Mar
19
My Shoe Shine Guy Thinks There’s Inequality
March 19, 2015 | Leave a Comment
Silence towards an issue does not make it less of one. This is especially true with the topic of inequality. While it may be true that the majority of people who may experience the less fortunate end of the impact of inequality remain relatively quiet, the issue is one hundred percent in existence, and is in no way a myth. If it were indeed a myth, then by this logic, the world would essentially have no problems at all. Think about it, the topic of global climate change is also something that most do not speak about, although everyone is affected. If an employee is making $2.13 an hour and have to rely on wages even if he or she needs to support a family, then the problem of inequality is indeed a problem, whether or not only President Obama speaks about.
Although John Goodman makes valid arguments in his article, they are in no way, shape, or form convincing. The first and most important reason is his credibility. His credibility takes a hit from the beginning, when he writes, “When is the last time you heard a shoeshine person or a taxi cab driver complain about inequality?” First of all, if he is taking taxis and having his shoes shined consistently, then he is in no position to speak about the state of the lives of those who are unable afford such luxuries. More importantly, why would those who are providing service talk about depressing topics? Many in service will lighten the mood in hopes of returning customers or larger tips. Hopefully Goodman used that statement figuratively, but even then, it reflects poorly on him for the rest of the article.
In an attempt to tackle the idea that income for the average family has stagnated for the past 30 years, Goodman does extra analysis to show that income has in fact grown over 33 percent in the past 30 years. That is great and fine if it is true. In fact, that is fantastic news; if you ignore the fact the extra boost in the percentage is not actually income. However, if we observe the quality of life among these people who have received a generous 33 percent increase, it seems nothing has improved. These families have to rely on social welfare and constantly have to think on the margin. There are still those who wait tables for $2.13 an hour and are given sporadic hours that prevent them from having a steady income. The prices of housing have outpaced even middle class incomes in high density and high opportunity cities like New York City. Perhaps inequality has fallen slightly on the GINI Index, but that’s meaningless if the results do not show or appear worse after 30 years.
Goodman also attempts to blame those who are at the bottom for being at the bottom. He blatantly writes, “Having children without a husband tends to make you poor. Not working makes you even poorer.” That statement, which is only half valid, as single mothers are not necessarily poor, oversimplifies the issue. If the person at the bottom does not work hard and does not try to climb up the economic ladder, then of course, the fault should not be put on anyone except that person. However, he does not consider the fact that some people are unable to find jobs due to lack of education. The rich and their children are able to fill the open jobs much more easily than the poor, due to the opportunities and resources that are just readily available. Those at the bottom may work extremely hard but still find nothing, simply due to credentials.
Is the solution a law to raise minimum wage? Not necessarily. The first step is to realize that inequality is not a myth, and that it is in fact a problem that plagues society. The next steps are to change the environment to give equal opportunities to those who are at the bottom, so that they can earn their spot at the top as well. A better more well-rounded education that matches the education of the rich is just one example. Going forward, quantitative data is not the only point to observe. Qualitative data about quality of life can help tremendously as well in determining the extent of the problem. Perhaps the taxi driver and shoeshine guy will then speak about the impact of inequality.
