Why the Rich Are Getting Richer and the Poor, Poorer

First off, this was an interesting read. I was kind of turned off by the random facts and figures that Reich threw in from time to time; all of which in some way added to his rhetoric about the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer. I suppose they were relevant, however they made this reading kind of difficult for me. I found myself re-reading quite a few paragraphs, no because the information was hard to process, but because the random examples seemed to come out of thin air and I was constantly going back trying to find a connection between them.

Secondly, in exploring an individual's position in the world economy, Reich claims that this is totally dependent on the function in which he or she performs in it. "Regardless of how your job is officially classified (manufacturing, service, managerial, technical, secretarial, and so on), or the industry in which you work (automotive, steel, computer, advertising, finance, food processing), your real competitive position in the world economy is coming to depend on the function you perform in it (Reich 420). I took this quote to mean, and I may be completely wrong, that your job defines your position in society economically. All in all it makes since. For instance, as a waitress, you aren't really seen as making a major contribution to the world as say a doctor would. Therefore, it is logical that a doctor would make much more money than a waitress. I took this analogy to sort of analyze the question at hand. While this does make sense to me, I have to question whether it is fair? It is a dog eat dog world, and competition is a must. But I truly believe that people are predisposed to certain economic statuses before they are even introduced in the work force and this too plays an important role in an individual's position in the world economy and the functions in which he or she performs.

Reich, Robert B. "Why the Rich Are Getting Richer and the Poor, Poorer." A World of Ideas: Essential Readings for College Writers. Lee A. Jacobus. 7th ed. New York: Bedford/St. Martins. 2006. pp. 420-433.