By Darius Ross
As a longtime businessman, I see a deficit in America that has received far too little attention. That’s the wage deficit experienced by growing numbers of Americans, with serious consequences for our economy.
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\D:K6i `aAEj 7@?E\72>:=Ji %:>6DjQm~? y2?F2CJ `[ E96 >:?:>F> H286 :?4C62D6D :? #9@56 xD=2?5 2?5 :? ?:?6 DE2E6D E92E 25;FDE E96:C >:?:>F> H286 E@ >2E49 E96 C:D6 :? :?7=2E:@?i pC:K@?2[ r@=@C25@[ u=@C:52[ |:DD@FC:[ |@?E2?2[ ~9:@[ ~C68@?[ '6C>@?E 2?5 (2D9:?8E@?]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\D:K6i `aAEj 7@?E\72>:=Ji %:>6DjQmqFE E96 7656C2= >:?:>F> H286 H:== 36 E96 D2>6 2D a_`b 368:?D 2D :E H2D :? a__h – ;FDE Sf]ad 2? 9@FC[ @C S`d[_g_ 7@C 7F==\E:>6[ J62C\C@F?5 H@C<]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\D:K6i `aAEj 7@?E\72>:=Ji %:>6DjQm%92E’D 2? :>A@G6C:D9:?8 :?4@>6 2?JH96C6 :? p>6C:42[ 3FE 6G6? >@C6 D@ :? 9:89\4@DE DE2E6D =:<6 }6H *@C<[ H96C6 >J 3FD:?6DD :D 32D65]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\D:K6i `aAEj 7@?E\72>:=Ji %:>6DjQm%@@ >2?J p>6C:42?D 2C6 H@C<:?8 2? g\9@FC 52J DECF88=:?8 ;FDE E@ A2J C6?E] tG6? 42C67F==J 3F586E:?8 6G6CJ 5:>6[ E96J 42?’E 277@C5 E@ 7F==J 4@G6C E96 >@DE 32D:4 6IA6?D6Di D96=E6C[ 7@@5[ EC2?DA@CE2E:@?[ 962=E9 42C6 2?5 4=@E9:?8] %92E’D 325 7@C E9@D6 H@C<6CD 2?5 72>:=:6D[ 2?5 :E’D 325 7@C p>6C:42? 3FD:?6DD]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\D:K6i `aAEj 7@?E\72>:=Ji %:>6DjQm(6 D9@F=5 36 C2:D:?8 E96 >:?:>F> H286 E@ E96 =6G6= H96C6 H@C<6CD 42? 277@C5 C6?E[ 7@@5 2?5 @E96C ?646DD:E:6D 7@C E96>D6=G6D 2?5 E96:C 72>:=:6D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\D:K6i `aAEj 7@?E\72>:=Ji %:>6DjQm#2:D:?8 E96 >:?:>F> H286 36?67:ED 3FD:?6DD6D :? E9C66 H2JDi AC@5F4E:G:EJ[ AC@7:E 2?5 AC@DA6C:EJ]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\D:K6i `aAEj 7@?E\72>:=Ji %:>6DjQm(:E9 >@C6 256BF2E6 H286D[ 3FD:?6DD6D 6IA6C:6?46 564C62D65 H@C<6C EFC?@G6C 2?5 8C62E6C H@C<6C >@C2=6 2?5 AC@5F4E:G:EJ – 2== 8@@5 7@C E96 3@EE@> =:?6]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\D:K6i `aAEj 7@?E\72>:=Ji %:>6DjQm%96 ?F>36C @?6 724E@C :? 3FD:?6DD 8C@HE9 2?5 9:C:?8 :D 4FDE@>6C 56>2?5] r@?DF>6C DA6?5:?8 >2<6D FA f_ A6C46?E @7 @FC 64@?@>J]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\D:K6i `aAEj 7@?E\72>:=Ji %:>6DjQm#2:D:?8 E96 >:?:>F> H286 AFED >@C6 >@?6J :? E96 92?5D @7 =@H\:?4@>6 H@C<6CD – E96 G6CJ A6@A=6 >@DE =:<6=J E@ ?665 E@ DA6?5 255:E:@?2= 5@==2CD :? E96:C A2J4964<D] %92E >62?D :?4C62D65 4@?DF>6C 3FJ:?8 A@H6C[ H9:49 >62?D :?4C62D65 56>2?5 7@C 8@@5D 2?5 D6CG:46D[ H9:49 >62?D >@C6 C6G6?F6D 2?5 AC@7:ED 7@C 3FD:?6DD6D[ 2?5 2 DEC@?86C[ >@C6 AC@DA6C@FD 64@?