The wealth divide is exacerbated by two different types of inflation. While wages are benchmarked against CPI (consumer goods), wealth for asset-holders grows with "asset price inflation" (stocks, real estate), which compounds much faster. Young people paid in cash cannot keep up.

Current fiscal policies represent a massive wealth transfer from young to old. Framing national service as a direct, large-scale investment in youth counteracts this economic imbalance, shifting national priorities and resources back to the next generation, effectively fighting a 'generational war' through policy.

Extreme wealth inequality creates a fundamental risk beyond social unrest. When the most powerful citizens extricate themselves from public systems—schools, security, healthcare, transport—they lose empathy and any incentive to invest in the nation's core infrastructure. This decay of shared experience and investment leads to societal fragility.

Social Security is framed not just as a successful anti-poverty program, but as a system that annually moves over a trillion dollars from the younger, less wealthy working-age population to the most affluent generation in history, who are often asset-rich.

The top 10% of earners, who drive 50% of consumer spending, can slash discretionary purchases overnight based on stock market fluctuations. This makes the economy more volatile than one supported by the stable, non-discretionary spending of the middle class, creating systemic fragility.

Tax policy is a reflection of societal values. By taxing capital gains at a lower rate than ordinary income, the U.S. tax code inherently suggests that wealth generated from existing money (assets, stocks) is more valuable or 'noble' than wealth generated from work and labor.

The American housing market is increasingly inaccessible to younger generations. The median age of a homebuyer has hit a record high of 59, the same age one can access retirement funds. Even the median first-time buyer is now 40, indicating a systemic affordability crisis.

As governments print money, asset values rise while wages stagnate, dramatically increasing wealth inequality. This economic divergence is the primary source of the bitterness, anxiety, and societal infighting that manifests as extreme political polarization. The problem is economic at its core.

Extending mortgage terms doesn't solve housing affordability because it primarily boosts demand for a fixed supply of homes. This drives asset prices higher, as sellers adjust prices to match buyers' new monthly payment capacity. The historical example of Japan's housing bubble, fueled by 100-year mortgages, illustrates this danger.