该不该谴责贫富差距：收入与城市化

　　Also, in the seven states with the greatest income inequality, more than 80 percent of the population lives in or near metropolitan areas. In states with the most equality, only about half does. If we were to turn back the clock 100 years and again become a largely rural nation, we might not see such large income disparities, but that's because America's cities are our engines of wealth and offer greater prospects for those who succeed.

　　另外，在收入差距大的7个州80%的人口居住在大城市里或附近。而在收入最平均的州，居住在城里的居民只占约一半。如果时光倒流100年，我们还是一个广大的农业国时，我们可能看不到这巨大的贫富差距。但正是美国的这些城市才造就了财富，才为成功者提供了更美好的前程。

　　Inequality is not inequity. Artificial efforts to try to curb wealth gaps invariably do more harm than good. Heavier taxation might narrow the division between rich and poor, but it would be a hollow triumph if it stifled the economy. What Americans ought to care most about is maintaining our growth, not the red herring of gaps in income and wealth.

　　收入的不平均并不代表不平等。人为地控制贫富差距只会有害无益。加大税收力度也许会缩小贫富间的差距，但如果它抑制了经济的发展，那也只是毫无意义的成就。美国民众最该关心的应是保持经济的增长，而不是将注意力转移到收入与财富的差距上。