Although extremists on the right wing dismissed Bernie Sanders’ ideology of Democratic Socialism, the voting public did not. He made working class and middle class Americans aware that our nation is involved in a class struggle which has not been seen since before the presidency of Teddy Roosevelt. A growing division in income inequality has increased the extremes; the numbers of Americans enjoying the wealthy class has increased, and so has the number of those living in poverty. The middle class, once the largest percentage of Americans, is less than 50 percent for the first time in history.
Let’s tell the truth about economic reality in America in the 21st century. The media won’t do it, so I must.
First of all, I need to dispel a claim by the Donald Trump’s campaign. He claims that his supporters are composed of ‘working class’ Americans. Trump’s ‘fans’ are wealthier than either those of Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders. In addition, the media fallaciously declares that they are white and mostly men.
The truth is that the working class is the most diverse group in the United States. Trump’s lie is based on the fact that working class Americans support the failed businessman, and he would be correct if you ignore Asians, Latinos and African Americans. “Factor them into the population of ‘working people,’” Slate’s Jamelle Bouie writes, “and Democrats win that group, handily.”
The one-percent would like us to believe that most Americans are not concerned with “class” distinctions. That is false. From the beginning of our nation 240 years ago tomorrow, there has existed a separation based on income levels. Today, one-percent of Americans own 20 percent of our nation’s wealth. Income inequality has existed in America since its beginnings, but has reached new levels of disparity in the 21st century.
Most Americans have been brainwashed to believe that “upward mobility is the sole possession of our nation; this is not only false, it has virtually disappeared. Japan, Germany, and Australia offer their citizens greater opportunity than the United States.
CNN offered the notion that, “Through hard work and perseverance, even the poorest people can make it to middle class or above.” This is no longer true today. It is very difficult, if not impossible to rise above the income level in which you were born and raised. Opportunities to change class distinction exists in our major cities. The problem is, that unless you are already in an upper income level, you cannot afford to live in those cities.
Another fallacy is that Americans are more likely to be racist, than to harbor a sense of superiority over the poorest of Americans. Although racism continues to be a serious, and growing problem in America, denigrating the poor has existed for just as long. Lyndon Johnson came to this conclusion in explaining the racism of poor whites: “If you can convince the lowest white man he’s better than the best colored man, he won’t notice you’re picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he’ll empty his pockets for you.”
I don’t know where you believe you are in the financial class structure in America. My wife and I have an income less than $2,000 above the poverty level. We are not alone. Many of our friends and family members are one paycheck, or one social security check away from being homeless.
These facts are never reported on FOX, CBS, NBC, ABC, or MSNBC. The entertainment personalities on those networks are all members of the 11 million, millionaires who enjoy privileged lives in America.
Bernie Sanders is right; it’s time for the 99 percent to take our country back. With more than 536 billionaires in our nation, not a single American should live in poverty or become homeless.
Op-Ed
By James Turnage
The Truth With No Restrictions 