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U.S. economic polarization crying out for attention
By Zhong Sheng, People’s Daily
The United States is the most economically polarized among Western countries. It has long been stuck in the conundrum where the rich get richer and the poor become poorer.
According to the latest data from its Census Bureau, the U.S. Gini coefficient hit 0.494 in 2021, setting a new record. The yawning wealth gap has become a chronic malaise of American society, leaving an indelible stain on the country’s democracy and human rights record.
Since the 1970s, income inequality and wealth disparity in the U.S. have continually deepened. According to a Federal Reserve’s latest report, the total wealth of the richest 1 percent reached a record $45.9 trillion at the end of the fourth quarter of 2021, more than that of the bottom 90 percent combined.
A Bloomberg report said that more and more wealth is getting to the top of the “pyramid,” which is the latest signal of the widening wealth gap in American society.
Currently, 37 million American people are still living below the poverty line. A survey by Pew Research Center suggested that one-in-four U.S. parents say there have been times in the past year when they could not afford food their family needed or to pay their rent or mortgage.
Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz commented that the U.S. has become a wealthy country full of poor people and a huge gap is dividing its upper class and other classes.
The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified economic inequality in the U.S. Excessive money supply and large-scale fiscal spending drove up stock and housing prices, bringing enormous benefits to wealthier asset owners. According to a Fed report on household wealth, the total wealth of the richest 1 percent increased by more than $12 trillion, or more than a third, during the course of the pandemic.
Besides, the economic recession triggered by the pandemic has led to massive job losses and further deterioration in the economic situation of low-income earners. The website of The Atlantic said that low-income people in the U.S. would usually delay seeing a doctor when they became ill, not because they did not want to recover, but because they had no money at all.
What’s more ironic is that during the pandemic, it was difficult for those in need to reach the relief measures of the U.S. A UN human rights expert said that U.S. responses to COVID-19 have fallen people in poverty.
The economic polarization has exacerbated social injustice in the U.S.
In the country, access to higher education is disproportionately skewed toward the rich, while the low-income group has no equal access to education. A study found that at 38 elite colleges in the country, more students came from the top 1 percent of the income scale than from the entire bottom 60 percent.
A report by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development showed that more than 580,000 people were homeless in 2020, with 226,000 sleeping outside, in cars or in abandoned buildings.
A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association said the gap in life expectancy between the richest and poorest percentiles increased to 15.51 years in 2021.
Problems including growing ethnic conflicts, frequent urban riots and serious violent crimes in the country are all closely related to the widening wealth gap.
The wealth polarization in the U.S is inherent to its own political system and the interests of the capital that its government represents.
Over a hundred years ago, Republican Senator Mark Hanna said of American politics: “There are two things that are important in politics. The first is money, and I can’t remember what the second one is.”
Under the influence of money politics, the American government is more willing to serve a small group of rich people, rather than the interests of the majority of voters.
A study by the American think tank Niskanen Center showed that Members of Congress are usually more responsive to the opinions of the rich than the poor in their districts. Low-income constituents have a hard time holding their representatives accountable.
Singaporean scholar Kishore Mahbubani pointed out that the U.S. is functioning as a plutocracy instead of a democracy. A democracy is a government of the people, by the people, for the people, while a plutocracy is a government of the one percent, by the one percent, for the one percent, he added.
In the U.S., the world’s number one capitalist country, polarization between the rich and the poor is crying out for attention. U.S. democracy, which cannot find a solution to the wealth gap, is unquestionably hypocritic. The country should reach out to the people at the bottom, face up to the grim reality of the ever-widening wealth gap at home and take earnest measures to solve the problem.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has launched a groundbreaking initiative aimed at addressing the rising issue of illicit drug abuse among Nigeria’s youth. The project, titled “NAFDAC-Catch Them Young Consumer Safety Club,” was officially inaugurated at Ajibode High School in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Thursday. The initiative, which targets secondary school students in the South-West zone, seeks to raise awareness about the dangers of drug abuse and empower young people to make informed decisions regarding their health and well-being.
NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, who was represented by Mrs. Roseline Ajayi, the NAFDAC Director for the South-West zone, emphasized the importance of educating the younger generation on the dangers of drug abuse. She highlighted that the campaign is essential for securing Nigeria’s future, with a strong focus on educating students about the negative impact of drug abuse, including the misuse of alcohol.
