Inequality, Racism and Policy

There is probably several books in the title of this blog, but in essence it boils down to policies which favor entrenched minorities or rapidly shrinking majorities in the case of racism and what can we do about them.  Unfortunately, not much unless there is a generation defining event like the Great Depression and/or World War 2 that forces changes.   FDR's policies of protecting unions, vastly more progressive taxation and wage compression made for the growth of the largest middle class the world has ever known.  The people at the top of income distribution have been chipping away at those achievements ever since.  We are now approaching levels of inequality not seen since the 1920s.  A generation of hopeful young people are facing a future of significantly less opportunity than mine.  Yet, they don't speak with a single voice.  As I said, there will probably have to be a lot more pain before positive strides are made.  It will be an interesting few decades.  Here's hoping it's not a violent time in our history.  The racism illustrated by police violence is more prevalent and more intractable than income inequality.  As whites slip into majority/minority status, the hard liners will become more vocal and more violent.  We tiptoe around this issue in the media, but it will become more and more noticeable in the future.  The issues of race and inequality are bound together, but until the downtrodden of all races make common cause, they will be used to divide us.