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Hello! I'm Lanae. I'm very camera shy and although did multiple takes and practiced, I still had to heavily rely on my notes. Whenever I get in front of the camera, it's like I forget everything in my head, and I hope you can understand where I'm coming from. In my selfie video, I talk about how these large corporations use their wealth to influence and shape policies that only benefit them, while leaving the rest of us behind. I delve in to how corporate greed creates systems of inequality and how that will continue to persist if we don't make a call for action. Thank you!

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Parasite blew me away because it shows how the lines between the rich and poor can be so thin, but the gap in opportunity and privilege is enormous. The movie follows a struggling family who slowly infiltrates the lives of a wealthy family, and in doing so, it exposes the hidden struggles and power dynamics that shape both sides of the social ladder. I chose Parasite because it's not just a thriller but a deep dive into how wealth and class affect everything from how we live to how we see ourselves. The film's portrayal of economic disparity is unsettling yet unrealistic, showing how the rich can often remain blind to the lives of the less fortunate, while those who are poor are forced to navigate systems stacked against them. What really struck me was how the movie doesn't just show poverty and wealth, it highlights how these systems are maintained and perpetuated, often without us realizing how much power they have.

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Parasite - Official Trailer (2019) Bong Joon Ho Film

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The Missing Picture captures the profound trauma and suffering of the Cambodian people under the Khmer Rouge regimes, and for me, it's impossible to separate that pain from the U.S. bombing campaign that laid the groundwork for such devastation. The U.S. bombings, which were meant to demonstrate military power during the Vietnam War, caused untold civilian casualties and destabilized Cambodia, ultimately contributing to the rise of the Khmer Rouge. In this film, Rithy Panh uses clay figurines to illustrate the human cost of this intervention, offering a deeply personal and emotional narrative that resonates with my own Cambodian heritage. The film's central theme of survival amidst violence is a stark reminder of how foreign military actions, like the U.S. bombing campaign, directly fueled the economic and social collapse of Cambodia, leaving scars that persist today. The historical context of the film is a portrayal of how government decisions which are driven by power and control, can devastate entire societies, leaving people to rebuild from the rubble.

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The Missing Picture Official US Release Trailer (2013) - Cambodian Documentary HD

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When I watched the Pursuit of Happyness for the first time, it left a deep impression on me due to its raw depiction of the struggles faced by the working poor. The film follows Chris Gardner, a homeless man who, despite his hardships, pursues an internship at a prestigious stockbroker firm in hopes of securing a better life for his son. I chose this film because it powerfully showcases the emotional and financial barriers that make it incredibly difficult for people to break free from poverty. The film connects to our course themes by highlighting the difficulty of achieving upward mobility in a system where economic inequality is entrenched. It challenges the ideal of the "American Dream" by showing that perseverance alone is often not enough to overcome systemic barriers to success.

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2006: The Pursuit of Happyness Trailer HQ

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Wealth Inequality & How it Affects Every Aspect of our Lives 

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Wealth Inequality & How it Affects Every Aspect of our Lives 

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"Inequality touches every part of our lives," I think this was a very powerful message. This video does a good job shedding light on how wealth disparity isn't just confined to financial struggles; it seeps into education, healthcare, housing, and even opportunities for the future. This made me think about how economic inequality is like a domino effect-one issue causes many others to fall. This video pointed out that it's not just about the rich having more, but about how the systems that continue to reinforce these gaps, keeping the disadvantaged from getting ahead. Ultimately, it's a call to action, urging us to rethink how our society is structured and how we can create a more equitable future for everyone.

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UK's Wealth Inequality Crisis will affect YOU!

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The 1619 Project made me realize how much of American history I'd never been taught, or maybe it was purposefully kept from us, especially when it comes to the deep roots of economic inequality. The series breaks down how slavery didn't just shape race relations but how it literally built the economic systems that still benefit some and disadvantage others today. This docuseries doesn't sugarcoat anything; it connects the past to the present in a way that makes the wealth gap feel less like an accident and more like a result of centuries of policy and power. It really made me think about how things like redlining, labor exploitation, and wage suppression didn't just happen, they were purposefully designed. This documentary challenges the usual narrative and forces us to confront how much of our economy still runs on those old, unequal foundations.

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The 1619 Project | Official Trailer | Hulu

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Stranger Than Fiction stuck with me because Harold Crick's life felt eerily familiar where his life was routined, controlled, and shaped by systems he barely questions. He's an IRS auditor just going through the motions, and the moment he starts realizing his life ins't fully his own, it hit me how often people feel that way in real life, especially when stuck in low-paying or repetitive jobs. I chose this film because it made me think about how economic systems can strip people of individuality and freedom, especially when their lives are dictated by rules and routines set by institutions. The movie touches on class and control in quiet but powerful ways, reminding us how the structure of work and capitalism can make people feel invisible. It's not just about one man hearing a narrator, it's a deeper depiction about how much of our lives are written by forces we can't always see.

