Readers React: The giant, disgraceful gap between haves and have-nots

To the editor: Sunday’s Business section offered a vivid snapshot of the financial and moral challenges facing our society. The lead article told the story of a 67-year-old retired teacher living on a shoestring. She spoke about her fear “of the money running out, of winding up homeless.” (“A concerned retired teacher gets some lessons in money management,” Sept. 28)

Just below her story are the smiling faces of Jay Z and Beyonce. According to the accompanying story, they’ve been renting a 16,000-square-foot mega-mansion for a mere $200,000 a month and may buy an $85-million home.

Not only are the pictures worth a thousand words, but the juxtaposition of these two lifestyles on a single page of The Times is a chilling statement of two distinct Americas that exist side by side.

For shame!

Evelyn Baran, Beverly Hills

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