The fruits of our modern global economy are showing up in the corporate bottom line, not in workers’ paychecks. CEOs have seen their pay go from 24 times the typical worker’s in 1965 to 262 times the typical worker’s in 2005. Last year, the share of national income going to corporate profits was the highest since 1929 – while the share going to the salaries of American workers was the lowest.
Globalization and economic policy dynamics are generating rising income inequality. In 2005, all income gains went to the top 10% of households, while the bottom 90% saw their income decline – despite the fact that worker productivity has increased for six years. In 1970, the top 1% of households held roughly 9% of our nation’s income. In 2005, they held 22% -- the highest level since 1929.
Harder for America’s middle-class and working-class families to make ends meet. Costs are up: health care premiums are up 87 percent since 2000. While productivity growth has gone up 18%, family incomes have gone down $1,300.
This Administration’s policies have fostered these economic outcomes.
Large corporate interests receive protection and benefits
No-bid contracts to Halliburton
Significant tax breaks to oil companies
Tax incentives to corporations shipping jobs overseas
A $1,000-per-patient subsidy to private Medicare plans
Every baby born today starts life with $29,000 of our national debt on his or her shoulders – the largest birth tax in our nation’s history.
http://www.hillaryclinton.com/feature/inequality/