Income Inequality in the U.S. of A.

The Gini index measures the degree of inequality in family income in a particular country. The higher this number, the worse the inequality. The worst in the World Factbook is Namibia with an index of 70.7, the best Sweden with 23. Where do you think the U.S. ranks? At 45, we're more equal than Bulgaria and less equal than Cameroon. The worst European country is Portugal at 38.5. 

The Gini index is one measure Invictus uses in a lengthy discussion as to why the Occupy people and others believe that there is a high degree of inequality in this country. It is truly a comprehensive article. His conclusion:

In summary, then, OWS is not about any one thing that is wrong with either our economic or political system. It is about the many things that are wrong with both and, more to the point, the way the ills of each are exacerbating the ills of the other in a very negative feedback loop. Their message is infinitely more complex and nuanced than, say, “End the war in [insert opponent(s) here].” Right now, we’re getting the worst of both worlds — a crappy economy coupled with crappy politicians trying to fix it (though to be fair many are only pretending). As we all well know, it’s very hard to get your message across when it doesn’t fit on a bumper sticker.

My bottom line: OWS is not anti-capitalist, anti-Semitic, socialist or Marxist. It is about restoring the unfortunate but somewhat necessary accepted degree of unfairness/inequality that prevailed in this country for generations and, importantly, about demanding that the rule of law be applied uniformly (a quaint notion that exited stage “right” during the Bush administration and remains MIA during Obama’s) and not selectively on the masses while the political and Wall St. elites run amok.