From Andy Kessler at Wall Street Journal, Inequality by Way of Government:

“Are capitalism and free markets the reasons for income inequality? Or are misguided government interventions to blame?” He quickly rattles off poor schools, occupational licensing, land-use rules, and disincentives to work as examples of things that keep people down—an “opportunity gap.” Let’s call them the Four Progressive Horsemen of Inequality.

Public schools are controlled by teachers unions. Covid proved that. Forget learning; they push students along to graduation rather than teach them the skills to capture life’s opportunities. We know public schools have failed because more than half of new students at community colleges require remedial courses in math, English or both. Then consider those who don’t attend college. American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten collects Grade-A compensation—$500,000 a year—but has failed students. The average Chicago public-school teacher made $108,000 last year in salary and benefits. Illinois State Rep. Blaine Wilhour put it best: “The teachers union has become the biggest obstacle to upward mobility and to breaking the cycle of poverty for poor and minority students.”

The Barack Obama era of economic ineptitude lives on. Remember his May 2010 quote: “The true engine of economic growth will always be companies like Solyndra.” Maybe that’s the Fifth Progressive Horseman of Inequality.

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