No One Needs a Billion Dollars, but Lots of People Need 10 Dollars Every Day

Op-ed by TheWiseOldFart

“America is the richest country in the world:” “America is the greatest country in the world.” The former are two phrases professional politicians use ad nauseam.

The second claim is absolutely 100 percent false: it’s not even close to the truth. Our country is far behind other developed nations in many areas including healthcare and education. However, the only one which matters, is quality of life. We are last in the world.

As for being the richest country, this only applies to about five percent of our nation’s people. At least one-half of all Americans struggle in the low-income demographic or with incomes which are below the poverty line. The middle class is diminishing. Earnings for a middle class in the U.S. ranged between $43,350 and $130,000 annually in 2021. It has become extremely difficult to find employment which offers what is now a middle-class income.

You must remember Trump’s only accomplishment over four years was a tax cut. However, the only permanent reduction was for the super-rich, not the working class. Income inequality is a growing problem, and why the quality of life for most of our citizens is rated as the worst in the free and developed world.

AMERICA’S MOTTO IN THE 21^ST CENUTURY

Our government has no interest in the majority. They serve special interests and those lobbyists work for the wealthiest of our nation’s citizens. America’s motto in the 21st century is “Profit Before People.”

Case in point. Saturday Trump held a benefit for himself at his Palm Beach playpen, Mar-a-Lago. No one in invited to his resort who is not a millionaire or billionaire. They are not men and women concerned about out country’s future, they are exclusively concerned with making more money, and that involves putting a “Republican,” any “Republican” in office. They are disinterested about the fact that Trump is the worst president in our nation’s history and would end democracy and in its place establish a fascist regime.

AMERCA MUST HAVE AN AMERICAN PRESIDENT

By his own words and actions, Trump is not an American. His loyalty is to Vladimir Putin and the Saudi Royal Family. He doesn’t give a damn about the quality of life for all Americans: we are of no use to him.

Trump is a con man and an opportunist. His loyalty is only given to someone who can offer him power and extreme wealth. He has never been a patriot. Each time I see him hug our flag, I wish someone would beat the shit out of him. He desecrates our most revered symbol by touching it.

It’s understandable why Trump is not ashamed of his actions. He knows who he is as many of us do. However, if he loved our country, even just a little, he would be displeased with himself for what he has done to our nation’s reputation. However, “Big Adolf” is void of dignity and self-respect. He is everything which made America less than great in the mid twentieth century.

AMERICA HAS SERIOUS PROBLEMS

The United States of America has many serious problems. At the top of the list must be the growing chasm between the super-rich and the working class.

We are being told that inflation is nearing an end. I don’t know where they get their information. Grocery prices have increased by about 40 percent. Utilities rose 60 percent. Now we are being told that the company which collects our trash is raising their rates.

My wife and I have no income other than Social Security. These increases are devastating.

Our nation currently has 765 billionaires who are now in control of our nation’s government. Capitalism has moved to the next step: a Plutocracy.

I repeat, no one needs a billion dollars, but most Americans need additional income to survive in the most expensive nation on earth.

Finally, it is a crime that the federal minimum wage remains $7.25 an hour when the cost of living, no, the cost of surviving in most of our major cities is four-times that rate.

Op-ed by James Turnage

Find my novels on Amazon’s Kindle

“The Truth Lives Here”