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Virginia Capitol C onnections, Summer 2015 7
Following Theodore Roosevelt’s term of office, progressivism
politics became somewhat less influential. After a relatively brief
respite progressivism re-emerged with the election of Theodore
Roosevelt’s cousin, Franklin. FDR’s policies, known collectively
as the New Deal, helped to fuel the politics of progressivism and the
cause of economic equality. Even after Franklin Roosevelt’s death
momentum in support of economic equality continued relatively
unabated for over 30 years. Between 1947 and 1979 family income
grew for everyone, but based on the relative percentage it grew
most for the poorest 20% of the population.
There is not an exact date when the economic equality
movement in the United States began to decline. Most analysts
trace the beginning of the demise of the movement to the mid
1970s. During the period from 1979 – 2007 the economic system
became less equal. The family income of those in the lowest income
quintile increased 17% in this period, not nearly enough to match
inflation. During this same period, the income of the top 1% of
wage earners increased 156%. According to the Internal Revenue
Service data for the period the wage for average Americans was at
the lowest level as a share of the national income since World War
II and the gulf between the richest 1% of and the rest of Americans
was the widest since the 1920s.
Despite the economic recovery since the depression beginning
in 2007, little has changed regarding economic equality in the
U. S. With a growing amount of quantitative and qualitative
data revealing an economic system producing greater inequality
what does the immediate future hold for economic equality and
a corresponding increase in a sense individual and collective
happiness among citizens of the United States? Despite the many
barriers to economic equality in American society, some pundits
see indications of what could be at the harbinger of significant
economic reform. These indications include a growing awareness
among a large segment of society that greater economic equality is
needed for our nation to continue to prosper.
With the beginning of the 2016 campaign for president there has
been a general recognition on the part of politicians and political
pundits alike that there well maybe the dawning of a new era of
economic populism, an era which will reflect policies that create
a greater balance in our economic system. Increasing political
interest in economic equality has prompted some candidates to
begin talking like populists on the campaign trail. This is true
for candidates of both major political parties. Will the renewal of
populism in the political arena be sufficient to bring about a reform
movement leading to greater economic equality and ultimately to
a happier society? So far the question is unanswered. There are
some early indications forces are aligning to produce the type of
consensus populist movement this nation has experienced in the
past. An economic populist movement producing a more equal and
happier society is far from a utopian possibility. Economic equality
reform leading to a happier society has happened in the past. It can
happen in the future.
Dr. Shendow is Professor Emeritus and Former Chair of the
Political Science Department at Shenandoah University.
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