America has a poverty problem. So in 2017, why did Senate leadership vote for a GIGANTIC TAX BREAK for the wealthiest Americans at a time when they LEAST needed it while America’s people suffered as poverty levels rose through the roof? (Stealing from @profwolff on @jimmy_dore.)
When wealth disparity threatened to cause civil unrest, FDR made the bold move of hiring all the unemployed Americans & PAID THEM a fair wage to work.
He demanded the wealthiest Americans give some blood to avoid ruin.
He demanded the wealthiest Americans give some blood to avoid ruin.
FDR taxed the wealthy to hire Americans who were falling through the cracks. Millions of them. He did it in order to PROTECT big companies from dying (and a potential revolution) once they impoverished their CUSTOMERS/WORKERS with crushing wealth disparity.
It worked.
It worked.
For a generation, the people had jobs.
As time passed, wages rose.
The working class thrived.
They owned things.
Educated their kids.
The wealthy stayed rich, even though they paid more.
By the 70s, the middle class had been thriving for decades.
As time passed, wages rose.
The working class thrived.
They owned things.
Educated their kids.
The wealthy stayed rich, even though they paid more.
By the 70s, the middle class had been thriving for decades.
But... in the late 70s into the early 80s wages stopped rising and expenses didn’t.
So, to compensate for the gap, workers began incurring debt: home, car, health... credit cards.
So, to compensate for the gap, workers began incurring debt: home, car, health... credit cards.
The growing profits that the wealthy were making by not paying higher wages wasn’t enough for them.
They channeled a new source of INCOME back to themselves in the form of interest from credit extended to... the middle class: their own workers.
Cost of living kept rising.
They channeled a new source of INCOME back to themselves in the form of interest from credit extended to... the middle class: their own workers.
Cost of living kept rising.
Like a frog in water coming to a boil, the people never felt the heat. They fully accepted the debt in lieu of wages.
The wealth gap continued to widen, and a candidate’s best political strategy was to point it out, but once elected, to make sure nothing was done about it.
The wealth gap continued to widen, and a candidate’s best political strategy was to point it out, but once elected, to make sure nothing was done about it.
For the first time, working class people were faced with the brutal cycle of rising debt, rising expenses & stagnant wages.
Then... their annual vacations with the family, the comfort that they could send the kids to college, the savings for retirement... went. All gone.
Then... their annual vacations with the family, the comfort that they could send the kids to college, the savings for retirement... went. All gone.
For decades, corporate profits skyrocketed, wages stagnated, jobs became less & less... good, healthcare was (is) attached to those shitty jobs... & in 2017 we gave those Robber Barons MORE sticky disgusting wealth w/out demanding they pay their workers a living wage in return??
Today... an entire generation can’t buy a home... Can’t go to doctors... Cannot imagine how they will care for themselves in old age.
CANNOT LEAVE A TERRIBLE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION BECAUSE THEIR FAMILY WOULD LOSE HEALTHCARE.
No one has been FIGHTING to make this system better.
CANNOT LEAVE A TERRIBLE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION BECAUSE THEIR FAMILY WOULD LOSE HEALTHCARE.
No one has been FIGHTING to make this system better.
Ya know how this really started to seize up?
#CitizensUnited & other SCOTUS decisions that created room for billionaires to lobby politicians with big donations in cash.
$ = Power today more than ever.
It grips & corrupts MOST.
The taxes they don’t pay are legal & to code.
#CitizensUnited & other SCOTUS decisions that created room for billionaires to lobby politicians with big donations in cash.
$ = Power today more than ever.
It grips & corrupts MOST.
The taxes they don’t pay are legal & to code.
The dinosaur senators, congresspeople &, yes, the 2 parties writ large; they are part of the system of money. They’re addicted to it & they’ve STOPPED VOTING for legislation that can CHANGE IT.
They’ve not gotten wages to rise & they’ve actively worked to make education worse.
