Funny Money

Figure 1: Big Ben the Money Man

Hello, boys and girls, I am Benjamin, but my friends call me Big Ben the money man (figure 1), and I am here to tell you a little something about money. Money is the thing that helps you buy the things you want, and get the things that you need. Money is all around you and is involved in everything you see. It plays a big part of how the world works. Everyone has or has had some type of money, but some people have a lot more than others and this isn't fair sometimes. This problem is here to be solved by me, Big Ben. I want everyone to be equal and have as much money as they need, but I need you to help. I'm going to tell you what income inequality is and why it is so hard to fix.

Income Inequality

Figure 2: Mo' Money

Income inequality (figure 2) in the US is all about the Benjamin's. Income is the money you make from working hard and earning a living. Inequality is when you get treated differently than someone else. In the image to the left you can see how one person has all the money while the rest of the people are left out, and that is income inequality. This is becoming a huge problem in America today (1). Income inequality is the combination of making money but at the same time not getting paid like how you should be paid. This way of getting paid is very unfair, the poor people suffer while the rich people just get richer. Have you ever wondered why when your mommy or daddy ever said "no, I can't afford that," to you if you asked for something you wanted, while your friend may have gotten the thing that you wanted. Well that may be because of income inequality, and your parents may be getting treated like all those people in the image to the left. The real question is, why is this unfair, and why is it a problem?

Money isn't the same for everybody

Figure 3: Income Inequality

Money is always the same green color, but it's not the same when it is time to get paid. Boys make more money than girls, and no one knows why. No one knows why, but we do know that this leads to unfair school opportunities for little boys and girls just like you (2). This just is not cool. It shouldn't matter what you are because everybody should be able to be as smart as they want to be and make as much money as they want (2). In figure 3 on the right, you can see how income inequality is an unfair competition because it is like when a big bully picks on a little kid and they no chance of making it equal. It is a fact that when everyone is treated equally by making money based on how hard you work it makes life in America better (2). This may lead to everyone catching on and making the world a fairer place where everyone like you and me have chances to become who we want to be. Income equality is a major key to success. 

Big Dreams and Big Plans

Back in the old days when your mommy and daddy were the same age as you they had big plans on becoming and doing the things they dreamed about every day. Doing whatever made them feel invincible or like a superhero. To have what they dreamed about they needed to make money, but this was hard because they didn't have the same chance to make the money that their mommies and daddies did. For you this is even worse because you are going make less than them because of the way it is going. That means it will be harder to become what you want to be and do what you dream to do and get what you want in the future. Just because it is harder does not mean it is impossible. You can do whatever you want, be whatever you want, and get whatever you want as long as you are ready to work for it. 

Let's Make Money Together

Figure 4: More Dough for everybody

Now that Big Ben let you know all about income inequality, it's time to get you ready to fix it. You are the people who will close the gap and make everyone more equal in terms of money. All you have to do is get others to realize that no one should be paid less because they are a girl or because they are a different skin color. There are many other things you can do right now like talking to your parents and encouraging them to go vote for people who want to make incomes equal. Everyone needs to be paid for the work they put in and the world will be a better place (figure 4). All you have to do is let them know cause the proof shows. And remember that I am Big Ben and let's make incomes more equal again. 

References

(1) Fitz, N. (2015, March 31). Economic Inequality: It's Far Worse Than You Think. Scientific American. Retrieved from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/economic-inequality-it-s-far-worse-than-you-think/

Homer [Photograph]. (2015). Retrieved from: https://metrouk2.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/homer_dough.gif

Income Inequality Bowl [Photograph]. (2017). Retrieved from: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/0e/c3/42/0ec342a3f805293f8fef2c325d0c3cf8.jpg

Income Inequality [Photograph]. (2016). Retrieved from: http://franklycurious.com/media/1/20131216-99-1percent.jpg

(2) Jain-Chandra, S. (2015, October 27). Why gender and income inequality are linked. World Economic Forum. Retrieved from https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2015/10/why-gender-and-income-inequality-are-linked/

Money Man [Photograph]. (2017). Retrieved from: https://previews.123rf.com/images/chromaco/chromaco1209/chromaco120900059/15441897-Cartoon-Money-and-Hands-with-Thumbs-up-Vector-Cartoon-Image-Stock-Vector.jpg