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Back to To the Point

To the Point

Is America Losing Its Middle Class?

There's good news today: the US economy grew 5% in the summer quarter.  But bad news continues: that growth is not trickling down to everyone. The gap between the "haves" and the "have-nots" is now the biggest on record, and it's not likely to get much smaller any time soon.

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By Warren Olney • Dec 23, 2014 • 1 min read

There's good news today: the US economy grew 5% in the summer quarter. But bad news continues: that growth is not trickling down to everyone. The gap between the "haves" and the "have-nots" is now the biggest on record, and it's not likely to get much smaller any time soon. Opportunities are not what they were before the Recession—let alone before high-paying manufacturing jobs went overseas. We hear about the under-employment of educated people, the bleak outlook for Millennials and the financial plight of racial minorities.

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Warren Olney

    former KCRW broadcaster

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Benjamin Gottlieb

    Reporter, Fill-in Host

  • KCRW placeholder

    Claire Martin

    Producer, To the Point/Which Way LA?

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    Evan George

    Director of Content, News

  • KCRW placeholder

    Jim Tankersley

    New York Times

  • KCRW placeholder

    Nelson Lichtenstein

    University of California, Santa Barbara

  • KCRW placeholder

    Caroline Baum

    independent economics journalist

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