Lower-wage Americans burdened by income gap

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-pay17.html

WASHINGTON -- Over two decades, the income gap has steadily increased between the richest Americans, who own homes and stocks and got big tax breaks, and those at the middle and bottom, whose paychecks buy less.

The growing disparity is even more pronounced in this recovering economy. Wages are stagnant and the middle class is shouldering a larger tax burden. Prices for health care, housing, tuition, gas and food have soared.

The wealthiest 20 percent of households in 1973 accounted for 44 percent of total U.S. income, according to the Census Bureau.

Their share jumped to 50 percent in 2002, while everyone else's fell. The bottom fifth's share went from 4.2 percent to 3.5 percent.

Jobs and the economy top the list of voter concerns. President Bush touts a strong economy that is growing, but polls find that Americans think jobs are scarce. John Kerry is trusted more on the economy, with Democrats talking of ''two Americas.''

more