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Stranger Than Fiction (2006) Official Trailer 1 - Will Ferrell Movie

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Every time I watch The Color Purple, it feels like the first time because the themes are so rich and the emotional depth of the characters is impossible to forget. The film follows Celie, a young African American woman who endures years of abuse but ultimately finds strength and empowerment in herself and her community. I chose this film because it speaks to the ways that both race and gender can trap individuals in cycles of poverty and oppression, especially for women of color. It's about the intersection of class, race, and the systemic forces that continue to marginalize people. The story also shows how women despite immense adversity, can break free from the economic and social systems that seek to keep them down, reminding us of the power of personal agency and community solidarity.

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The Color Purple (1985) | 4K Ultra HD Official Trailer | Warner Bros. Entertainment

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This video does a deep dive into how voter suppression and gerrymandering impact who has access to voting and, ultimately, to power. The video shows how the system is rigged in favor of the wealthy and powerful, who use their resources to influence elections and shape policies that benefit them and only them. It highlights how marginalized communities, particularly Black and brown voters, are systematically denied access to the ballot box through voter ID laws, long wait times, and other tactics, which reminds me of what this administration is now trying to do to married women to stop them from being able to have a voice and a vote. This really ties into the broader issue of economic inequality, as the policies and elected officials often reflect the interests of the elite, perpetuating wealth disparities. It's clear that true economic equality requires fairer voting practices and greater representation.

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Whose Vote Counts, Explained | Full Episode | Narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio | Netflix

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Candace Owens really angers me, especially when she's talking nonsense-which is most of the time. In this video clip, she's claiming that the gender pay gap doesn't exist and it's so frustrating because it's so misguided. She's trying to oversimplify a very complex issue by attributing pay disparities solely to personal choices, ignoring the deep rooted societal and systemic factors that contribute to the gap. Research shows that even when accounting for factors like occupation and experience, women still earn less than men for the same work. This wildly harmful narrative ignores the impact of biases, societal expectations, and the underrepresentation of women in high paying fields and leadership roles. She's really missing the point that the gender pay gap is a systemic issue, not just a matter of individual choices, and perpetuates an oversimplified view of economic inequality.

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Trump winning had everything to do with his ability to leverage wealth and influence, something he makes clear often. Trump openly admits that his political influence can be bought, emphasizing how money plays a central role in modern day politics. This disgusting behavior really highlights how the wealthiest individuals and corporations can essentially purchase political power, which allows them to shape policies that serve their interests. It's a direct example of how economic inequality and the concentration of wealth impact democracy, giving the affluent more control over decisions that affect the entire population. This shows that true political power in the U.S. is often determined by who can afford it, further perpetuating class divides and inequalities.

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Trump makes clear his influence is for sale

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Immigrant labor is essential to the survival of American agriculture, yet so many voters and policymakers continue to support harmful legislation that restricts their rights and opportunities. This video sheds light onto how broken our system is, farmers can't get the help they need, and immigrant workers are treated as disposable. This farmer had to rely on thousands of strangers to pick crops just to avoid financial collapse. Meanwhile, the people who actually keep our food system running are denied protection, status and respect.

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Down on the farm: A shortage of agricultural labor

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This video explains how political gridlock and economic factors have kept the federal minimum wage stagnant since 2009. It highlights the negative impact this has had on workers' purchasing power, as inflation and the cost of living continue to rise. The issue connects to broader themes of economic inequality, demonstrating how stagnant wages contribute to the growing wealth gap and hinder financial mobility for low income workers.

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Why The $7.25 US Minimum Wage Hasn't Changed For 15 Years | Business Insider Explains

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Absolutely heartbreaking and eye opening to the reality of child farmworkers in the U.S. these children are often from immigrant families, and are forced to work long hours in unsafe conditions to help support their families. Many are overlooked by labor laws that fail to protect them, keeping them trapped in generational poverty. What's even more disturbing is how these children are working in industries that are crucial to the country's economy, yet their labor goes underpaid and unappreciated. Systemic change is needed to protect the most vulnerable workers, especially in agriculture, where exploitations continues to run rampant.

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Fingers to the Bone: Child Farmworkers in the United States

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There's a growing wealth gap between the rich and the poor and this video shows how the top 1% hold a disproportionate share of the nation's wealth while the bottom 50% barely get anything. The absence of a middle class directly ties into ongoing debates about minimum wage and labor rights, as workers' wages haven't kept up with the increasing concentration of wealth. The influence of billionaires and corporations on politics is stark, with their growing wealth giving them more power to shape policies that continue to favor the elite. This disparity in wealth also impacts access to essential services like education, healthcare, and housing, as those with lower incomes struggle to afford basic necessities.

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Wealth Inequality in America Has Never Been Worse. The Middle Class Has Disappeared

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Robert Reich breaks down the myths about taxing the rich in a way that's both clear and eye opening. He explains that proposals like a 70% tax rate or a wealth tax don't apply to all income or assets, just the portion above a certain threshold-something that's often misunderstood. He uses historical data to show that when tax rates on the wealthy are higher, the economy actually grew faster and was more equitable. What stood out to me was how he connects low taxation on the wealthy to the growing influence of billionaires in politics and policymaking. We really have to get money out of politics so that we can balance out a system that will work for more than just the top 1%.

