Income inequality American as apple pie.

• Position: Your Life - Brief article

Democratic and Republic candidates for president are debating one another on practically every issue, but nearly all are united on one thing--America faces a crisis of "income inequality." However, contends Alex Epstein, a junior fellow at the Ayn Rand Institute, Irvine, Calif., "there is no such crisis. Income inequality is a natural and desirable part of a free, prosperous society.

"Critics of income inequality act as if American wealth is a communal pie that belongs equally to all of us, but the vast wealth that exists has been created through the productive activities and voluntary arrangements of individuals--and individuals do not necessarily create the same amount of wealth. Because all wealth is created, it rightly belongs to those who earn it--or their chosen beneficiaries--and no one can rightly claim to deserve wealth earned by others.

"Critics of income inequality point to some legitimate problems such as poor educational opportunities, growing health care...