Occupy Spotlight: Income Inequality Gains National Attention

 
It۪s hard to turn on the news these days without hearing an update about Occupy Wall Street, the series of demonstrations that began in New York City a month ago and have spread across the country and world.  News and opinion pages have been crowded with analysis, commentary, support and criticism of the nascent movement. 

While the protesters seem to embrace myriad views and causes, an overarching theme emerging from the movement is that of economic inequality.  Many demonstrators have adopted the “we are the 99 percent” slogan, a reference to those who have borne the brunt of the recession while the top 1 percent of earners continue to thrive.

This is clearly an issue that resonates. Nick Kristof wrote on the topic in the New York Times last Saturday, referencing data produced by the CIA: “According to the CIA۪s own ranking of countries by income inequality, the United States is more unequal a society than either Tunisia or Egypt.”  Spotlight۪s own Exclusive Commentary section features a piece this week on the politics behind the income gap.  Even Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke has commented on the perils of income inequality, as previously documented in OOTS.

OOTS will continue to keep track of this growing conversation on income inequality as it spills out into the streets and onto the printed page.

Posted by Mike
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Here at Out of the Spotlight, we offer a behind-the-scenes look at the latest news and information essential to anyone working to fight poverty. From key political appointees to clashes over policy, we cover the news that doesn’t always make the evening news. Check out Out of the Spotlight for our take on the twists and turns of the latest political developments and their impact on poverty reduction. Topics and ideas are welcome! Just contact mlaracy@aecf.org or watersboots@hotmail.com