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12 Myths About Taxing the Rich | Robert Reich

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And for the working class class and poor citizens of America?- YOU GET NOTHING. The working class and the poor citizens are often left behind by the system, with the rich corporations reaping the rewards of economic growth. There's a sense of powerlessness among these groups, often feeling neglected or ignored by policies that favor the wealthy because policies fail to address the needs of the majority. These systemic barriers keep the working class poor from achieving upward mobility.

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The housing crisis in America is getting worse and worse. Many Americans will never be able to afford to own their own homes, and even renting has become a struggle as prices skyrocket, causing many to become homeless. There's a deeper problem here-one rooted in policy, profit driven development, and a lack of affordable options-that structural change needs to address. These issues show up everywhere, from built to rent communities to rising evictions and squatter conflicts. It's frustrating to see how something as essential as housing has become a privilege instead of a basic right.

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Addressing the housing crisis and homeowners’ rights

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It's frustrating to realize that kids' futures can be determined by where they grow up. Kandice really highlights the everyday reality of how students in low income schools, especially in communities of color, miss out on essential resources like books, sports, and even healthy lunches. This disparity isn't about materials, it's about opportunity, and the lack of it is holding many kids back from reaching their full potential. It's a direct result of how we structure our economy and society, where education remains a privilege, not a right. Until we make real changes in how we fund schools and support students, inequality will continue to grow.

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How America's public schools keep kids in poverty | Kandice Sumner

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To achieve health equity, we need to ensure everyone has the same opportunity to achieve their best health, regardless of their background. This video highlights factors like race, income, and location can drastically affect people's health outcomes, leading to systemic disparities. These inequities aren't just about access to healthcare, but also stem from environmental conditions, education, and a history of unequal treatment. It stresses that while these health disparities are preventable, they require a focused effort on changing policies, addressing the root causes, and providing necessary resources to underserved communities. Achieving health equity is about creating a society where everyone, no matter their circumstances, has a fair chance to live a healthy life.

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

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This video sheds light on how the gap in health outcomes isn't just about medical advancements, but how deeply rooted social inequalities impact who gets access to quality care. It points out that despite technological advancements, factors like socioeconomic status, race, and gender still play a massive role in who receives good healthcare and who doesn't. Wealth definitely correlates with longevity-those with higher incomes typically live longer, not necessarily because of better health practices, but because they have better access to healthcare. Even though modern hospitals are available, the reality is that not everyone can afford treatment, and those in lower income groups often face more challenges like poor diet, inadequate exercise, and a lack of knowledge about their own health. Inequalities persist even with all the progress we've made in medicine and will continue to persist unless we make real policy changes that directly address the roots of these disparities.

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HELLO?? Please wake me up from this nightmare. They've trained us to argue over pronouns, cancel culture, and identity politics while billionaires laugh from behind the glass. This is a strategy often used to blind us from the realities of what they're doing right before our very eyes. The more we fight each other over cultural differences, the less we unite to demand fair wages, healthcare, housing, and dignity. The people in power don't care who wins the culture war-they care about keeping us distracted so that they can hoard wealth, and continue to divide us so that they can stay in control.

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I think this meme directly aligns with what we've discussed in class about class inequality. It highlights how the wealthy manipulate laws and systems to protect and grow their wealth. They buy their way in through politics, and manipulate policies that directly align with their selfish agenda-for more power, and more wealth. Inequality isn't accidental-it's embedded in the structure of society.

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Many protests were led by immigrants, women, and people of color, highlighting how marginalized groups have long been central to labor movements. This photograph remain a visual legacy of resistance, reminding us that every labor right we have was fought for, not given. It reminds us how far we've come and how much further we still have to go in the fight for equity, inclusion, and justice for all workers.

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The 1969 UNC food workers' strike showed the powerful intersection of labor and civil rights. Led by black women workers and supported by Black Student Movement, the strike exposed the racism and exploitation built into university labor systems. These workers demanded more than just better pay-they fought for dignity, recognition, and equity on campus. Their efforts won real change and led to the formation of a union that would carry their fight forward.

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Wealth and poverty are often side by side, but this image highlights the stark reality of when these two worlds collide. This not only shows a physical divide but also tells us a deeper story of social and economic gaps that define daily life for residents on either side. Despite proximity, access to resources, opportunities, and quality of life are worlds apart.

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Students from lower income backgrounds often attend underfunded schools with fewer resources, less experienced teachers, and limited access to advanced courses. This disparity can lead to lower academic achievement, and impede on economic growth. When students lack the education and skills needed for higher paying jobs, it perpetuates a cycle of poverty that affects not only individuals but entire communities. Additionally, the gap in educational opportunities widens inequality, as children from lower income families are unable to afford higher education, while wealthier students have access to more resources, giving them a significant advantage in life.

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Many families have to face the reality of homelessness and forced to live in uninhabitable areas like landfills. This photo takes us to Cambodia, where many families scavenge for survival, collecting scraps of food and other items in the harshest of conditions. Despite this community being close to popular tourist destinations, they have to live without basic necessities, enduring daily struggles for survival. This is a stark contrast between the affluence of tourists and the destitution of those living in the slums. This is a very harsh reminder of the deep inequalities that persist in the world, even in the presence of wealth and luxury.

