Unequal Society Analysis

Envision America different from what we know. A different, yet real America, which exists in a time unknown, an America that is no longer governed by hate and cruelty. Imagine parents no longer struggling to pay the bills, no people lying ill on the streets, or children starving at night. A time where a specific economic status does not evoke disapproval, crime, and suspicions. Imagine an America healing and progressing from its earlier judgments and degradation of people. Where we set aside our socialized ideas, to allow a world of opportunities and chances once inconceivable to our ancestors.
This is the world image which America continually seeks and aims to acquire, yet in our modern age poverty remains a significant issue. In America alone,

This is especially true when the government and the media penalize and frames the ideas around the poor to ensure that those of lower economic standing are kept at a constant disadvantage (U.N 5). In modern television and media, the portrayal of poverty often takes harmful approaches. Media coverage often depicts poor people as lazy and incapable while television series make poverty seem funny thus desensitizing people to the problem. Regarding the forces behind the government, Joseph Stiglitz in his article, “Rent Seeking and the Making of an Unequal Society” provides valuable insight. In this, he argues that the poor suffer because the “government alters the dynamics of wealth” in order to reinforce and support the rich (596). Whether that be by strategically allowing bankruptcy, dictating what is fair competition, creating tax policies, or altering the provisions of public education. Through this Stiglitz is arguing that for people of lower economic status, they are taken advantage of, disregarded, and left out of opportunities by not only everyday people but by corporations and our largest established organizations. Instead, those in poverty, regardless of their efforts to move out of their economic positions are “ treated with disrespect or condescension by policymakers,

However, there are people who would argue that socialized ideas of discrimination no longer exist. Due to this, they believe discrimination is not an important factor against those in poverty. But why would they believe this? For instance, the forms of discrimination in America’s past included segregation policies, refusal of service, and written rules against different races. Many years later and these laws no longer prevail as they were written off and discarded, therefore leading people to surmise that racism and discrimination no longer exist. While others argue that the socialized ideas purely exist because they are accurate reflections, alluding to such things as crime rates, education levels, etc. However, these arguments prove illogical in making to wide of assumptions, although some people of specific race, class, etc. are the cause of their own actions, many others are victims of stereotypes made against them. For instance, some people consider African-Americans malicious criminals in regards to the high rates of incarceration.Yet, studies provide insight, showing because of people's discriminated attitudes the likelihood of a white male being sentenced for the same crime is lower (Ballman). These instances are continually taking place within America, yet many people try to disregard the truth behind it. Maybe the levels of