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COVID Exposes: The Danger of a Near Destitute Working Class
This article is the first of an ongoing series exploring the flaws in our society the current pandemic is exposing, in the hopes that we demand more than just a return to “normal” when this crisis passes. And this too shall pass.
For being the richest nation in the world, the working class of the United States sure is poor.
Like, really poor.
A recent study showed that 40% of Americans don’t have the cash on hand to cover a $400 expense. Another study showed that just 48% could cover a $1000 expense, without borrowing or selling their possessions.
This article does a great job explaining how our current populous is little more than neo-serfs, laborers that enrich others, few finding a way to get ahead themselves.
How did we get here?
Wage Stagnation
Wages for the working class of America haven’t moved much in half a century. You read that right. For fifty years, despite many items’ costs spiralling way up — namely college, housing — our wages have remained as they were.