Did you know that, according to recent reports, the top 1% of Americans now own 32% of the country’s wealth? Whereas, the bottom 50%, half of the entire population, owns just 2%.

Everywhere you look, signs of this divide are visible. In cities, luxury condos rise while homeless shelters overflow. CEOs are paid hundreds of times more than their staff members in the workplace. The wealthiest Americans enjoy low tax rates and complex financial tools to protect their fortunes. Meanwhile, working families are burdened with debt, rising rent, and unaffordable healthcare.

One recent proposal that highlights this imbalance is the idea to eliminate taxes on tips and Social Security earnings. While these changes may put more cash into the hands of working-class Americans in the short term, they could have unintended consequences. These taxes fund critical state and federal programs, like education, public safety, and Medicare. Reducing those funds could weaken the very services that low- and middle-income families rely on the most.

The wealthy, however, face a different reality. Many billionaires pay lower effective tax rates than teachers or nurses. Through legal loopholes, offshore accounts, and investments that are taxed at lower rates, the rich can avoid contributing their fair share. Many social media posts frequently highlight how little some billionaires pay in taxes compared to everyday workers. It’s no wonder frustration is boiling over.

So what can be done?

Those with more should contribute more. But implementing such a policy isn’t easy. Legal challenges, political opposition, and lobbying efforts have stalled progress. Many wealthy individuals argue that such taxes would discourage investment or damage the economy. Yet other countries have managed to tax wealth fairly; why can’t we?

In truth, the fight against inequality is not just about money. It’s about fairness and values. If we want a society with equal opportunity and fairness, we would need to detach ourselves from the current policies. This includes:

To induce tax reform that closes loopholes and ensures the wealthy pay fairly.

To invest in public services—schools, transportation, healthcare—that lift communities.

To raise living wages and labor protections to empower workers.

To make housing more affordable and provide student loan relief to reduce economic pressure on families.

Ignoring the problem will only make it worse. Inequality breeds division, resentment, and instability. History shows that when wealth becomes too concentrated, societies suffer.

America has always claimed to be the land of opportunity. But opportunity means nothing if the system is rigged. To honor our national ideals, we must create an economy that works for everyone, not just the privileged few.

We must embrace a society in which everyone is accountable to one another and reject the idea that selfishness is a virtue. Only then will we be able to reestablish the equilibrium between the public and private spheres and bring the American Dream back to life.

For more information and insight, please read Private Affluence and Public Squalor: Social Injustice and Economic Misery in America, available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CHL9N39B. Private Affluence and Public Squalor is a bold, if imperfect, cri de cœur. Although its thorough approach and dearth of workable solutions restrict its wider appeal, it is most appropriate for people who are already dubious of America’s economic system. Nevins breaks down complex economic and political issues without relying on jargon, making this book an essential read for both scholars and general readers. Plus, it provides an overwhelming amount of evidence, from historical case studies to contemporary statistics, leaving no doubt that America has prioritized private wealth over the public good.