I’ve been fighting this insanity since 2017 — I’m exhausted. How could these farmers vote against their self-interest? They’ve been getting generous subsidies from the government for decades that Trump then froze early on and cuts in earnest via the big ugly bill. I would be interested in your opinion on the role of religion in their blind faith in a con man. The farmers I know are religious fundamentalists and that weirdly drives them to Trump. Your point in this post is a good one — we need to find our way to a system that allows for a living wage and dignity for all. We have the money just not the political will and AI will compound the problem.
Thank you — I also believe that the road to Trump began with the gig economy that started in 2000 but really gained traction post financial crisis of 2008. Employers began to class as many employees as possible as contract workers giving them the ability to shed responsibility for health and retirement benefits. Working people then had to cobble together several jobs that narrowly put them over the poverty line. It’s been the law of the jungle ever since. Everyone did it not just businesses. School districts privatized maintenance, bus and cafeteria workers who had decent pay and benefits and those workers ended up working for a third to half their original pay and without benefits.
Apologies for the cliché but no lies detected. I’m in the UK and it’s the same over here. The news on the radio often leads on the economy and its lack of growth. I shouted at said radio “that’s because nobody has any f***ing money to spend”. Even the wealthy who buy luxury goods don’t spend that much. We call it the Vimes Boots Theory of Economics - a poor person will buy cheap boots which fall apart quickly. A rich person will buy well-made, expensive boots which last much longer, therefore not needing to buy another pair for years. And while we mere mortals are taking our holidays in the UK because we can’t afford to go abroad (according to reports, many are going for a long weekend or a Monday to Friday holiday https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c939gx4gqwpo
We were sold a fairy tale of trickle down economics but the reality, as you so eloquently put, is that it funnels up. And “they” don’t care about us.
Fascinating read Michelle, thank you! While I agree with the general premise of your argument ("wealth needs to be redistributed more responsibly"), I don't think that it's true that "you don't have one more dime in your pocket if the wealthier people around you lose their money." In fact, if the wealthiest in America paid even the taxes that they owed (sans evasion), that money could fully eliminate poverty in the US (via Matt Desmond's Poverty by America!) So in many cases, I do think that the wealthiest Americans losing a fraction of their wealth benefits the welfare of lower/middle class Americans in general. But of course, this depends on policies that properly designate the destination of these funds to begin with.
Which is to say, I think you're comparing apples to oranges when you equate the 'pleasure' (in quotes because I genuinely don't believe that, as a consensus, poor or middle class people are jumping with joy when an upper-middle-class computer engineer gets their income cut in half) of poor people when they see the moderately wealthy financially suffer V.S. the willful ignorance of the rich. If anything, I think this narrative of working-class sadism is manufactured precisely by those who benefit most from their exploitation.
I don't think your article primarily centers around those who are truly exacerbating the wealth gap the most (probably not the computer engineers making $100K a year, but likely the billionaires that employ them!), and I think you know that. The point of a wealth gap is that the moderate in all of its manifestations will be eliminated, moderate wealth included, and I do think most working-class people understand this. So I'm inclined to say that to focus on the semantics and rhetoric of the poor/middle class that's not exactly prevalent (nor powerful) is counterintuitive to fixing the real problem that's propagated by the uber wealthy. Thanks for your work!
Love this. In other words, it “just doesn’t have to be like this.”
It’s about political will, facts, honesty, compassion, and having a moral compass (traits the Repubs started throwing overboard, as you point out, during the Reagan years). I have an idea: let’s start by taking better care of our children. In our country, as we are apparently “making america great again,” in the year 2025, no child should go hungry and not have safe shelter. NO CHILD!
"The poor will, as always, suffer more, but the people who always thought of themselves as moderately privileged are not going to escape, either."
That's why I am paying bills with a shovel while I can. I devoutly hope to have all credit card bills paid off in the next two months, my condo by February or March, and then start paying off my car loan. If you don't own your home and car in the coming economy you will be SHIT OUT OF LUCK. Of course, I will arrive in old age with NO savings, but at least I will be at ground zero FINALLY at age 60 or so.
That is: If something horrible like cancer or a heart attack or a hurricane doesn't happen.
The problem with such an income disparity, is that once enough people hit the bottom, they want to fight. First come the protests. Then come the riots (in this case probably food riots), then a lot of people start dying. Governments fail and we end up looking like Afghanistan, Syria or Iraq. I am starting to believe the U.S is seriously headed in the direction of something like Russia or Hungary.
I remember what happened in those countries when the people protested against Orban and Putin. We may be headed for that as well if things keep going the way they are.
Also why I don't want to get rid of any clothes. I have too many but I expect the days when I will no longer be able to afford to buy clothing are coming fast.
I’ve been fighting this insanity since 2017 — I’m exhausted. How could these farmers vote against their self-interest? They’ve been getting generous subsidies from the government for decades that Trump then froze early on and cuts in earnest via the big ugly bill. I would be interested in your opinion on the role of religion in their blind faith in a con man. The farmers I know are religious fundamentalists and that weirdly drives them to Trump. Your point in this post is a good one — we need to find our way to a system that allows for a living wage and dignity for all. We have the money just not the political will and AI will compound the problem.