The “Catch Them Young” initiative, which kicked off in January in the South-West zone, aims to engage secondary school students in a meaningful way, educating them about the dangers of drug abuse, mental health risks, and the consequences of high-risk sexual behavior often associated with substance misuse. According to Adeyeye, drug abuse among teenagers has far-reaching effects, contributing to poor academic performance and mental health disorders. By taking the campaign directly to schools, NAFDAC hopes to catch young people before they fall into destructive habits, ensuring they understand the risks of drug use and its long-term consequences.
The agency’s goal is clear: to foster a future generation of Nigerians who are not only equipped with knowledge but also empowered to demand integrity and ethical behavior in their communities. “We are not just teaching them about drug abuse,” Adeyeye explained. “We are teaching them how to make informed choices that will positively shape their futures and prevent lives of addiction and destruction.”
By re-establishing the National Consumer Safety Club (NCSC) in schools, NAFDAC is working hand-in-hand with teachers and educational institutions to create a sustainable solution to Nigeria’s drug abuse crisis. The initiative’s overarching goal is to reduce the growing prevalence of substance misuse by fostering a culture of responsibility, where the youth are not only educated but also motivated to be active participants in the fight against drug abuse.
With this innovative approach, NAFDAC is not just addressing the symptoms of drug abuse but is focusing on prevention through education and community involvement. The hope is that, by targeting the youth early, Nigeria can curb the tide of illicit drug use and its damaging effects on society. This initiative represents a proactive and long-term solution to a pressing national issue, positioning Nigeria’s youth as the leaders in the battle against drug abuse and its related challenges.
A group of armed robbers, believed to be illegal miners, launched a raid on MI Wushishi Estate in Minna, Niger State, on Saturday, stealing valuables and cash from six flats. The attack, which occurred around 2 a.m., lasted for more than an hour without any intervention from security forces.
The estate, which houses over 700 flats, has been repeatedly targeted by criminal gangs linked to illegal mining activities in the area, which is known for its rich gold deposits. Residents expressed growing concern over these attacks, which have left them feeling unsafe.
One resident, Abdullahi Abubakar, recalled a similar robbery in November when multiple homes in the estate were ransacked. “The illegal miners have made it impossible for us to live peacefully,” he said.
Dan Yaya, the son of a former Head of Service in the state, shared his frightening experience during the latest raid. He described how the robbers, after entering the compound, threatened his family and demanded money. He was forced to hand over N29,000 and mobile phones. Yaya also suspected that the robbers had inside knowledge of the estate’s layout, as one of them wore a mask and appeared familiar with the area.
In response, Commissioner for Homeland Security, Muhammad Bello, confirmed the robbery and assured that security agencies were actively addressing the situation. However, the Niger State Police Command spokesperson, Wasiu Abiodun, stated that no formal report of the incident had been filed with the police.
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CSNGG Congratulates Dr. Sanusi Mohammed on the Three years Elongation of His Tenure as NFF General Secretary
The Civil Society Network for Good Governance (CSNGG) in a press statement by its President , Barr. Adefila Kamal congratulates Dr. Sanusi Mohammed on the well-deserved elongation of his tenure as the General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), commencing from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2027. He was first appointed in 2015.
Adefila said, Over the years, CSNGG has had the privilege of working closely with Dr. Sanusi Mohammed, whose leadership, dedication, and unwavering commitment to the development of Nigerian football have been evident in his performance. His reappointment is a clear reflection of his track record and the confidence reposed in him by stakeholders in the sports sector.
The statement further states that Dr. Sanusi’s stewardship has been instrumental in fostering progress and stability within Nigerian football, including the growth of grassroots initiatives, improvement of national team performances, and the enhancement of administrative structures within the NFF. His leadership has provided a firm foundation upon which Nigerian football continues to rise, both on the continent and globally.
The Civil Society Network for Good Governance said it has no doubt that Dr. Sanusi Mohammed will continue to give his best in this new chapter, as he has always demonstrated excellence, passion, and integrity in service to the nation. “We remain committed to partnering with the NFF and its leadership to ensure Nigerian football achieves greater heights”.
Once again, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Sanusi Mohammed and wish him a highly successful tenure ahead.
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