Are our poor poor because it suits us to keep them that way?

Certainly low labor costs enable non-poor to live well very cheaply

Times Reader Arthur Keefe—reacting to my article on our failure to instill inclusive growth—suggests that one reason we in this country have tolerated so much poverty is that “the middle and upper classes benefit greatly from the very low cost of labor, which enables those with money to have a high standard of living very cheaply. Thus it is not in their interest to remove poverty and low wages—at least not in the short to medium term. The downside is having to live in gated communities and employ armed guards to protect their lifestyle!” (Times, August 9, 2014)