I am not a believer in leveling. It is fine with me, and probably in the nature of things, that some have more and some have less.

But if you are looking for the most significant reason there are significant levels poverty in a nation with our total wealth, these numbers tell the story.

Grossly inequitable distribution of wealth.

Who determines how resources are distributed? Those with the power to do so.

Who has power? People with money. Lots of money.

How many people have lots and lots of money? Not very many.

The richest of the rich, and the richer of the rich could still be rich. The merely rich could still be very well-to-do. The upper middle class could still be middle class. The vast majority of us could still muddle along from payday to payday and be ok barring any catastrophic illness. And we could guarantee that even the worst off among us were guaranteed a basic but adequate standard of living. That basic needs for food, clothing, shelter and medical care were sufficiently met.

In this country, in these United States of America, in this, the richest country in the history of the world, the only reason so many are so poor is because that is the only way the richest can stay that rich.

That, my friends, is social injustice.

Janie