The Struggles of the White Underclass

In this article, Nicholas Kristof examines Charles Murray's new book "Coming Apart" which pinpoints the familial breakdown of the white working class and loss of certain values as a cause of the persistent poverty in America.

After I'd read the article the first time, I was confused as to what Kristof was arguing; so in that sense, the argument wasn't developed very well. But upon further inspection, I found some strong rhetorical devices. He uses statistics and cites studies to show how the traditional family has broken down in the working class and how upholding a traditional family helps prevent crime and other outcomes such as drug use. He uses logos to develop an image of how income inequality is self-perpetuating, not just for the white working class but for everyone.