How Inequality Hurts Societies - On Point - NPR today

[BridgeTheGap]

New global research on equality, inequality, and the happiness of nations. It’s an American issue.
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American inequality is at towering heights not seen since before the Great Depression. Wealth is packed at the top of the ladder, and dwindling on the rungs below.

The picture naturally makes many uneasy. A new global research effort says we are quite right to worry about it.

Two British epidemiologists say inequality is a public health issue, a national health issue. From crime rates to drug use to teenage pregnancy to heart disease and more, they say, the evidence shows inequality makes countries sick, even the rich.

We investigate inequality, and the health of nations.

http://www.onpointradio.org/2011/01/inequality-societies

[xchrom]

1. the pressures that europeans took to protest austerity meassures, price hikes and wage issues

that are taking arabs to the streets -- are all percolating here.

and we are not having the appropriate political response to them.

you can't keep growing poverty, price pressures, wage and labor pressures -- and have nothing happen.

that pressure has to go somewhere.

[Citizen Worker]

4. Having listened and watched with great interest the president's speech on Tuesday where would anyone

get the idea that inequality exists, or that unemployment is an issue of national concern along with ever increasing numbers of food stamp recipients? No mention of poverty at all. Therefore, how can any of the above even exist in the land of plenty and opportunity for all.

[xchrom]

5. it's the same thing in all the countries where the unrest is developing.

there exists or existed a single narrative that wasn't being experienced by the street.

the pressure built on the street -- til the street wouldn't take it any more.

[BridgeTheGap]

6. The poor just don't get out and vote that much. Politically, they're irrelevant. At least that

seems to be the attitude of most politicians. "Burn, baby, burn" of the 60s could easily return. And then what?

[FailureToCommunicate]

2. That was a very interesting show. This team had solid numbers

to back up the premise that as income inequality increased, a whole host of social and medical problems rose. Countries where there was less disparity between rich and poor -e.g. Japan, Sweden - had many fewer health problems.
Needless to say America was one of the worst in their study.

link to the study:
http://www.equalitytrust.org.uk/resource/the-spirit-level

[groovedaddy]

3. It's also interesting to look at the same country over time (i.e. the U.S.) to see

how those numbers all fluctuate together. As they pointed out, the war on poverty had a huge impact on closing the income gap and many of the other numbers improved along with it. It really makes sense.