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Homelessness in America is a complex issue that ties deeply into sociological concepts of poverty, inequality, and social structures. Certain groups are marginalized and excluded from access to basic resources like housing, healthcare, and employment. Many systemic factors such as the rising cost of living, lack of affordable housing, and economic policies that disproportionately affect the most vulnerable groups contribute to the growing homeless population. The stigma surrounding homelessness also isolates individuals and further limits their access to support. Homelessness reflects broader structural inequalities and systemic change is much needed to address these issues.

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The CEOs and the top 1% elite that control our economy are all laughing at us. While they get to live life lavishly and doing whatever they want, WHENEVER they want, the working class and lower class are fighting for the bare minimum- fairer wages and benefits. This meme reflects the theme of labor inequality and exploitation, exposing how access to rest, stability, and fair compensation varies drastically depending on employment status. The further down the totem pole you go, the more burnout, instability, and mistreatment workers face. It's a system built to reward those at the top while draining those at the bottom.

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Recent data highlights an imbalance of the disproportionate concentration of wealth among the top 1% of U.S. households. As of late 2024, the top 1%-roughly 1.3 million households-control nearly $50 trillion, or about 31% of the nation's total household wealth, while the bottom 50% share just 2.5%, roughly $3.9 trillion. There's a clear divide and not only does it limit economic mobility but also reinforces systemic barriers to opportunity for most Americans. This data visualization wealth map help make these disparities more tangible and harder to ignore. I think addressing these inequalities is essential for fostering a more equitable and sustainable economy.

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This chart reveals that while individuals with over $1 million in assets make up just 1.1% of the global adult population, they hold nearly 46% of global wealth. To put it simply, a small group holds an overwhelming share, while the majority have far less. The chart highlights the massive wealth gap and how resources are distributed in a way that perpetuates inequality on a global scale. It makes you question how a system that favors the wealthiest can still claim to offer equal opportunity. When such a small fraction of the population holds the majority of wealth, it's clear that economic mobility is not equally accessible to all.

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I think this really shows us the reality of how much wealth inequality there is in the U.S. In 2024 the median household wealth for Whites was $122,366 while Black households only brought in $1,233, and Latino households bringing in $1,633. These numbers highlight just how vast the wealth gap is, with communities of color holding only a tiny fraction of the wealth accumulated by White families. This disparity is a direct result of historical and ongoing systemic barriers like discriminatory lending practices, unequal access to education, and limited opportunities for homeownership.

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The global gender gap is now expected to take 131 more years to close... Let that sink in. We have to ask why, and then take a step back and look at how we got here. History shows that significant setbacks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing geopolitical crises, have disproportionately affected women's participation in the workforce. Political gender gaps are now expected to take 162 years to close, while it will take 16 more years to achieve equal access to education for all genders. These figures highlight the deep rooted barriers that persist in today's society, highlighting the need for focused policies to drive meaningful progress toward gender equity.

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CEO Compensation Vs. Employee Compensation

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CEO Compensation Vs. Employee Compensation

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In 2023, CEO pay at the top 500 U.S. companies rose to an average of $15.7 million, an 11.3% increase from the year before. This increase shows how CEOS have been rewarded for their leadership during tough times like the pandemic. However, the average employee's pay didn't see the same growth, and in fact it dropped by 9.3%. This created an even larger gap, leaving the average worker stagnant while top executives continue to see pay increases.

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In many high income countries, real wages have stagnated, particularly in Japan and Italy, where workers have seen little to no increase in pay after inflation for decades. At the same time, corporate profits have reached record highs, intensifying the divide between workers and companies. The financial success of businesses isn't fully translating into higher wages for the average worker. While some nations, like South Korea and Ireland, have seen wage growth, others, such as Mexico, have struggled with low stagnant wages. This imbalance is a key factor in the widening gap between the economic elite and the working class, with profits largely benefitting shareholders rather than workers.

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Inflation Down But Prices Are Still High

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Inflation Down But Prices Are Still High

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While the rate of inflation looks like it's dropped since peaking in 2022, prices are still at all time record high where it's 21% higher than before the pandemic. Even if it looks like inflation is "cooling," it doesn't mean life is getting cheaper for most people. Many individuals and families are still feeling the stress and facing financial instability. With prices still soaring, it's getting harder and harder for people to keep up, and it's causing some to cut back on basic needs or fall deeper into debt just to survive. This reflects how economic inequality continues to grow when the cost of living rises faster than wages leaving working-class people with fewer options and greater financial strain.

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This map reveals how the cost of living, particularly for essentials like groceries and housing, has increased unevenly across the country, putting significant financial strain on specific regions. While urban areas tend to see higher costs, the disparity in living expenses across the U.S. shows that many communities face unique challenges. In some places, even with lower overall costs, people struggle with other barriers like limited access to affordable goods and services. This emphasizes the role of regional disparities in perpetuating economic inequality.

