1) The document discusses several economic issues facing the United States, including slowing population and economic growth, rising income inequality, and high levels of private wealth. 2) It argues that income inequality in the US has increased sharply since 1980 and now threatens democratic politics. The top 1% earns as much as the bottom 50% and controls most of the country's wealth. 3) Several potential problems are identified if these trends continue, including social instability from a growing sense of unfairness, economic stagnation among the middle and lower classes, and the risk of another financial crisis triggered by over-indebtedness.