American Inequality: From Gilded Age Tycoons to Tech Oligarchs

In this episode of American Angst 101, host Dale McConkey hands the reins to Michael Bailey, political philosopher at Berry College, for a thoughtful deep dive into the growing problem of inequality in America. With historian Christy Snider joining the conversation, the trio explores the widening gap between rich and poor, comparing today’s digital tycoons with the industrial giants of the Gilded Age. Bailey unpacks the numbers behind income and wealth disparities, examines why Americans often overlook inequality, and raises concerns about its effects on democracy. Snider adds historical perspective, from Carnegie’s “Gospel of Wealth” to the impact of Reagan-era tax cuts, while McConkey steers the discussion toward both structural causes and the everyday anxieties inequality creates. The result is a rich, accessible conversation that blends data, history, and contemporary angst with flashes of humor—including a game of “Capitalist or Communist?”

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