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This chart highlights the significant role that government programs have played in reducing child poverty rates across different racial and ethnic groups. Between 1970 and 2017, the Black child poverty rate saw the most substantial decrease, falling by 35 percent, followed by a 32 percentage reduction for Latino children. In comparison, the white child poverty rate decreased by just 10 percent, though poverty remains considerably lower for white children than for Black and Latino children. More than half of the reductions in child poverty were driven by the increased effectiveness of government assistance in lifting families's incomes above the poverty line. However, there's a deeper message behind these numbers, and it's that disparities continue to persist, and we can especially see that with this administrations efforts to remove support for families, further causing harm and keeping families poor, which only enables the cycles of poverty to continue.

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It's Also Hard For Individuals Without Children

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It's Also Hard For Individuals Without Children

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Something not often the central focus in media or policy discussion about poverty and economic support are those without children. This graph shows that while poverty rates have declined for most groups since 1993, they have remained unchanged for non-elderly adults without children. This stagnant trend reflects how existing economic security programs disproportionately exclude this group from meaningful assistance. Despite having to face similar economic pressure such as job loss, low wages, rising cost of groceries and living, they receive les support than families with children or seniors. The data reveals a systemic gap in how aid is distributed, deepening cycles of poverty for millions.

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UN Women shows how gender inequality and economic inequality are deeply connected, especially for women in marginalized communities. They provide powerful data and stories about issues like the wage gap, unpaid care work, and barriers to economic resources. By presenting both global data and real world experiences, the site empowers researchers, advocates, and policymakers to push for changes that promote gender and economic justice. The work UN Women does shoes how economic justice must also include gender justice, offering critical insights into the global fight for equality.

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UN Women has been supporting Palestinian women since 1997 to achieve their social, economic, and political rights. We remain present on the ground to provide support and assistance and will do so for as long as it takes.

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UN Women is the global champion for gender equality, working to develop and uphold standards and create an environment in which every woman and girl can exercise her human rights and live up to her full potential. We are trusted partners for advocates and decision-makers from all walks of life, and a leader in the effort to achieve gender equality.

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The Time For Change Foundation is a nonprofit organization based in California, dedicated to empowering low-income individuals and families, particularly women and communities of color, through housing solutions and leadership development programs. A key aspect of their work is addressing the economic challenges faced by marginalized groups, especially around access to housing and financial independence. Their comprehensive approach includes the Reform Program, which focuses on re-entry services for formerly incarcerated individuals and leadership training to break the cycles of poverty. By offering trauma informed care and supporting emotional well being, the foundation helps individuals overcome psychological barriers that often contribute to poverty. With these efforts, the foundation fosters economic mobility and helps create stronger, more resilient communities.

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Time for Change Foundation: Creating Self-Sufficient Families

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We call it home. Others call it hope. Time for Change has helped over 1,700 women and children achieve self-sufficiency, recovering from homelessness, substance abuse, incarceration & more.

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Oxfam America focuses on addressing poverty and inequality through both research and advocacy on issues like workers' rights and corporate accountability. They offer a global perspective on how economic inequality intersects with other forms of injustice, making it clear that systemic change requires tackling multiple issues simultaneously. The organization provides resources that empower individuals and communities to take action toward more equitable economies. their intersectional approach reveals the complex forces shaping economic inequality and pushes for systemic change on a global scale.

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Oxfam is a global movement of people fighting inequality to end poverty and injustice. Together we offer lifesaving support in times of crisis and advocate for economic justice, gender equality, and climate action.

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Pew Research Center digs deep into social, economic, and political issues, providing data driven insights on wealth inequality and societal trends. They focus on delivering unbiased, research backed information to help people understand how different factors, like income distribution and the wage gap, affect everyday life. The center serves as a valuable resource for the general public, researchers, and media, offering objective facts that inform important discussions. Pew helps shape conversations that can lead to informed decision making on inequality and policy.

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A nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world.

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In These Times are centering the working class and their perspectives on labor and economic justice, often amplifying stories overlooked by mainstream media. It documents the lived realities of working people and labor organizers while connecting them to broader systemic issues. By grounding today's labor struggles in historical context, it deepens public understanding of inequality's roots and ongoing impact.

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Working In These Times covers the labor move­ment from the per­spec­tive of the work­ers, not the boss­es.

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The Urban Institute is a nonprofit that uses research to help improve lives and make communities stronger. It's really for people who want to understand how to create change, like advocates, community leaders, and everyday people who care about equity. their work highlights real economic challenges and offers data backed solutions to help build a fairer, more inclusive society.

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TANF helps families make ends meet, but not if eligible families can't access it.

Evidence in Motion: See how Urban's work made a difference for people and communities across the country-and how we can help ignite change in your corner of the world. View

TANF helps families make ends meet, but not if eligible families can't access it.

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Data and evidence to advance upward mobility and equity | Urban Institute

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TANF helps families make ends meet, but not if eligible families can't access it. Evidence in Motion: See how Urban's work made a difference for people and communities across the country-and how we can help ignite change in your corner of the world.

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This government report is super helpful if you're trying to understand how income is actually spread across the U.S. It's based on official Census data, so the numbers are reliable and reflect what's really going on. It's especially useful for people like researchers, educators, and journalists who need solid stats to back up their work, but it's also easy enough for anyone curious about income trends and inequality to explore. Reports like this play a key role in shaping how we talk about money, opportunity, and fairness in America.

