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I’m studying for my Sociology class and need an explanation.

“Inequality for All” (90 minutes) – NOTETAKING GUIDE

Featuring former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich

Film is available in Media Services on dvd or streaming via www.video.oakton.edu

Here are the 3 Central Questions of the film:

A.What is happening in terms of income and wealth distribution?

B.Why is it happening?

C. Is inequality a problem? When does inequality threaten opportunity and democracy

Measuring Inequality: Top vs. middle income earners

1. 1978 Middle income males =
2. Top 1% =
3. 2010 Middle income =
4. Top 1% =
5. Top 1%: Saez and Piketty IRS tax data from 1913 to today
6. 1928 and 2007 peak years for top 1% of income earners:
7. What happened to US economy and society during these peak times?
8. What makes an economy stable?
9. How does Reich define middle class in terms of income?
10. Problems with concentration of income and wealth in few hands? (Nick Hanauer: Pillow business)

• “Job creators”?
• Making a claim that current arrangement is:
• Pro-business =
• Per Nick, what helps ensure a “free market”?

NOTE: Central question for Nick is who do the rules benefit and who do they hurt?

1. Why is inequality widening?

Late 1970s :

1. iPhone Example: Concerns are not just over costs of labor. The question centers on ____________?

1. Globalization and Technology

1. As inequality rises, what happens to social mobility?

1. Per Reich, whom should we emulate?

1. Three decades after WWII. “The Great Prosperity”
2. Economy boomed, but inequality remained low. What led to this?

1. Note the Virtuous cycle:

• Increased wages

• Increased consumption
• Companies hire more
• Tax revenue increases
• Govt invests more
• Workers are better educated

1. Who were the winners and what did they win (with globalization and technological innovation)?

1. Per Reich, what is the huge lie operating in the culture today?

1. Three ways to cope with declining incomes during “The Great Regression”:

Note the Vicious Cycle

• Wages stagnate
• Workers buy less
• Companies downsize
• Tax rev. decreases
• Govt cuts programs
• Workers less educated
• Unemployment rises

1. How does growing inequality undermine democracy?

Troublesome cycle:

• Less $ money from rich going to support society
• Less from middle class due to declining wages
• Budget crisis
• Less revenue sharing with states
• Cannot support public colleges
• Loss of opportunity and mobility

1. Political polarization and widening inequality

1. Citizens United (2010)

1. History is on side of social progress. Examples?

1. Policy options for dealing with growing inequality?

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www.inequalityforall.com