The widening gap between the rich and poor.

Something to think about. The gap between the rich and poor is the largest it has ever been and is rapidly growing. It is also the largest of any industrialized nation. The 10 percent wealthiest own 73 percent of the wealth in the United States. The top 1 percent own about 39 percent. Between 1979 and 1994, family income fell 14 percent for those in the lowest quintile (20 percent) and rose 83 percent for the top 1 percent. In contrast, between 1947 and 1979, all quintiles grew between 86 percent and 116 percent, with the bottom quintile growing the most and the top quintile growing the least. In 1965, the average chief executive officer's income was 44 times that of the average U.S. worker's income. In 1995, that was up to 212 times as much -- a ratio hgher than of any other industrialized nation. Between 1990 and 1995, corporate profits rose 50 percent, and CEO pay rose 65 percent. During the same period, worker layoffs were up 39 percent, and workers pay was down 1 percent. Such disparities undermine democracy because fewer people have access to full and equitable participation and decision making in our society. --Jim Broede