Progressive Myths About Poverty And Inequality

Progressives wrongly blame violent crime in America —  and the Sandy Hook shootings in particular — on economic inequality. But America is actually one of the most egalitarian countries on Earth, if equality is measured in terms of meaningful things such as living space, adequate housing, and material possessions (such as consumer goods and appliances), rather than just people’s nominal incomes, as I explain at this link.

America’s tax system is more progressive than most countries, and was so even before the recent tax increases on high-income households and investment income. Government definitions of income are arbitrary and exaggerate poverty and inequality by excluding welfare benefits from the income of many “poor” people, and excluding certain types of non-taxable income received by people who really are not poor at all.