Blog #5: The State of the Union Is Unequal: 10 Things Presidential Candidates Should Know About Inequality

             According to this article the United States has greater inequality than 66 other nations.  Although every nation has inequality, not all of it is bad. There is also good inequality which helps motivate us by others' success, making us seek new skills, innovate, and work smarter and faster. Good inequality can have a positive impact on people's lives. Extreme inequality is damaging to a society. Extreme inequality affects anyone, not just the disadvantages unlike poverty.  The women who wrote this article say there are 10 things that the presidential candidates should know about how bad extreme inequality is for America. These 10 things include economic health,health, children's aspirations, housing, services, trust and cohesion, violent crime, democracy, stability and The American Dream. Economic health talks about the difference in how average Americans would spend extra money compared to millionaires; Health in general, all the stress causes more risk of heart attack or stroke, more depression, and greater conflicts in relationships because of hardships. Children's aspirations are affected in that self esteem is dropping so children aren't going after their dreams and goals.  Housing is affected because pretty much for a child to go to a decent school you have to be in an are with bigger house prices. Services are affected because when the rich opt our of using the "Services" they don't support investments in them because they aren't needed for them. Trust and cohesion is affected because income gaps divide people meaning less trust between neighbors.  Violent Crime increases with stronger inequalities.  Democracy is effected.  Stability is affected especially if people don't think the government is working well.. The American Dream is affected because its harder and harder to climb the ladder now so many don't believe they can make it in this country anymore. Although all this is affected most of it can be fixed or prevented. 
           I agree with this article in saying these are the things that the candidates need to know.  Everything that was said is true and its sad to see.  The one thing i didn't realize is that there was good inequality. But after reading about it and what it does i see that there is and why there is.  It's sad to know that the American Dream is fading, that we used to be the place everyone wanted to come to, but now because of all the inequalities they don't. Hopefully after this next election, the new president will start to realize these things and find ways to fix them or prevent them, because it can be done, we just have to work together.

   http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sarah-burdsharps/america-wealth-inequality_b_1270434.html