Does the Growing Income Gap Threaten the Middle Class?
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The income gap between the rich and the poor makes America comparable to some banana republics. What are the causes? What needs to be done? Also, Iran releases one of three imprisoned American hikers, and as President Sarkozy continues to deport the Roma from France, the European Commission is asked to retaliate with legal action.
Banner image: People hold signs as they participate in a 'Rebuild America-Jobs, Justice and Peace' march in the downtown area August 28, 2010 in Detroit, Michigan. Photo: Bill Pugliano/Getty Images
Making News
Iran Frees One of Three Imprisoned US Hikers ()
Iran has released one of three American hikers, held for more than a year and accused of spying after they strayed across the Iraq-Iran border. Sarah Shourd is now free on $500,000 bail. Borzou Daragahi reports from the Middle East for the Los Angeles Times.
Guests:
- Borzou Daragahi: Middle East Correspondent, Los Angeles Times, @borzou
Main Topic
Is Income Inequality a Threat to the Middle Class? ()
One hundred years ago, in the era of Robber Barons, the richest 1% of Americans had 18% of the nation's income. The income tax, labor unions and the New Deal leveled things out but, since the 1970's, the income gap has been growing again and now it's wider than ever. Are the very rich just the top of a healthy middle class, or is the economy a zero-sum game with top earners refusing to let their wealth trickle down? We hear a debate that underlies the issues being raised in this year's midterm campaigns.
Guests:
- Timothy Noah: Staff Writer, Slate.com
- Diana Furchtgott-Roth: former Chief Economist, US Department of Labor
- Paul Pierson: Professor of Political Science, UC Berkeley
- Bill Bishop: Editor, Daily Yonder
Links:
- Noah's Slate series, 'The Great Divergence 2010'
- Stephen Rose's 'Rebound: Why America Will Emerge Stronger from the Financial Crisis'
- Pierson's 'Winner-Take-All Politics: How Washington Made the Rich Richer--and Turned Its Back on the Middle Class'
- Bishop's 'The Big Sort: Why the Clustering of Like-Minded America is Tearing Us Apart'
Reporter's Notebook
EU Threatens France over Roma Deportations ()
Since July, France has deported more than 1000 Roma to Romania and Bulgaria. Today, it deported another 230. The European Commission is being urged to take legal action against the government in Paris, and today the EU Justice Commissioner used very strong language to denounce the expulsions. Who are the Roma? What does President Sarkozy's law-and-order crackdown have to do with cutbacks in entitlement spending? John Lichfield is Paris correspondent for the Independent of London.
Guests:
- John Lichfield: Paris Correspondent, Independent of London
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