“The basic issue of an American society which is fair, which is providing opportunity for all, is now being replaced by the correct perception that we’re living in a rigged economy.” - U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders
There’s a tradition in American politics that candidates for elected office have long since stopped questioning. When it comes to discussing the economy, the only acceptable tack is to address how to make it bigger, faster, and/or stronger. More growth, more investment, more…everything, really. But what happens when the economy is so out of whack that no amount of bigger/better/faster could hope to address, much less fix the core problem? What happens when the state of the economy is itself the problem? For most politicians, nothing will happen; as long as unemployment is low, the stock market is high, and the GDP is heading north…well, where’s the fire? Despite whistling past the graveyard, the problem of income inequality isn’t fixing itself; quite the opposite, in fact. Ignoring the problem isn’t making things any better.
The reason I’ve endorsed Bernie Sanders is that he’s the first and only politician in many, many years to recognize, acknowledge, and honestly discuss the real problem- the growing income inequality gap. The truth is that it really no longer matters whether our economy is running on all cylinders- not when it’s rigged so that the only people realizing any significant benefit are the top 1-2% of income earners.
Perfect fairness is, of course, an unreasonable and unattainable standard…but neither does that excuse the gross unfairness that characterizes the current state of the economy. Though Republicans chide Americans for not working hard enough (Jeb Bush went so far as to tell Americans they need to work longer hours), the problem won’t be solved by spoiled, pampered members of the 1% telling us that we need to do even more than we already are. Those who created and continue working to widen the income inequality gap don’t get to blame those of us who weren’t born with a silver foot in our mouth for a problem not of our making.
It’s time the 800-lb. political gorilla in the room was acknowledged and slain. Thus far, Sen. Sanders is the only candidate to address income inequality with any degree of seriousness and gravitas. That seems unlikely to change, especially when those on the Right scream, “SOCIALIST!!!” whenever he raises the issue.
It’s time to get serious about what’s become the #1 (and most ignored) issue of our generation. What kind of America do you want? For my part, I believe we deserve better…and thus far, Bernie Sanders is the only candidate who looks capable of giving us that.