@>J]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\D:K6i `aAEj 7@?E\72>:=Ji %:>6DjQm(96? >:==:@?D @7 7F==\E:>6 H@C<6CD D66 E96 p>6C:42? sC62> :?4C62D:?8=J @FE @7 C6249[ :E’D ?@E ;FDE 2 ?:89E>2C6 7@C E96>] xE’D 2 ?:89E>2C6 7@C @FC ?2E:@?]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\D:K6i `aAEj 7@?E\72>:=Ji %:>6DjQm(6 42??@E C6DE@C6 E96 p>6C:42? sC62> H96? E96 7=@@C F?56C @FC 64@?@>J 92D 72==6? D@ 72C F?56C E96 4@DE @7 =:G:?8 E92E 6>A=@J6CD E@52J 42? A2J 2? 6?ECJ\=6G6= H286 E92E :D =@H6C E92? E96:C 4@F?E6CA2CED A2:5 :? `hde[ 25;FDE65 7@C :?7=2E:@?]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\D:K6i `aAEj 7@?E\72>:=Ji %:>6DjQm%96 J62C `hde :D D@ =@?8 28@ E92E >@DE p>6C:42?D[ :?4=F5:?8 >6[ H6C6?’E 6G6? 3@C? J6E] *6E[ @FC 7656C2= >:?:>F> H286 :D ;FDE Sf]ad H9:=6 E96 G2=F6 @7 E96 `hde >:?:>F> H286 :D Sg]ce :? E@52J’D 5@==2CD] %92E’D ?@ 7@C>F=2 7@C 64@?@>:4 DF446DD]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\D:K6i `aAEj 7@?E\72>:=Ji %:>6DjQm$6?2E@C %@> w2C<:? @7 x@H2 2?5 #6A] v6@C86 |:==6C @7 r2=:7@C?:2 :?EC@5F465 E96 u2:C |:?:>F> (286 p4E :? r@?8C6DD :? a_`a] xE 42==D 7@C :?4C6>6?E2==J C2:D:?8 E96 >:?:>F> H286 E@ Sh]g_ 2?5 E96? :?56I:?8 :E E@ E96 4@DE @7 =:G:?8] %92E’D E96 =62DE H6 D9@F=5 5@ E@ >2<6 FA 8C@F?5 =@DE D:?46 `heg[ H96? E96 >:?:>F> H286 H2D H@CE9 S`_]dg[ 25;FDE65 7@C :?7=2E:@?]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\D:K6i `aAEj 7@?E\72>:=Ji %:>6DjQmx7 E96 >:?:>F> H286 H6C6 C2:D65 E@ Sh]g_[ ag >:==:@? p>6C:42?D H@F=5 D66 E96:C H286D 8@ FA[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 t4@?@>:4 !@=:4J x?DE:EFE6]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\D:K6i `aAEj 7@?E\72>:=Ji %:>6DjQm|@C6 E92? 2 >:==:@? G6E6C2?D H@F=5 86E 2 >F49\?66565 C2:D6]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\D:K6i `aAEj 7@?E\72>:=Ji %:>6DjQmp>@?8 E96 ag >:==:@? H@C<6CD H9@ H@F=5 36?67:E 7C@> 2 Sh]g_ >:?:>F> H286[ gg A6C46?E 2C6 2E =62DE a_ J62CD @=5 2?5 ca A6C46?E 92G6 2E =62DE D@>6 4@==686 65F42E:@?k^DA2?m kDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\D:K6i `aAEj 7@?E\72>:=Ji %:>6DjQm|@C6@G6C[ ?62C=J aa >:==:@? 49:=5C6? 92G6 2 A2C6?E H9@D6 :?4@>6 H@F=5 C:D6 :7 E96 >:?:>F> H286 H6C6 :?4C62D65 E@ Sh]g_]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\D:K6i `aAEj 7@?E\72>:=Ji %:>6DjQm%96C6 :D ?