American Conversations Minisodes: Inequality

Compact Nation Podcast

This podcast minisode was created for students by students at St. Olaf College as part of the American Conversations project. For more information about these minisodes, check out season 4 episode 14, “American Conversations.” ​Income Inequality Thomas DeLay, Max McDonald, Jennifer Terrones-Rodriguez, and Sophie​ ​Vlahoulis This podcast sheds light on the history of economic policies, specifically tax rates, and how they have contributed to the economic divide we see today. Included in this podcast are notes on increased inflation rates since 2007, marginal tax rates, and relevant policies advocated for by the leading candidates in the 2020 presidential election—including Andrew Yang’s ​Universal Basic Income, or, the $1,000 a month plan—​that highlight how economic policies and tax rates affect our nation and its future. We are joined by Jason Goede, a business aid coordinator at Wisconsin Lutheran High School, to discuss the cultural impacts of economic inequality—some of which are being especially felt amid the outbreak of COVID-19.