The document discusses income inequality in the United States. It provides statistics showing declining incomes for average workers while the wealthiest Americans have greatly increased their wealth. Over the past 42 years, average male and female workers are making much less after adjusting for inflation. The U.S. childhood poverty rate is high compared to other wealthy countries. While the richest 15 Americans gained $170 billion in two years, the bottom 40% of Americans own very little combined wealth. The average middle class family income has declined significantly in 10 years. The document suggests raising awareness of this issue and engaging civically and politically to address income inequality.

1. Shane Smith

2. • What is income inequality?
• The extent to which income is distributed in an
uneven manner among the population.
• History shows that if there a society has a
currency, income inequality is a problem.

3. • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slanahLcIHY

4. • Today the average male worker is making 783$ less
than he did 42 years ago (after adjusting for
inflation.)
• The typical female worker is making 1337$ less than
she did 42 years ago (after adjusting for inflation.)
• The United States childhood poverty rate is currently
ranked 36 out of the 41st wealthiest countries in the
world, with a poverty rate of 22.2% of children living
under the poverty line.
• Over the past two years the wealthiest 15 Americans
have seen their wealth increase over 170 billion
dollars.

5. • That increase (170 billion dollars) is more than the
bottom 40% of Americans own combined.
• This 170 billion dollars is double what the country
spends on nutrition programs that feed 40 million
people.
• In the last 10 years the average middle class family
income has went from 130,000$ to 81,000$.
• The bottom 90% of the nation wealth owns 23% of
the nations wealth.

8. • Social work is a field that deals with everyday
people. This is a problem that affects the
average person.
• One thing I can do to help solve this problem is
increase awareness for this issue. Not enough
people are aware of this issue.

10. • Local levels: Companies/local businesses create job
opportunities.
• State levels – Bills are being mentioned that would
offer tax breaks to companies that pay fairly based
on CEO-median worker income differentials. States
have also raised minimum wage.
• National level – I feel like nothing has been done.
Somethings I think they should do: raise minimum
wage, set up universal Pre-K, and fix the tax system
to benefit the middle class more.

11. • Other 98 Percent: A website that posts articles of
social injustices against the average American.
• Mind the Gap: Provides information on the wealth
gap and offers a blog that one can post in.
• Common Security Club – Provides a chance for one
to find a local group. These groups then meet to
discuss financial security.

12. • Raise awareness
• Learn about political candidates and vote.
• Million Student March on November the 12th.
Students around the United States are marching to
demand free tuition, cancellation of student debt,
and a minimum wage of 15$ per hour for campus
workers.

13. • http://studentmarch.org/
• http://inequality.org/organizations/
• http://fortune.com/2014/10/31/inequality-wealth-income-
us/
• http://www.forbes.com/billionaires/
• https://berniesanders.com/