Indecent Exposure

The disaster in New Orleans has acted as a harsh filter separating the classes. Yes, this tragedy forces us to admit to the dreaded "C word." Those with cars and cash were able to heed the evacuation order. Those without were left on their own at the bottom of the New Orleans bowl to die or swim for their lives to the shelter of last resort, the ironically named Super Dome. There they found little water and food; few toilets; no plan, and no dignity. Even worse off were those who languished for searing days and nightmarish nights on street islands or rooftops. This tragedy once and for all exposes the stark reality of our callous disregard for the poor. But lately it has even been worse than disregard. The wealthy class has seen their wealth increase at the expense of the poor. Tax cuts for the richest. Job losses and assistance cuts for the poorest.

Here are are startling examples of America's huge gap between the wealthy class and the poverty class: In 2000, the top 1 percent of American households had financial wealth greater than the bottom 95 percent! To those who say it's always been this way, one more statistical fact: In 1976 the lower 90 percent of the population owned half the wealth. By 1997, their share was down to 27%. It strikes me as dangerous to let this huge wealth gap continue. Perhaps the only good that will come from the Katrina tragedy is the stark exposure of indecent poverty in the richest country on earth. We can and must do better. To start we have to elect leaders and legislators dedicated to serving the people rather than big corporations and wealthy donors. For detailed data about "money in U.S. elections" visit www.opensecrets.org.

Note: Statistics are from the book "Unequal Protection" by Thom Hartman.