the haves and the have-nots
A set phrase referring to the socioeconomic divide between those who possess wealth, resources, or advantages and those who do not. Often used in discussions of inequality.
The gap between the haves and the have-nots is only widening.
This policy affects both the haves and the have-nots.
Variant using hiragana もの instead of 者; slightly softer or more general.
A fixed expression composed of 持てる (potential form of 持つ, 'to have') + 者 ('person') and 持たざる (negative potential form, classical ざる negation) + 者, literally 'those who can have and those who cannot have'. The phrase is a calque or parallel to the English 'haves and have-nots'.