Willis Krumholz writes for the Federalist that those whose politics lean right of center should pay more attention to income inequality.
Widening inequality and slowing social mobility really is a problem in America, and government policies championed by the elite have exacerbated this inequality. Because the solutions fit naturally with conservatism, it’s scandalous for the conservative party in America to not propose solutions—and it’s politically suicidal for Republicans to pretend like widening inequality isn’t a problem. …
… In other words, there’s even an inequality in who has access to capital, and at what cost, which is why periods of low real interest rates have always corresponded with an increase of cartelization and monopoly power.
This concentrated corporate power has sapped dynamism. Climbing the corporate ladder now requires advanced degrees, and costly higher education with an accompanying student debt load. Meanwhile, entrepreneurship in America is down drastically since the 1970s and ‘80s.
All this has resulted in a steep decline in social mobility, which is what Republicans should talk about to counter Democrats’ talk of inequality. Incidentally, it should be emphasized for the Republican donor class that for social mobility to function it must work both ways. …
… Republicans should focus policies on the broad masses in the working class, the middle class, the lower-upper-class, and small businesses, who are the strongest allies to the conservative cause.