ABSTRACT

A major threat to U.S. democracy is the increasing discrepancy between the very rich and the very poor. While the fundamental values of a democratic society are based on the principles that all people are created equal before the law and that each person deserves basic respect and dignity, the reality of the market economy has produced a growing discrepancy between those who have stable economic resources and those who do not. This serious discrepancy creates conditions of inequity and injustice that are compounded by differences in race, sex, education, age, and ethnic background. Although the law clearly states that all citizens are equal and that discrimination based on race, sex, age, ethnicity, or disability is prohibited, economic and social structures have evolved in practice that inhibit citizens born in unequal conditions from overcoming these limitations. These persistent barriers to individual development erode the capacity for community development, and the nation is left with a growing underclass that undermines the vision and norms of a democratic society.