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This report presents estimates on income, earnings, and inequality in the United States for calendar year 2023, based on information collected in the 2024 and earlier Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplements (CPS ASEC) conducted by the Census Bureau.

The income estimates in the main sections of this report are based on the concept of money income, which is pretax and does not account for the value of in-kind transfers. Appendix A provides a detailed explanation of how income is measured using the CPS ASEC. Estimates of post-tax income and inequality are included in Appendix B.

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This report presents data on income, earnings, & income inequality in the United States based on information collected in the 2024 and earlier CPS ASEC.

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The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Financing the Government section focuses on managing debt through auctions and economic monitoring. It's primary audience includes policymakers, economists, and financial institutions (but everyday people can also look this information up for themselves), providing insights into the governments financial strategies. This policy impacts economic inequality by influencing how public funds are allocated, with wealthier individuals and corporations often benefiting from favorable debt terms, while lower income groups may face reduced access to resources and programs.

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The Treasury Department’s primary goal in debt management policy is to finance the government at the lowest cost over time. To meet this objective we issue debt in a regular and predictable manner, provide transparency in our decision-making, and seek continuous improvements in the auction process. In creating and executing our financing plans, we must contend with various uncertainties and potential challenges, such as unexpected changes in our borrowing needs, changes in the demand for our securities, and anything that inhibits efficient and timely sales of our securities. To manage these risks, we closely monitor economic conditions, fiscal policy, and market activity, and, where appropriate, respond with appropriate changes in debt issuance based on our analysis and consultation with market participants. Treasury Quarterly Refunding Changes in debt management policy are generally informed by and communicated through the quarterly refunding process near the middle of each calendar quarter. Interest Rate Statistics On a daily basis, Treasury publishes Treasury Yield Curve Rates, Treasury Real Yield Curve Rates, Treasury Bill Rates, Treasury Long-Term Rates and Extrapolation Factors, and Treasury Real Long-Term Rate Averages. Treasury Marketable and Non-Marketable Securities Treasury finances the government’s expenditures by issuing marketable securities through regular auctions, and non-marketable securities through a variety of programs and distribution methods. Treasury Investor Data Data and Statistics relating to Treasury securities relevant to Treasury investors. Debt Management Research Papers and presentations on a variety of issues related to Treasury Debt Management.

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The U.S. Department of Labor's Minimum Wage page offers crucial information to the general public, employers, and workers about federal wage laws and minimum wage rates. It serves as an essential resource for understanding legal requirements and ensuring compliance with wage standards. It helps inform discussions around wage fairness and worker protections. I think anyone who works could benefit from browsing this website.

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The Guardian is a valuable resource for uncovering how corporate influence shapes political and economic systems, and the linked article breaks down how corporations use lobbying to influence government decisions. It helps readers see how wealth and power are used to protect corporate interests, often at the expense of workers and fair policy. By exposing these tactics, it encourages more public awareness and accountability in politics.

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What does a tax-avoiding, polluting, privatising corporation have to do to get its way with the British government? Lobbyists operate in the shadows - deliberately. As one lobbyist notes: "The influence of lobbyists increases when it goes largely unnoticed by the public." But if the reasons why companies lobby are often obscured, it is always a tactical investment. Whether facing down a threat to profits from a corporate tax hike, or pushing for market opportunities - such as government privatisations - lobbying has become another way of making money. Here are the 10 key steps that lobbying businesses will follow to bend government to their will. "We all know how it works," said David Cameron of lobbying. But do we? Lobbyists are the paid persuaders whose job it is to influence the decisions of government. Typically, they operate behind closed doors, through quiet negotiation with politicians. And the influence they enjoy is constructed very consciously, using a whole array of tactics.
1. Control the ground

David Cameron and John Reid campaign against a proposed change to the UK voting system, April 2011. Photograph: Oli Scarff

Lobbyists succeed by owning the terms of debate, steering conversations away from those they can't win and on to those they can. If a public discussion on a company's environmental impact is unwelcome, lobbyists will push instead to have a debate with politicians and the media on the hypothetical economic benefits of their ambitions. Once this narrowly framed conversation becomes dominant, dissenting voices will appear marginal and irrelevant.

Everybody's doing it, including lobbyists for fracking and nuclear power, public sector reform and bank regulation. It doesn't matter if the new frame relies on fabrication. The referendum on an alternative voting system was not, as anticipated, so much a conversation about the merits of first past the post. No2AV was "very quick off the mark" to make it about cost to the public purse, explains Dylan Sharpe, of the No camp's TaxPayers' Alliance. They led with the claim that switching to AV would deny troops badly needed equipment and sick babies incubators. The Yes camp lost the vote two to one.

The trick is in knowing when to use the press and when to avoid it. The more noise there is, the less control lobbyists have. As a way of talking to government, though, the media is crucial. Messages are carefully crafted. Even if the corporate goal is pure, self-interested profit-making, it will be dressed up to appear synonymous with the wider, national interest. At the moment, that means economic growth and jobs.

