2/11/2014
Buad 455
Letter to the Editor The “I Have a Dream” speech is one of the most powerful, popular speeches of all time. This historic speech touched on many different theories and issues occurring in society. On august 28th, 1963, in this speech Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called for racism in the United States to end. He spoke his word to over a quarter of a million individuals in attendance. In this speech, Dr. King referenced the Declaration of Independence, the Emancipation Proclamation, and the United States Constitution. In this article, Bill Moyers personally reflects on this speech. In this reflection, Bill Moyers states, “You can see why we need to reclaim the economic vision of both Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King, Jr.” I completely agree with Mr. Moyers on this statement, America’s economy is currently in poor standing and something needs to be done. Moyers explains how equal opportunity amongst races is in danger for working people by stating, “In our time, this idea of universal opportunity is once again under assault for working people of every race.” Lower and middle class citizens are at a complete stand still with incomes, the level of individual using food stamps and government assistance is at an all time high, and more then 40 million people are living in poverty. To add to that despair more then 30 million people are unemployed. The economy is worse now than it has been in the past, the productivity level of workers has increased while the rewards and funds have decreased. Pensions are under attack and the value of real estate is steadily decreasing. Moyers touches on the difference of income between CEOs and employees within a company. He says “Meanwhile, as the economist Robert Reich recently reminded us, in the 1950's and 60's, the CEO's of major American companies took home about 25 to 30 times the wages of the typical