Bill Clinton’s Economic Goals

Robert Reich’s Column Left (“Boost Productivity by Investing in People’s Minds and Skills,” July 13) sets my mind at ease regarding Bill Clinton’s goals for his proposed national program. Citizens of high income should be expected to pay their fair part. There is a related problem, however, about which nothing has been said but may be equally important. I am referring to a dangerously biased distribution of asset ownership in the U.S.

If one excludes the richest 10% of the population, then the richest individual owns less than $200,000 worth of equity in America. However, the highest 10% has individual ownership that goes as high as $7 billion or more. From these figures it can be inferred that 90% of the population collectively owns less than one-tenth of 1% of everything that is owned in our country. That is a minuscule amount.

There are two dangers. One is that most of us get nothing from the increased value and efficiency of the companies in which we work except a job. We are in truth slaves to the system. The second danger is that the concentration of wealth will continue to the point that we will lose our democracy and become an oligarchy.

WILLIAM SAYLOR

South Laguna