Widening The Gap In America Essay

The gap between the upper and middle classes in America is widening, therefore weakening the economy and democracy. This horrid change is depriving Americans of opportunities and making “The American Dream” implausible. When - and if - the gap stops widening, the yearned for American Dream will be a thing of the past.
    Primarily, this wretched gap between the upper and middle classes was once nonexistent. According to Source A, “to enhance the quality of one’s life came to seem a basic right.” This provided several new opportunities for Americans. In fact, Source A’s writer, Alan Brinkley, discussed how a majority of the American population were able to buy houses, cars, and other luxuries. This was in the 1950s though, and since then times have changed drastically. In Source B, Holly Skylar addresses the issue that “Since 2000, America’s billionaire club has gained 76 more members” while “the poverty count has grown by more than 5 million people”. How does this pertain to the gap? It is becoming increasingly difficult to be included in the upper class and most are failing, remaining stranded in the middle class, or worse. As this task’s level of difficulty increases, the gap grows wider.

Furthermore, standards and available opportunities are changing.

Many are aware of the high qualifications necessary to get a - especially high paying - job in current times. In Source E, Hedrick Smith stated that in the seventies, “High school graduates were in demand” but today’s high school graduates are fortunate if they can find a job without any college degree.  These opportunities are not only rare, but exclusively limited too! According to Source F, “there are gaps by race, gender, and children’s circumstances at birth.”  The already limited opportunities available are going to those with privileges and advantages which are the people who need the opportunities the least. This is why the gap continues to

widen.
    Ultimately, we can stop this gap from widening, but not everyone is willing to. As Thomas Sowell stated in Source D, “the rich are getting richer, the poor are getting poorer, and incomes of the population in general are stagnating.” The Census Bureau’s statistics support this claim. Many wonder why this gap keeps growing, and the answer is simple: Most wealthy people do not want it to stop widening. They are obtaining more money and more privilege and if the gap stops widening, they have a lot to lose. Besides, their money is largely impactful, providing them with even more opportunities and advantages. A major downside is that this is creating inequality. Findings from Source F say, “Children from less advantaged families tend to fall behind at every stage” and only 17% of those children succeed. Inequality is holding America back and those benefitting do not want to help fix the issue!
    To conclude, the growing gap between the upper and middle classes in America is weakening our economy, democracy, and shows no signs of stopping.This issue is obvious but is being ignored. It is destroying the American Dream but no one seems to care. There is a possible solution, but no one wants to act on it. This gap is hurting America but Americans are selfish.