President Obama’s reference to the popular television series Mad Men isn't the only topic being buzzed about after last night's State of the Union address.The president announced that he will use executive orders to bypass Congress on a number of fronts, including raising the minimum wage for federal contractors.
Melissa Ross spoke with Dr. Stephen Baker of the political science department at Jacksonville University, and Dr. Parvez Ahmed, director of the Center for Sustainable Business Practices and associate professor of finance at the University of North Florida, about income inequality and the State of the Union address.
Some people are calling the president’s orders to bypass congress a direct violation of the Constitution.
Baker said that Obama has used fewer executive orders than George W. Bush used in his first term alone, and that the orders could potentially have “remarkable results.”
“It’s a temporary remedy, but it would allow movement on a subject and if congress remains intransigent, as it has been in the past, the president might use this on a more regular basis, “Baker said.
Whether changed by executive order or through Congress, 60 percent of Americans say they believe our economic system unfairly favors the well-off, prompting the possible need for a higher minimum wage and a smaller wage gap.
Ahmed classified income inequality as not just a social problem, but also a business problem.
He said that the level of disparity between the upper and lower half of the income scale slows down economic growth and when the people on the lower half have more to spend, growth will be possible.
“Corporate pay of CEO versus the average worker has increased to absurd proportions. Between 1965 and 1985 the average CEO made about 20-30 times the average worker. Today that number is well over 200,” said Ahmed.
He added that income inequality in the U.S. is the highest among all developed nations.
According to Ahmed, income inequality is a social problem that businesses, communities and governments can work together to solve. Other than taxation and minimum wage, he said a change in social policies, like affordable health care and maternity leave, are a couple things that could help close the gap.
Income inequality was among several topics Jacksonville residents were tweeting about during the speech. Here's a selection of local Twitter reactions as the speech was being delivered:
You can follow Melissa Ross on Twitter @MelissainJax, Patrick Donges @patrickhdonges, and Lindsey Kilbride @lindskilbride.
