Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 1 Episode 11 Episode 11

In the 11th episode of the first season of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, the British comedian and political commentator takes on the topic of income inequality.

Oliver begins by calling attention to the massive income gap between the rich and poor in the United States, referencing a statistic that the top 1% of Americans own 40% of the country's wealth. He uses a humorous analogy of a Monopoly game to illustrate the absurdity of such wealth disparity.

From there, Oliver delves into the history of how income inequality has grown over time, citing factors such as the decline of labor unions, globalization, and tax policies that favor the wealthy. He also discusses the phenomenon of the "wealth gap," in which the wealthiest Americans are accumulating wealth at an even faster pace than they have in the past.

Oliver then turns his attention to the minimum wage, arguing that it has not kept pace with the rising cost of living. He highlights the struggles of low-wage workers by sharing stories of fast-food employees who are forced to rely on government assistance despite working full-time jobs.

As always, Oliver's segment is filled with witty jokes and clever insights. But he also takes a serious tone, calling on viewers to consider the moral implications of income inequality. He argues that living in a society with such extreme disparities in wealth undermines the principles of democracy and makes it harder for people to achieve the American Dream.

To underscore his point, Oliver interviews former Labor Secretary Robert Reich, who agrees that the minimum wage needs to be increased and explains how this could benefit the overall economy. In a comedic twist, Oliver also creates an online game in which viewers can simulate the struggles of living on a minimum-wage income.

Overall, episode 11 of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver is a thought-provoking and entertaining exploration of income inequality in America. Oliver uses humor to keep viewers engaged, but also makes a compelling case for why it is an issue that should not be ignored.