The Struggle on Our Own Turf: ‘Inequality for All’ Tells All Why the rich keep getting richer while the middle class suffers By Sherry Jones on behalf of Smith-Barbieri Progressive Fund, A Charitable Foundation It was, without a doubt, the most important place to be on the evening of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Over 700 people filled the Bing Crosby Theatre to capacity on Monday, Jan. 20 for a showing of “Inequality for All,” a documentary spotlighting former Labor Secretary Robert Reich — an economist, author and UC Berkeley professor — about why the middle class is shrinking while the rich are getting richer and richer. Hosted by Spokane entrepreneurs Ron and Debbie Reed and the Smith-Barbieri Progressive Fund, the event raised funds for Second Harvest Food Bank, hit hard every winter but especially hard this year due to the recent cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and elimination of the extension of emergency unemployment benefits. The showing and panel discussion raised $11,245 and the Smith-Barbieri Progressive Fund will match every dollar for a grand total of $22,490. The proceeds benefit Second Harvest Food Bank. Provocative lessons; a call to action Among the film’s lessons:

• The middle class is the backbone of capitalism. Those in the middle class are the ones who consume — and consumer spending makes up 70 percent of our nation’s economy.

• The rich, often revered as “job creators,” tend to hoard their wealth via investments, bank accounts, etc. As Nick Hanauer, a Seattle entrepreneur and venture capitalist, says in the film, the rich, like the rest of us, only need so many pillows and so many pairs of jeans. Sure, some of them create jobs, but not nearly commensurate with the billions they earn every year. Their money doesn’t “trickle down” — Reich said we need a “middle-out” economy — because it doesn't return to our economy the way middle-class dollars do.

• Middle class earnings have remained flat since the late 1970s, around the same time President Ronald Reagan cut taxes on the rich as part of his "trickle-down" economics policy. As tax dollars have decreased, governments have cut spending, which hurts education, infrastructure, and other programs crucial to the middle class and to a robust economy.

• Globalization and technology have been great for consumers, but, in the U.S., not so

good for workers. Robots have displaced human workers in many factories. U.S. workers, competing with those in third-world countries where the standard of living is far lower, have found their own standards of living spiraling downward. Unions, which used to protect workers’ wages, benefits, and working conditions, have lost much of

their power as companies pack up and move their operations overseas — without repercussions.

• The U.S. economy rebounded hugely during the Clinton/Reich years, but even President Clinton lacked the "political will" to do what needed to be done to break the vicious cycle of spending and tax cuts that have depleted our economy of precious dollars. None of our presidents has been able to achieve real change because the rich are too powerful, and control Washington.

Infused with Reich’s self-deprecating wit and real-life stories of middle-class families brought to their knees by the 2008 recession, “Inequality for All” had the audience laughing and cheering, and, finally, filling the theater with applause. Reach out; share stories; listen to others Afterward, a panel discussion with Carol Krawczyk, the lead organizer with the Spokane Alliance; Rick Evans of Laborers Local 238; Phil High-Edward, assistant principal at Shadle Park High School; Joan Medina of Bridig’s Cloak, Spokane Homeless Outreach, and Shawn Vestal of the Spokesman-Review, emphasized our need to step out of our own comfortable worlds and engage with one another — especially those we tend to avoid, such as the poor. “Every single person in this room has privilege that other people don’t have,” Medina of Bridig’s Cloak said. “As people of privilege, we have a responsibility to listen to people who don’t have the same privilege we do. It’s important to listen to the people you’re trying to help, and find out what they think will help them.” Spokane entrepreneur Ron Reed, hosting the event with his wife, Debbie, and the Smith-Barbieri Progressive Fund, encouraged the attendees to take this film and this message to their friends, family, churches, or other organizations and make sure those in our community understand these issues that are so critically important to us all. The film is available for purchase on DVD at http://inequalityforall.com. “Our community and nation are desperately in need of leadership and every single person in this audience is capable of being a leader. We ask you to share this information from the film and what you learn here tonight and become leaders in your organizations, among your social groups and in your communities”. Sherry Jones is an author and freelance writer living in Spokane. Contact her at sherry@authorsherryjones.com.

The people who attended made this event great. These great sponsors made it possible. Ron & Debbie Reed, Smith-Barbieri Progressive Fund, Community Building Foundation, The

Inlander, Northwest Alliance for Responsible Media, Eco Depot, TicketsWest, PacifiCAD, Spokane Alliance, Laborers Local 238, Too Far North Productions, David Mercury Advertising,

KYRS Thin Air Community Radio, Peace and Justice Action League of Spokane, Center for Justice, Teamsters Local Union No. 690, Hamilton Studio and Surviving the Future Film Group.