Get the messaging wrong and you get fiascos such as High Speed 2 (HS2). In early 2011, lobbyist James Bethell of Westbourne Communications was parachuted in to rescue the £43bn project, which had initially been sold by ministers on the marginal benefits to a few commuters. Westbourne reframed the debate to make it about jobs and economic growth. The new messaging focused on a narrative that pitted wealthy people in the Chilterns worried about their hunting rights against the economic benefits to the north. The strategy was "posh people standing in the way of working-class people getting jobs," said Bethell. "Their lawns or our jobs," shouted the ad campaign.

Private healthcare also regrouped after the wrong messages went public. As Andrew Lansley embarked on his radical reforms of the NHS, private hospitals and outsourcing firms were talking to investors about the "clear opportunities" to profit from the changes. After comments by Mark Britnell, the head of health at accountancy giants KPMG giants and a former adviser of David Cameron, hit the headlines in May 2011 - Britnell told an investors' conference that "the NHS will be shown no mercy and the best time to take advantage of this will be in the next couple of years" - the industry got a grip. Lobby group The NHS Partners Network moved quickly to get everyone back on-message and singing from "common hymn sheets", as its chief lobbyist David Worskett explained. The reforms were about the survival of the NHS in straitened times. Just nobody mention the bumper profits.

3. Engineer a following

It doesn't help if a corporation is the only one making the case to government. That looks like special pleading. What is needed is a critical mass of voices singing to its tune. This can be engineered.

The forte of lobbying firm Westbourne is in mobilising voices behind its clients. Thirty economists, for example, signed a letter to the FT in 2011 in support of HS2; 100 businesses endorsed another published in the Daily Telegraph.

Westbourne was also hired in 2011 to lobby against the top rate of tax, although who was behind its "50p tax campaign" remains a mystery. Ahead of the chancellor's annual Budget announcement in early 2012, letters appeared in the press demanding he scrap it. The FT's was signed by 20 economists. The Telegraph's by the bosses of 573 SMEs, described as the "bedrock" of British industry. A quick glance, though, revealed it included five managers from the Switzerland-based banking giant Credit Suisse. The paper's commentary noted the alarm this new call from "ordinary British business" would cause inside government.

4. Buy in credibility

Corporations are one of the least credible sources of information for the public. What they need, therefore, are authentic, seemingly independent people to carry their message for them.

One nuclear lobbyist admitted it spread messages "via third-party opinion because the public would be suspicious if we started ramming pro-nuclear messages down their throats". That's it in a nutshell.

The tobacco companies are pioneers of this technique. Their recent campaign against plain packaging has seen them fund newsagents to push the economic case against the policy and encourage trading standards officers to lobby their MPs. British American Tobacco also currently funds the Common Sense Alliance, which is fronted by two ex-policemen and campaigns against "irrational" regulation. Philip Morris is similarly paying an ex-Met police officer, Will O'Reilly, to front a media campaign linking plain packaging to tobacco smuggling. It is worth noting that a decade ago the tobacco giant coughed up $1.25bn to the European Commission to settle a long-running dispute over its own complicity in the illicit trade.

"The thinktank route is a very good one," said ex-minister Patricia Hewitt to undercover reporters seeking lobbying advice. Some thinktanks will provide companies with a lobbying package: a media-friendly report, a Westminster event, ear-time with politicians. "The exact same services that a lobbying agency would provide," says one lobbyist. "They're just more expensive."

The Birmingham and Fazeley viaduct, part of the proposed route for the HS2 high speed rail scheme. Photograph: HS2

In the mid-noughties, a lobbyist for Standard Life Healthcare, now part of PruHealth, worried about how they could get more people to buy private cover without being seen to undermine the NHS. The solution: "Get some of the thinktanks to say it, so it's not just us calling for reform, it's outside commentators ... it does need others to help us take the debate forward." The insurers did turn to thinktanks, including free-market advocates Reform. This has lobbied for more "insurance-based private funding" in the health service. Prudential, the insurance giant behind PruHealth, was Reform's most generous sponsor in 2012, investing £67,500 in the thinktank.

The BBC has also come under repeated recent criticism for inviting commentators from the leading neo-liberal thinktank, the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), to talk about its opposition to the plain packaging of cigarettes, without disclosing the Institute's tobacco funding. Although the IEA does not disclose who funds it, BAT concedes it has recently paid the IEA £30,000, with more to come this year. Leaked documents from Philip Morris also reveal the thinktank is one of its "media messengers" in its anti- plain-packaging campaign.

6. Consult your critics

Companies faced with a development that has drawn the ire of a local community will often engage lobbyists to run a public consultation exercise. Again, not as benign as it sounds. "Businesses have to be able to predict risk and gain intelligence on potential problems," says ex-Tesco lobbyist Bernard Hughes. "The army used to call it reconnaissance; we call it consultation."

For some in the business, community consultation - anything from running focus groups, exhibitions, planning exercises and public meetings - is a means of flushing out opposition and providing a managed channel through which would-be opponents can voice concerns. Opportunities to influence the outcome, whether it is preventing an out-of-town supermarket or protecting local health services, are almost always nil.