They’ve not gotten wages to rise & they’ve actively worked to make education worse.
The next generation will have it even harder unless...
...the people wake up &
DEMAND that our Congresspeople #FORCETHEVOTE on issues that they are politically afraid of.
The time is NOW.
THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO WAIT.
DEMAND that our Congresspeople #FORCETHEVOTE on issues that they are politically afraid of.
The time is NOW.
THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO WAIT.
The people need real, big progressive change and,
if educated on what
that change will mean,
they are IN FAVOR OF these issues, OVERWHELMINGLY:
•Black Lives Matter
•A living wage
•Medicare for all
•Voting rights
•Affordable Education
•Climate Justice...
if educated on what
that change will mean,
they are IN FAVOR OF these issues, OVERWHELMINGLY:
•Black Lives Matter
•A living wage
•Medicare for all
•Voting rights
•Affordable Education
•Climate Justice...
The ruling class
(yes, ALL OF THEM)
want the people to feel helpless, less informed, BROKE and NEEDING A JOB that is connected to healthcare.
If they didn’t, they would hold votes on issues that matter so constituents around this country CAN KNOW WHO THEY’VE ELECTED.
(yes, ALL OF THEM)
want the people to feel helpless, less informed, BROKE and NEEDING A JOB that is connected to healthcare.
If they didn’t, they would hold votes on issues that matter so constituents around this country CAN KNOW WHO THEY’VE ELECTED.
Show us what our reps are
voting for or TELL US WHY
THEY WON’T. Get them ON THE RECORD SO WE KNOW WHO TO VOTE OUT.
Crucially, also DEMAND that #CitizensUnited is overturned. Money should not be a temptation in our political system. Currently, it is the driving factor.
voting for or TELL US WHY
THEY WON’T. Get them ON THE RECORD SO WE KNOW WHO TO VOTE OUT.
Crucially, also DEMAND that #CitizensUnited is overturned. Money should not be a temptation in our political system. Currently, it is the driving factor.
Why am I telling you all of this?
Because I’m exhausted from seeing generations of workers VOTE AGAINST THEIR OWN INTERESTS AND NOT DEMANDING A BETTER LIFE FOR ALL OF US.
Because I’m exhausted from seeing generations of workers VOTE AGAINST THEIR OWN INTERESTS AND NOT DEMANDING A BETTER LIFE FOR ALL OF US.
I’m asking you to BE CURIOUS.
Have conversations with people who are struggling like you... people OLDER THAN YOU who remember how it was and people RICHER than you who don’t know how most people live & try to rediscover what the promise of the American Dream really was.
Have conversations with people who are struggling like you... people OLDER THAN YOU who remember how it was and people RICHER than you who don’t know how most people live & try to rediscover what the promise of the American Dream really was.
It’s been stolen from us and we continue to vote these bad actors into a place where they can HOLD US down.
All Americans need to wake up to the big lie that we can’t all have what we need if we work a decent week at a decent wage & pay our taxes.
All Americans need to wake up to the big lie that we can’t all have what we need if we work a decent week at a decent wage & pay our taxes.
Don’t let your representative gaslight you, no matter how badly you want to have faith in their intentions.
If they aren’t fighting for the issues that made you vote for them, maybe they are serving their interests and careers... not the people’s.
If they aren’t fighting for the issues that made you vote for them, maybe they are serving their interests and careers... not the people’s.
46 is on the path to stop the bleeding. Now IS the time to start talking about what Americans need, & from my point of view, those needs align with progressive values. WE CANNOT LET THIS MOMENT SLIP BY WITHOUT REMINDING THE PEOPLE THAT PROGRESSIVE ISSUES WIN VOTES.
#EndThisCycle
#EndThisCycle
This thread isn’t so long. Read it to your parents.
Read it to your kids.
Read it to your kids.
I love when my long time best followers find this thread. ✊🏽❤️
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