Thoughts on "Born on Third Base"

I thought "Born on Third Base" was a good book and an interesting read. Although I am well aware of the inequalities that exist in our society, it is sometimes difficult to think of strong examples that clearly show how the system is unfairly rigged against the least fortunate. What Chuck Collins did in this book, was to provide me with exactly that. He shared plenty of examples of how the system is set up---both intentionally and unintentionally---to benefit the wealthy, and what consequences that has on people from all levels of society. I think he made a strong argument for why wealth inequality is a bad thing for both poor and wealthy people. It is self-evident why wealth inequality is not a good thing for poor people, but the negative implications for the wealthy are not as obvious. However, if you just think about it for a second, it makes sense that wealthy people would not be able to enjoy their comfortable lifestyles if it wasn't for the fact that they were living in a healthy and stable society.

Having grown up in Sweden, I have seen first-hand how wealth distribution can lead to great things. Both education and health care is funded by taxes, which means that everyone can afford to go to school and stay healthy. There are also numerous other safety nets that help people in need and provide them with an opportunity to get back on their feet when unexpected things happen. No families in Sweden have to fear that they won't be able to provide their kids with food and shelter. I think that the US has the potential to do same, but there has to be major changes made to the political and financial system, including taxation. I think Americans have lost trust in the government. Therefore, it is crucial for politicians to work hard to regain the trust of the people, so that the people will be more willing to entrust the government with their wealth.

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