The era of volatility created a shift from America as a middle class society to simply rich or poor (Sachs, 2011). Such a wide gap hasn't been seen since the 1920s (Sachs). “The richest 1% of families absorb almost a quarter of all household income,” but such a top-heavy economy will not be able to succeed (Sachs, 2011, p. 30). The working classes are grappling with problems of housing, wages and employment. The rich are ignoring these problems by moving their business operations out of the country, thus aiding the downward spiral of the economy (Sachs). To make matters worse, this has largely become a political issue, because the rich can influence candidates with funding, where the poor and working class cannot (Sachs). Something similar happened in America in the 1920s. The industry's new fortunes pushed incomes to the top of the ladder as immigrants made up the wage floor (Sachs, 2011). In the 1920s Franklin D. Roosevelt despised and worked against the minority that at that time had such a powerful influence on the majority of the country (Sachs). However, economic and political factors today differ from those of the 1920s. China and globalization add further challenges to the solution to the ongoing economic crisis (Sachs). In today's economy, “profits are earned and retained abroad” (Sachs, 2011, p. 30). In the United States workers are losing jobs as more and more companies are moving operations overseas, these workers must also compete with higher educated individuals and foreign workers for jobs, while manufacturing and other low-skilled jobs continue to shrink (Sachs). These economic hardships did not happen overnight. The 1950s and 1960s were an era of economic growth with little... half paper... Skilled workers must be reintegrated into the American workforce in order to be reintegrated. able to compete in the global market and with growing technology. There is hope, the American spirit will not continue to allow these conditions for much longer and future generations are optimistic. Perhaps this is what the economy and government in general need: more optimism. Works Cited Foroohar, R. (2011). A new era of volatility. Time. 178(14). P. 28. Gandel, S. (2011). Shopping: the rich and the others. Time. 178(14). P. 39. Gandel, S. (2011). What we spend in a month. Time. 178(14). Sal. 34-35.Mankiw, N. G. (2012). Principles of Macroeconomics (6th ed.). Mason, OH: Cengage.Sachs, J.D. (2011). Why America must revive its middle class. Time. 178(14). Sal. 30-32.Time. (2011). How we spent... the time. 178(14). P. 32.Now. (2011). Money survey. Time. 178(14). P. 29.