It is evident that the United States needs a revolution of the working people. Corporations are too powerful, politicians are oblivious to the working class and our standard of living is declining. One may ask how such a revolution will be successful. It must be led by millennials, people of color and women. There is a mantra in politics: if you are not at the table, then you are not on the menu. Currently, the proposed leaders of a workers’ revolution are not at the table. Therefore, it is time for them to create a bigger table, which will put them on the menu.
As members of Congress began to accept legal bribes from large corporations, their policies favored corporations. This allowed large corporations to obtain more power, which was abused. This abuse of power is exhibited by the lack of affordable housing, lack of minimum wage increases, a gender pay gap and gentrification. An example of such corrupt money would be Joe Crowley (D-NY), who received over $300,000 in donations from the real estate industry in the 2016 election cycle, according to Open Secrets. As a result, he has voted in favor of real estate investors, who profit from unaffordable housing and gentrification, according to Crowley’s Congressional Website. Another example would be Paul Ryan (R-WI), who has received over $130,000 from Koch Industries throughout his career, according to Open Secrets. As a result, he has voted against increasing the minimum wage, according to Newsmax; an action that the Koch Brothers favor, according to Forbes.
Due to these bribes and many similar ones, the political table became increasingly small and it only seated a select few, keeping the many off the menu. People of color were removed from their neighborhoods for the purpose of “profitable real estate”; their neighborhoods gentrified. Landlords didn’t see tenants who paid the rent on time as profitable. Instead, they evicted honorable tenants for the purpose of renovating modest homes and businesses into luxurious condos and offices. A story about a Piñata Store in East Austin being demolished for this exact purpose was published in Texas Monthly in 2015. The gender pay gap is related to a lack of paid family leave, according to a study by Scripps College. Now, millennials are noticing these negative effects. Housing is extremely unaffordable, as evidenced by the rising rents in major cities, according to Global Real Estate Experts. Wages are not increasing at ideal rates. In 1968, the federal minimum wage was $1.60/hour, according to the Department of Labor. If it had increased with inflation, it would be $11.57/hour in today’s dollars, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is very different than the current federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour. If millennials, people of color and women take action and civilly revolt against the powers that be, then gentrification, unaffordable housing, starvation wages and a gender pay gap may be concepts of the past.
Overall, these legal bribes led to a decline in our standard of living. This is evidenced by gentrification, a lack of minimum wage increases, a lack of affordable housing and a gender pay gap. The only way for the working class to civilly revolt against the powers that be is for them to run for political office, which will put them at the table and on the menu. Thankfully, many of them are running for Congress, state legislatures and municipal positions. Also, organizations such as Brand New Congress, Our Revolution and Represent.Us have pledged to provide support to such candidates. Not only are these candidates of the working class, but many of them are women, millennials and people of color, which will spark young, progressive energy in our society. Through this revolution, the people of this country will gain a seat at the table and they will be on the menu. When they are on the menu, they will be considered in legislation. They will have regained their rights and representation in government. Once again, our government will be of the people, by the people, for the people. It will not be of, by and for the corporations. The many will hold the power, not the few.