Residents in Barne Barton in Plymouth were asked in 2011 what they thought about a 95-metre, PFI-financed incinerator being sited in their neighbourhood, just 62 metres from the nearest house. Although more than 5,000 people objected, the waste company's planning application was waved through. That's community consultation.

7. Neutralise the opposition

Lobbyists see their battles with opposition activists as "guerilla warfare". They want government to listen to their message, but ignore counter arguments coming from campaigners, such as environmentalists, who have long been the bane of commercial lobbyists. So, they need to deal with the "antis".

Lobbyists have developed a sliding scale of tactics to neutralise such a threat. Monitoring of opposition groups is common: one lobbyist from agency Edelman talks of the need for "360-degree monitoring" of the internet, complete with online "listening posts ... so they can pick up the first warning signals" of activist activity. "The person making a lot of noise is probably not the influential one, you've got to find the influential one," he says. Rebuttal campaigns are frequently employed: "exhausting, but crucial," says Westbourne.

Lobbyists have also long employed divide-and-rule tactics. One Shell strategy proposed to "differentiate interest groups into friends and foes", building relationships with the former, while making it "more difficult for hardcore campaigners to sustain their campaigns". Philip Morris's covert 10-year strategy, codenamed Project Sunrise, intended to "drive a wedge between various anti groups" and "position antis as extremists".

Then there are the more serious activities used primarily when big-money commercial interests are threatened, such as the infiltration of opposition groups, otherwise known as spying. Household names such as Shell, BAE Systems and Nestlé have all been exposed for spying on their critics. Wikileaks' Global Intelligence Files revealed that groups such as Greenpeace, Amnesty International and animal rights organisation Peta were all monitored by global intelligence company Stratfor, once described as a "shadow CIA".

8. Control the web

Today's world is a digital democracy, say lobbyists. Gone are the old certainties of how decisions were made "by having lunch with an MP, or taking a journalist out," laments one. It presents a challenge, but not an insurmountable one.

The lobbyists: Tim Bell and James Henderson of Bell Potinger. Photograph: Sarah Lee

One key way to control information online is to flood the web with positive information, which is not as benign as it sounds. Lobbying agencies create phoney blogs for clients and press releases that no journalist will read - all positive content that fools search engines into pushing the dummy content above the negative, driving the output of critics down Google rankings. Relying on the fact that few of us regularly click beyond the first page of search results, lobbyists make negative content "disappear".

Another means of restricting access to information is the doctoring of Wikipedia, "a ridiculous organisation," in veteran lobbyist Tim Bell's words. Accounts associated with his firm, Bell Pottinger, have been caught scrubbing Wikipedia profiles of arms manufacturers, financial firms, a Russian oligarch and the founder of libel specialists Carter-Ruck. "It's important for Wikipedia to recognise we are a valuable source for accurate information," says Bell, a master at killing stories. Other edits by lobbyists range from a computer in the offices of payday lender Wonga deleting references to "usury" from its entry, to a computer registered to the American multinational Dow Chemical repeatedly attempting to remove a large section from the company's profile detailing "controversies".

9. Open the door

Without doubt, lobbyists need access to politicians. This doesn't always equate to influence, but deals can only be cooked up once in the kitchen. And access to politicians can be bought. It is not a cash deal, rather an investment is made in the relationship. Lobbyists build trust, offer help and accept favour.

The best way to shortcut the process of relationship-building is to hire politicians' friends, in the form of ex-employees or colleagues. Bill Morgan is a good example. In recent years, he's been backwards and forwards twice between Andrew Lansley's office and health-lobbying specialists MHP. Its clients had "obviously benefited" from Morgan's inside knowledge of Conservative health policy, MHP wrote. They could "look forward to continuing to be at the heart of the major policy debates".

Lobbyists are Westminster and Whitehall insiders, among them many former ministers. "You may remember me from my time as Minister of State for Transport," wrote Stephen Ladyman as he lobbied a potential government client in his new role as a paid adviser to a transport company. "I do indeed and am delighted to hear from you," replied the official. "We would be interested to hear your proposals."He had just opened the door.

10. And finally ...

There is the perception, at least, that decisions taken in government could be influenced by the reward of future employment. It's a concern that has been expressed for the best part of a century. Today, however, the number of people moving through the revolving door is off the scale.
A Quiet Word: Lobbying, Crony Capitalism and Broken Politics in Britain by Tamasin Cave and Andy Rowell is published by The Bodley Head at £18.99.
The top rung of the Department of Health has in recent years experienced huge traffic towards the private sector. The department that sees more movement than any other, though, is still the Ministry of Defence. Since 1996, officials and military officers have taken up more than 3,500 jobs in arms and defence related companies. Two hundred and thirty-one jobs were secured in 2011/12 alone.

Government is the arms industry's biggest customer and the MoD's closeness to its suppliers is widely known. It is also gaining a reputation for its disastrously expensive contracts that deliver poor value for taxpayers and often poor performance for the military. More than one commentator has asked whether the two are connected.

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The truth about lobbying: 10 ways big business controls government

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Tamasin Cave and Andy Rowell: From trying to stop plain packaging on cigarettes to pushing through HS2 and opening the countryside to fracking, big business employs lobbying companies to persuade government to meet their interests. But what are the tricks of their trade?