This is really my only explanation:
https://michelleteheux.substack.com/p/heres-why-poor-people-keep-voting
Thank you — I also believe that the road to Trump began with the gig economy that started in 2000 but really gained traction post financial crisis of 2008. Employers began to class as many employees as possible as contract workers giving them the ability to shed responsibility for health and retirement benefits. Working people then had to cobble together several jobs that narrowly put them over the poverty line. It’s been the law of the jungle ever since. Everyone did it not just businesses. School districts privatized maintenance, bus and cafeteria workers who had decent pay and benefits and those workers ended up working for a third to half their original pay and without benefits.
Apologies for the cliché but no lies detected. I’m in the UK and it’s the same over here. The news on the radio often leads on the economy and its lack of growth. I shouted at said radio “that’s because nobody has any f***ing money to spend”. Even the wealthy who buy luxury goods don’t spend that much. We call it the Vimes Boots Theory of Economics - a poor person will buy cheap boots which fall apart quickly. A rich person will buy well-made, expensive boots which last much longer, therefore not needing to buy another pair for years. And while we mere mortals are taking our holidays in the UK because we can’t afford to go abroad (according to reports, many are going for a long weekend or a Monday to Friday holiday https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c939gx4gqwpo
We were sold a fairy tale of trickle down economics but the reality, as you so eloquently put, is that it funnels up. And “they” don’t care about us.
Thank you for your work.
The Vimes piece is LEGENDARY!
Fascinating read Michelle, thank you! While I agree with the general premise of your argument ("wealth needs to be redistributed more responsibly"), I don't think that it's true that "you don't have one more dime in your pocket if the wealthier people around you lose their money." In fact, if the wealthiest in America paid even the taxes that they owed (sans evasion), that money could fully eliminate poverty in the US (via Matt Desmond's Poverty by America!) So in many cases, I do think that the wealthiest Americans losing a fraction of their wealth benefits the welfare of lower/middle class Americans in general. But of course, this depends on policies that properly designate the destination of these funds to begin with.
Which is to say, I think you're comparing apples to oranges when you equate the 'pleasure' (in quotes because I genuinely don't believe that, as a consensus, poor or middle class people are jumping with joy when an upper-middle-class computer engineer gets their income cut in half) of poor people when they see the moderately wealthy financially suffer V.S. the willful ignorance of the rich. If anything, I think this narrative of working-class sadism is manufactured precisely by those who benefit most from their exploitation.
I don't think your article primarily centers around those who are truly exacerbating the wealth gap the most (probably not the computer engineers making $100K a year, but likely the billionaires that employ them!), and I think you know that. The point of a wealth gap is that the moderate in all of its manifestations will be eliminated, moderate wealth included, and I do think most working-class people understand this. So I'm inclined to say that to focus on the semantics and rhetoric of the poor/middle class that's not exactly prevalent (nor powerful) is counterintuitive to fixing the real problem that's propagated by the uber wealthy. Thanks for your work!
About half of consumer spending is by the top 10%.
Here's an article from the Washington Post. Not sure if it's paywalled. But that share has increased significantly.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/08/06/economy-jobs-middle-class-recession-tariffs/
It’s paywalled but I’ll search for another source.
Love this. In other words, it “just doesn’t have to be like this.”
It’s about political will, facts, honesty, compassion, and having a moral compass (traits the Repubs started throwing overboard, as you point out, during the Reagan years). I have an idea: let’s start by taking better care of our children. In our country, as we are apparently “making america great again,” in the year 2025, no child should go hungry and not have safe shelter. NO CHILD!
"The poor will, as always, suffer more, but the people who always thought of themselves as moderately privileged are not going to escape, either."
That's why I am paying bills with a shovel while I can. I devoutly hope to have all credit card bills paid off in the next two months, my condo by February or March, and then start paying off my car loan. If you don't own your home and car in the coming economy you will be SHIT OUT OF LUCK. Of course, I will arrive in old age with NO savings, but at least I will be at ground zero FINALLY at age 60 or so.
That is: If something horrible like cancer or a heart attack or a hurricane doesn't happen.
We don’t have car payments but our cars are ancient!
Have one more house payment on the place we live but our payments are low enough it won’t make much difference.
The problem with such an income disparity, is that once enough people hit the bottom, they want to fight. First come the protests. Then come the riots (in this case probably food riots), then a lot of people start dying. Governments fail and we end up looking like Afghanistan, Syria or Iraq. I am starting to believe the U.S is seriously headed in the direction of something like Russia or Hungary.
The far-right loves Hungary and Russia, so ….
I remember what happened in those countries when the people protested against Orban and Putin. We may be headed for that as well if things keep going the way they are.
Also why I don't want to get rid of any clothes. I have too many but I expect the days when I will no longer be able to afford to buy clothing are coming fast.