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Bernie Sanders
Related: About this forumHow America's rich betrayed their fellow citizens
The author F Scott Fitzgerald once wrote that the rich are different than you and me.
Fitzgeralds observation rings especially true today. The growing divide between the wealthy and everyone else is one of the pre-eminent issues of the 2016 presidential election. A tidal wave of public anger over income inequality and the decline of the middle class has made the rich a popular target on the campaign trail. The best example is the remarkable success of Bernie Sanders, who has tapped into the populist spirit of the electorate by calling for a political revolution against the billionaire class.
Republicans routinely condemn such rhetoric as the reckless promotion of class warfare by irresponsible populists, but the reality is class conflict is a two-way street.
Sanders and other populists did not create the class tensions in American society. Instead, wealthy Americans themselves played a central role in creating the conditions that gave rise to the angry and populist mood of the 2016 election.
The economic data make clear why populism is the dominant theme of the 2016 campaign.
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http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/apr/25/america-wealthy-class-betrayed-inequality
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How America's rich betrayed their fellow citizens (Original Post)
n2doc
Apr 2016
OP
Yep. It's time for a political revolution unless the rich want to go for 1789 deux. nt
thereismore
Apr 2016
#1
Our financial elite decided that the robust middle class we built was not needed.
stillwaiting
Apr 2016
#4
thereismore
(13,326 posts)1. Yep. It's time for a political revolution unless the rich want to go for 1789 deux. nt
LiberalArkie
(15,720 posts)2. I think the 1789 part deus (USA Version) could have a certain appeal.
A few people on Wall Street bowling with heads would probably lead to one of the quickest house bills passed and approved by the Senate and signed by the President that has ever happened. Could be a good pay per view event also.
stillwaiting
(3,795 posts)4. Our financial elite decided that the robust middle class we built was not needed.
So they've been looting it since Reagan. Perhaps since Nixon (when productivity increases and wage increases stopped rising proportionately).
Maybe one day enough of us will fight back collectively.