compare and contrast essay

People came to U.S for a better opportunity and a quality life, but the reality is only one percent of the population in America gets an opportunity and the wealth. Most people don’t realize the economic Inequality that is going on in the country. Did you know that their is only percent of the people in the U.S that is “rich” and because of this reason they control more than half of the County.” America has long prided itself on being a fair society, where everyone has an equal chance of getting ahead, but the statistics suggest otherwise: the chance of a poor citizen, or even a middle-class citizen, making it to the top in America are smaller than in Europe (Stiglitz 751). How can this be the American dream ?

A Professor at Columbia Univeristy, Joseph E. Stiglitz, also an American economist wrote an article called “Of the 1%, by the 1%,for the 1%.” Stiglitz said “the level of inequality in the U.S. has been increasing very rapidly”, and "we've been getting more unequal while other countries have been becoming less unequal”(Stiglitz 746).Based on what Stiglitz said in the article we can conclude that the American income inequality is getting worse than a decade ago. The Author also said that “The upper 1 percent of Americans are now taking in nearly a quater of the nations income every year” (Stiglitz 746).Another article titled “A Court For The One Percent: How The Supreme Court Contributes To Economic Inequality”, written by Michele Gilman, states that “As Stiglitz explains, government sets the rule of the game by establishing the playing field for unionzation, corporate governance, and competition laws.”(Gliman 396). Both articles discuss Inequality, but Gliman also talkes about the Constitution.

First, “The core principle of the Court’s class doctrine is that the constition does not ensure any minmum level of entitlement or standard of living.No one is constitutionally entitled to food, housing, medical care, or education.”(Gliman 402) This shows that the constition does not guarantee and create social and economic rights. Its the major cause of economic inequality and, speicificaly, with Supreme Court doctrine.

Unlike Gliman’s article that explores the United states surpreme Cout’s role in furthering economic inequality“You can have democracy in this country, or you can have great wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but you cannot have both. ”

Louis Brandeis, Supreme Court Justice(Gliman 391). Stiglitz’s article arguge on the The top 1 percent may have the best houses, educations, and lifestyles,  but “their fate is bound up with how the other 99 percent live”(Stiglitz 753). In stiglitz’s article, he also came up with a theory that  Gliman’s article did not include,“marginal-productivity theory.”This theory associated higher incomes with higher productivty and a greater contributon to society(stiglitz 746). According to his article Economiste are not sure how to explain the growing inequality in America.As a reader we are able to assume that both article have a similar idea on inequality, but uses different perspective and language.

    Therefore, Gilman’s article suggests that the writer is serious about his topic and has more formal tone compare to Stiglitz writting. Also Gilman’s article is seventy-six pages long where Stigliz’s atricle is only five pages long. However, both article did discuss a solution that can help to solve the problem that is going on in the economy. “After examining the economic literature on inequality, journalist Timothy Noah recommends a progressive tax system, expanding the federal payroll, importing skilled labor, universalizing preschool, controlling the prices of higher education, regulating Wall Street, electing Democratic presidents, and reviving the labor movement. Stiglitz envisions a similar reform agenda that would increaseeconomic efficiency, fairness, and opportunity by curbing excesses at the top with some redistribution towards the 99%”(Gliman 450).As a reader I founfed interesting that  Gliman have also included perfessor Stiglitz’s belief in his article.

    Gliman have argued that it could be a good thing to have inequality. He said, “By contrast,for conservatives, inequality is a necessay motivator for citizens to work hard, innovate, and create wealth(Gliman 398). However, Stiglitz said that the most important thing that a modern economy requires “collective action” it needs government to invest in Infrastructure, education, and technology. The two writer had a different view on what is good for the modern society.