Income inequity is generally a runaway process -- the rich get richer, so to speak. When you have resources and capital, making money isn't that difficult. The

Income inequity is generally a runaway process -- the rich get richer, so to speak. When you have resources and capital, making money isn't that difficult. The problem is that as the gap between classes widens, so do the cultural and societal differences. The rich have SO much money that they can't even imagine what it's like to be poor. They see the disadvantaged as lazy and deserving of their state. The poor see the wealthy as out of touch at best, and arrogant assholes at worst. When the wealthy are so far removed from the poor, it's more difficult to affect change in governmental policies that benefit the lower class. Those in power and those with money pass laws that benefit the upper class or, more likely, simply don't benefit the poor enough. The cycle continues until a large portion of the country is quite poor, and a tiny fraction is incredibly rich.