Texas leads U.S. in income gap between wealthy, middle-class THANKS, GW!

[elehhhhna]

Texas leads U.S. in income gap between wealthy, middle-class


By POLLY ROSS HUGHES
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau

AUSTIN — No other state has a wider income gap between its richest and middle class than Texas, according to a national study released today.

At the same time, Texas ranks second only to New York in its income gap between its richest and poorest inhabitants, according to the study by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the Economic Policy Institute in Washington, D.C.

"Texas has arguably the most extreme separation between the well off and everyday people in the United States," said Don Baylor, a policy analyst at the Center for Public Policy Priorities, an Austin think tank that advocates for lower-income families.

"In many states, the income gap is like a gully," he added. "In Texas the income gap is like a deep canyon."

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/3614000.html

[Angry Girl]

1. Growing Gulf Between Rich and Rest of US by Holly Sklar

Guess which country the CIA World Factbook describes when it says, "Since 1975, practically all the gains in household income have gone to the top 20 percent of households."

If you guessed the United States, you're right.

The United States has rising levels of poverty and inequality not found in other rich democracies. It also has less mobility out of poverty.

Since 2000, America's billionaire club has gained 76 more members while the typical household has lost income and the poverty count has grown by more than 5 million people.

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http://www.commondreams.org/views05/1003-21.htm