[LanguageGamer]

1. With complex social phenomena like this, we're not going to have rock-solid scientific demonstration. Doesn't mean it's not worth considering the possibility of a connection and what implications that would have.

2. Because it's a disturbing (to many) aspect of inequality in the U.S. today.

3. Yes. Times change. The point of articles like this is to make observations about those changes, their significance, and sometimes to make some value judgements about them. I'm not sure what your point is.

4. Is the author claiming that they alone can unwind structural inequalities? When participants in an institution can be critical of their and associated institutions' role in a social problem, and be honest about the limits of said institutions in addressing those problems, that seem useful.