We seem to have done it. Our budget is nearly balanced. Unemployment is near an historic low.
Inflation is under control.
The stock market is booming. It has become commonplace to hear that America's strong economy is making life better for all Americans. There is one area, however, that has remained largely untouched by America's new prosperity. This is the persistent income gap between the top and bottom of our society. The most recent available data show that despite our strong economy, the average income of the poorest fifth of American families actually dropped in 1996.