Bernie Sanders: U.S. No. 1 in Inequality
on Sunday, November 29, 2015Bernie Sanders Money Quotation saying there are several things the United States is number one in the world where we should be ashamed we lead, including wealth inequity and youth poverty. Bernie Sanders said:
“Today, the United States is No. 1 in billionaires, No. 1 in corporate profits, No. 1 in CEO salaries, No. 1 in childhood poverty and No. 1 in income and wealth inequality in the industrialized world” — Bernie Sanders
In this quote, Bernie Sanders is highlighting some troubling contradictions in the current U.S. economy. While America leads globally in areas like the number of billionaires, high corporate earnings, and large CEO paychecks, it is also number one among wealthy nations in negative metrics like childhood poverty rates and the gaps between rich and poor in terms of income and wealth accumulation.
Sanders appears to be arguing that an economy which maximizes gains at the very top but fails to provide basic needs and opportunities for children and many adults should not be considered successful.
The quote implies reforms are needed to produce broader-based prosperity, not just concentrate riches among a select few. Overall, Sanders is critically contrasting indicators of wealth concentration versus economic well-being for much of the population.