Lewis Schiff

Shocking News: Rich and Poor Don't See Eye to Eye

According to Pew Research, 66 percent of Americans say there's conflict between the classes. Do you agree?

rich man getting his shoes shined

Andrew Blight Photography

 

Pew Research released recently suggests that, in a study of 2,048 Americans, 66 percent believe there are conflicts between the rich and the poor in the U.S., up 19 percentage points from 2009. The internet is aflame with this revelation. Just Google "Pew research rich poor" and you'll see.

Not for nothing--because I'm a huge fan of Pew Research--but the fact that Americans are all hopped up about class warfare these days is as predictable as the sun rising over Brooklyn tomorrow morning. Between the Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street protests, along with the flame-fanning of a fawning press, what's surprising is that the conversation has basically stalled at the "What?-you-want-to-tax-my-private-jet?" stage.

America has always had an uneasy relationship with capitalism. As a nation governed by the people, for the people, for more than 200 years, we're still not sure what our tax policy is supposed to accomplish. Is it meant to re-distribute wealth? Or is it supposed to pay for services that the private sector can't address and nothing more?

If we're going to have class warfare, let's at least start on a level-playing field philisophically and see if we agree on the issues at stake:

So, here's the question: What's more American? Creating economic mobility even if it doesn't happen organically? Or, survival of the economic fittest? 

What do you think? 

Lewis Schiff is the chairman and executive director of Inc. Business Owners Council, and the author of the book, The Middle-Class Millionaire. He can be reached by email, on twitter or by phone: (800)536-0046. @lewisschiff