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Study, conducted by Stanford University and released by the Russell Sage Foundation and Brown University in Nov., 2011... shows a changed map of prosperity in the United States over the past four decades, with larger patches of affluence and poverty and a shrinking middle.... The study also found that there is more residential sorting by income.... It raises, but does not answer, the question of whether increased economic inequality, and the resulting income segregation, impedes social mobility.

"America is great in many ways, but on a whole host of measures America is great in many ways, but on a whole host of measures - some of which are shown in the accompanying chart - ...not only are we not No.1, we are among the worst of the worst. These include the worst income inequality in the developed world except for Hong Kong and Singapore; and the world's highest per capita prison population at 1 out of every 15 people (which is greater than Russia's).

'Last week, at a hearing before the Senate Budget Committee, Kent Conrad, the chairman of that committee, laid out the issue as many Americans see it: "The growing gap between the very wealthy and everyone else has serious ramifications for the country. It hinders economic growth, it undermines confidence in our institutions, and it goes against one of the core ideals of this country - that if you work hard and play by the rules, you can succeed and leave a better future for your kids and your grandkids."

"I urged that we be realistic about reasoning and recognize that reasons persuade others on moral and political issues only under very special circumstances. "Reason is far less powerful than intuition, so if you're arguing (or deliberating) with a partner who lives on the other side of the political spectrum from you, and you approach issues such as abortion, gay marriage or income inequality with powerfully different intuitive reactions, you are unlikely to effect any persuasion no matter how good your arguments and no matter how much time you give your opponent to reflect upon your logic. "I never said that reasons were irrelevant. I said that they were no match for intuition, and that they were usually a servant of one's own intuitions. Therefore, if you want to persuade someone, talk to the elephant first."