The wealth of America rests in the hands of just one percent of the country. Therefore it is not a long stretch of the imagination to understand what an uphill battle it is for the ninety-nine percent to gain better economic footing. Over the past few decades the so-called middle class has been steadily declining or has disappeared altogether. The cost of living over the past thirty years has grown exponentially when compared to income growth. The salaries of the chief executives at America’s corporations have dramatically increased while the wages of their workers have stagnated showing only minor growth. Even President Obama is concerned about the economic dearth of most of America’s population and the wealth distribution between the rich and poor. The picture of wealth and income inequality in America is not a favorable one and has threatened to undermine the ability for everyday people to believe in their ability to move upward economically.

Access to the American dream is one of the forces which not only drive the ambition of its citizens but is also why others see this country as a catalyst to fulfill their own dreams of economic success. However, since 1993 the incomes of most people have grown only slightly while for 1% of others it has grown significantly. Studies show that based on IRS income tax reporting the overall income during 1993 through 2012 grew by 17.9%. However, when this percentage is categorized based on the top 1%, their total income during this period grew by 86.1% of the 17.9% overall growth, and 99% of Americans only saw their income grow by 6.6% (Saez). This growth trend continues; even through the Great Recession (2007 and 2009) when top incomes dropped over 36% and lower incomes dropped almost 12%, the top earners during the recovery period (2009 – 2012) gained back over 31% of their income, while the rest of the population’s income regained less than half of a percent at 0.4%. This explains why most Americans do not see a significant difference in economic opportunities.