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The reality is we live in a world of plenty. The sad reality is that "the plenty" is held in the hands of a select few who want to keep it that way. Far too many people struggle to simply survive from day to day while a well-oiled machine wants us to think that things like health care, Social Security, and public education are entitlements not investments for the common good. Meanwhile over the last 50 years, there has been a massive wealth grab, 79 trillion from the bottom 90% to the top 1%.
If we the people begin to call out the senseless imbalance, we are labeled extremist. When I was born the wealthy paid their fair share and our country invested in schools, libraries, roads, social security and other basic infrastructure for the public good. The goal was to level the playing field. Sadly, minorities were left out but we fought for civil rights legislation and slowly drew larger circles of inclusion. As we did communities became stronger and more diverse. We realized we were stronger together. This awareness is seen as a threat to the rich and powerful and they use their exorbitant wealth to fund campaigns, and claw back hard-earned legislation and programs that help the people who truly need it.
Yes, things are getting harder for everyone, but don't buy the lie that you are a "victim" of hard-working immigrants who love their children too, people with disabilities who do contribute, and people of color weary from discrimination. That friends, is a scam to distract us from our responsibility to work to unite rather than divide community, to care for our neighbor rather than view them with suspicion, and to lift up rather than put down those in need. Yes, things are difficult now for so many hard-working folks, but we must build community and work together to weather the times ahead. It has been done before. We can do it now. Our taxes need not pay for a new ballroom and fund unjust wars. One more thing. You've heard it before. Your vote matters.
Darwin Dyce
Ghent