@ 8@@5 C62D@? A6@A=6 H@C<:?8 7F== E:>6 D9@F=5 36 =:G:?8 :? A@G6CEJ]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\D:K6i `aAEj 7@?E\72>:=Ji %:>6DjQm%96C6 :D ?@ 8@@5 C62D@? A6@A=6 H@C<:?8 7F== E:>6 D9@F=5 92G6 E@ 56A6?5 @? 7@@5 32?<D @C 7@@5 DE2>AD E@ 7665 E96:C 72>:=:6D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\D:K6i `aAEj 7@?E\72>:=Ji %:>6DjQm%96C6 :D ?@ 8@@5 C62D@? A6@A=6 H@C<:?8 7F== E:>6 D9@F=5 36 =:G:?8 :? E96:C 42CD @C 9@>6=6DD D96=E6CD]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\D:K6i `aAEj 7@?E\72>:=Ji %:>6DjQm*6E[ H6 D66 E9:D >@C6 2?5 >@C6 3642FD6 @7 E96 H286 567:4:E]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\D:K6i `aAEj 7@?E\72>:=Ji %:>6DjQm(@C<:?8 p>6C:42?D >FDE >2<6 2E =62DE 6?@F89 E@ 3FJ 32D:4 8@@5D 2?5 D6CG:46D @C H6 H:== ?6G6C 36 23=6 E@ C63F:=5 E96 4@?DF>6C 56>2?5 E92E 3FD:?6DD6D ?665 E@ E9C:G6 2?5 4C62E6 >:==:@?D @7 ?6H ;@3D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\D:K6i `aAEj 7@?E\72>:=Ji %:>6DjQm(:E9@FE 2 5646?E 7=@@C F?56C H286D[ E96 >:55=6 4=2DD H:== 4@?E:?F6 E@ D:?<] p?5 E96 p>6C:42? sC62> E92E @?46 :?DA:C65 D@ >2?J[ :?4=F5:?8 >J A2C6?ED[ H:== 364@>6 :?4C62D:?8=J E96 AC:G:=686 @7 E96 76H]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\D:K6i `aAEj 7@?E\72>:=Ji %:>6DjQmp>6C:42 ?665D 2 >:?:>F> H286 C2:D6 ?@H]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmk6>mkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\D:K6i `aAEj 7@?E\72>:=Ji %:>6DjQm#@DDk^DA2?m kDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\D:K6i `aAEj 7@?E\72>:=Ji %:>6DjQm:D >2?28:?8 A2CE?6C @7 s p=6I2?56C #@DD #62= tDE2E6 r2A:E2= !2CE?6CD[ 2 }6H *@C<\32D65 C62= 6DE2E6 2?5 4@?DECF4E:@? 7:C>] w6 :D 2k^DA2?m kDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\D:K6i `aAEj 7@?E\72>:=Ji %:>6DjQm>6>36C @7k^DA2?m k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]3FD:?6DD7@C272:C>:?:>F>H286]@C8Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\D:K6i `aAEj 7@?E\72>:=Ji %:>6DjQmqFD:?6DD 7@C 2 u2:C |:?:>F> (286k^DA2?mk^2mkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\D:K6i `aAEj 7@?E\72>:=Ji %:>6DjQm]k^DA2?mk^6>mk^Am
kAmk6>mkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\D:K6i `aAEj =:?6\96:89Ei ``dTj 7@?E\72>:=Ji %:>6DjQm k^DA2?mk^6>mkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\D:K6i `aAEj 7@?E\72>:=Ji %:>6DjQm                                       k^Am
kAmk^DA2?mk^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.