain- that if you work hard you get ahead." This defines the effect income inequality has on America. The rich get richer and the poor fall deeper into poverty. For that reason and to answer the discussion question, if I were running for president I would make it clear that this income problem would be solved because it is "the root of all social evil." Similar to the Romans, income inequality is what prompts social division in America. This article directly relates my answer to the discussion question because it gives detailed analysis of the negative role income inequality plays on our lives today.

Money is now being called thew root of all evil. It is no lie that income inequality is a problem. It limits social mobility and threatens a lot of things that are important to Americans.