Sunday, April 30, 2006
The One Percent
Jamie Johnson, Johnson & Johnson heir, recently spoke about his movie, now showing in the Tribeca Film Festival. He spoke of the growing gap between the rich and the average American. The average American makes about $35,000 a year.
In Connecticut, you cannot raise a family on that if you have to pay for health insurance, shelter, food and clothing. Heck, even a single individual would have problems living on that income with the cost of housing around here.
While I do not know the solution, I do understand the problems of just trying to have a decent life. The stress that the average American is under just to meet basic needs is tremendous. In the past 50 years we have gone from one income families to being necessary to have two incomes just to make ends meet.
While most of the people are proud, they are forced to seek assistance just to survive. Also, choices are as limited (or nonexistent) as their income.
Johnson also mentioned that in past history, when societies have such a large gap the generally end up collapsing.
Any realistic solutions?
