A great deal of this is the result of public policy over the past decade. as there has been a conscious cutback in social programs funded by the federal government. but a large share is the result of fundamental forces. as is suggested by the fact that the disparity in incomes began to grow In the late 1960s and continued to grow through various cycles of public policy. That growth reflects the changing nature of the economy. as we have shifted from a manufactur. ing base to services and hightech Indus. tries. Part also stems from the changing structure of the population. as it contains more elderly people. more children. more recent immigrants without the skills to contribute fully to the economy. and more dependent people of various kinds. The rapidi. ty of change and the fractionalizatlon of so. ciety constitute a serious challenge to our political system. One response has been primarily diversionary.
Identified stereotypes
Immigrants are described as lacking the skills to contribute fully to the economy.