Gap between Rich and Poor

The two articles, “Yawning rich-poor gap could hobble economy” and “New York’s Gap between Rich and Poor Is Nation’s Widest Census” go hand and hand. One article is very in detailed in explaining how the rich stays rich. It outlines the different levels of income in certain areas. The second article explains how the government wants to improve the welfare system and make more jobs. The government is hoping to improve the gap between the rich and poor.
The recent recession plays a big toll on our recent increase in the number of people that is living in poverty. Due to the recession, the article is correct when it says the rich grew richer and the poor remained poor. “In Manhattan, the disparity was especially wide. The wealthiest 20 percent of Manhattanites made nearly 40 times more than the poorest 20 percent -- $351,333, on average, compared with $8,855, a bigger gap than in any other county”. For example, many of the big time business owners (the rich) are not going to fire themselves; they are going to eliminate workers within the company. The business owner is going to keep the salaries and use it to pay themselves. The employees that were working were already getting paid close to minimum wage ($7.00 to $10.00) and are living in poverty, which means they are getting poorer.
Furthermore, the gap widens due to income inequality and wage rate determination. Many companies base their salaries on an individual education level and not skills. One company can have two employees doing the same job, and hired on the same day. One employee has a four year degree with no real life experience and the other has four years of real life experience. The employee that has the degree will earn more than the one with real life experience. When if fact they should be making the same amount of money. Life experience and education should be counted the same. Just because one does not have a degree, does not mean that their work will be better than the others.
Even though the government is trying to step in and help, they will never resolve employment discrimination and occupational discrimination. Granted the government want to help create jobs and give companies grants in order to start rehiring. However discrimination will never end. For example, in the lasts recession, companies had to make decision as to who they were going to keep and who would be let go. Some companies let many of their employees due to race. The largest race that just went to living in poverty during the recession is African Americans. Also, many women was let go due the fact the job was more male dominant. Companies will never disclose this type of reasoning for firing an individual. In addition, many employers will use the grant money to hire their own kind.
References

David R Francis columnist. (2007, July 30). Yawning rich-poor gap could hobble economy :[ALL Edition]. The Christian Science Monitor,p. 15. Retrieved October 31, 2010, from ProQuest National Newspapers Expanded. (Document ID: 1311838001).
Sam Roberts. (2007, August 29). New York's Gap Between Rich and Poor Is Nation's Widest, Census Says. New York Times (Late Edition (east Coast)), p. B.3. Retrieved October 31, 2010, from ProQuest National Newspapers Expanded. (Document ID: 1327088361).