Social Class and Inequality

 250 words

For this week’s question, discuss the debate over the causes of poverty in the United States.

What evidence suggests that the poor are responsible for their own poverty?

What evidence suggests that society, as a whole, is responsible for poverty?

Does a society bear any responsibility to assist the poor or less fortunate?

Which side of the debate do you find more convincing? Why?

In addition, corporations argue that corporate welfare is motivated by sound economic or operational rationale.

Critics, on the other hand, see the motivation as corporate greed. How is corporate welfare different than individual government assistance?

Should we bail out banks, airlines, and the automotive industry as we have historically?

Should those who make over one million dollars a year pay more in taxes, at least more than their staff...or should they be given significant tax breaks because they have loopholes to use.   

What do you think?