Public Sees Income/Wealth Inequality As A Big Problem

The United States is one of the most unequal nations when it comes to wealth and income -- perhaps the most unequal of all the developed nations. While the poor and workers see their income basically stagnant (and lose buying power due to inflation), the rich keep getting even richer. This has created a vast gap in income and wealth between the rich and the rest of Americans -- a bigger gap than existed before the Great Depression.

Republicans officials don't see this as a problem, and continue their "trickle-down" economic policy which gives more to the rich (under the mistaken assumption that much of what they give the rich will trickle down to the rest of the population). This policy doesn't work, and is the main cause of the vast income and wealth inequality in this country.

This growing inequality is a problem, because it is producing a nation of "haves" and "have-nots" -- much like the economies of third world nations. This cannot be sustained indefinitely. A healthy and growing economy requires a much fairer distribution of income and wealth.

Democrats know this -- and so does the American public. About 3 out of 4 registered voters (74%) say the existing income inequality is critical or very important to the vital interests of the United States and its economy. Only 19% say it is not important.

This is the feeling of all demographic groups -- even 58% of Republicans. Putting the Democrats in charge of the House of Representatives was a good start to remedy the problem, but it won't be solved until the Democrats also control the Senate and the White House. Only then can economic policies be instituted that will be fair to all Americans -- not just the rich.

The chart above shows the results of a recent Politico / Morning Consult Poll -- done on December 4th of a national sample of 1,975 registered voters, with a margin of error of 2 points.