It’s no secret that in the United States there is vast and growing income inequality. Executive income is skyrocketing while more people are entering poverty rather than exiting. The “backbone of America,” the middle class, well, the backbone is suffering from osteoporosis because of the squeeze. Some critics of American poverty will be quick to say, “but the poor in America live in great condition compared to [insert any country not in Europe or North America; many of which are going through a period of growth that the American-centric choose to ignore]. They [the impoverished] have basic shelter, food, water, and security.” But, they don’t. Most of those living in poverty rely on government assistance to meet these basic needs (which of course could be reallocated to programs such as NASA or the National Parks). Housing rates are skyrocketing while the quality of apartments and houses are falling thanks to uncaring landlords and low regulation, with little government assistance to add some salt. Food deserts exist across American cities and rural areas, where impoverished neighborhoods have little access to nutritious, affordable options. Let’s also mention that an entire city accidentally poisoned its own children because the government was unable and unwilling to provide healthy tap water (and Flint is not the only one). As far as security goes, these critics should walk through Southern Chicago or Baltimore without the safety of their press corps.

This is not solely because of politicians (on both sides of the aisle, mind you), or the economic elite, or China or Mexico. It is a combination of factors, which have all danced in a waltz to intertwine into the quagmire of American poverty today. Trickle-down economics had high hopes of raising the tide, and with it, all the boats. Unfortunately the majority of the boats had anchor lines too short. So they started to fill with water in the harbor, while massive oil tankers and freighters rose like Colossus looming over the unfortunate life rafts. Like the big ships, shareholders tend to be the prosperous. To use another metaphor, the game is great if you can pay to play.

Democracy as the Auction Block

So why would income inequality be a bad thing? So what if your boss makes more than you, don’t they deserve it? Granted, some folks do deserve their paychecks, no matter the zeroes. Who can deny a great inventor or merchant their due? What has been happening, however, is that political power in our liberal democracy has been going to the highest bidder, instead of a representation for all. This is because the highest bidders control such a large portion of the wealth that even if poorer citizens pooled their money, it would be dwarfed when compared to the donations from big givers. Politicians have to appease those who are able to give the large donations. They have to meet with them, listen to them, and hear them out. During their service, statesmen and stateswomen make sure that their policies will grant them the approval, and thus the donations, of these big donors for their next campaign. Sure, some, a la Bernie Sanders, can make an impact among the masses and fund a campaign solely on small donations, making him (if politics also follows the law of the free market) responsible to the large amounts of voters who donate (victory for representation). Then there’s Donald Trump, who also funds a campaign without the help of those big-ticket donors. Granted, he funded the campaign from his own wealth, so who does that make him answerable to?

The individual without economic power can still exercise political power with the great weapon from 1789: the vote. But your choice for office is usually refined to two individuals, sometimes three, who have gotten to that point by the help of the financially well-endowed. It isn’t that the idea of a strong republic is necessarily bad. In fact, that theory is actually very inclusive. However, some big donors with big power make the representation extractive. The needs of Goldman Sachs becomes priority before the need of the blue collar worker in Newark. Maybe it is time we return to true lower and upper houses in Congress. Imagine, the House of Representatives represents the people, and their members are forbidden from accepting donations larger than a certain amount. This way the House is directly responsible to their constituents, and not their donors.

It’s Too Expensive to be Alive

Now then, back to economics. What are the woes of the American poor? Why are they poor? No livable wages for example. Service industry companies are among the highest employers in the country, yet the wages from this field is among the lowest. This contrasts to earlier in history, when manufacturing jobs provided livable wages. In a country where we are far from full employment it is easy to fire employees asking for a higher wage. Some call to reduce the gap of low wages and high standards of living by raising the minimum wage for service employees by law. But this is a reactive strategy, and an easy way to get votes. The profit margin of the service industry is small compared to manufacturing (restaurants don’t make as much as you think they do). Raising the minimum wage will just make services more expensive. Maybe it’s time to leave the service economy. Unlikely. Rather, a lower cost of living is far more likely to give the impoverished what they need to escape poverty. The high cost of living is evident in our debt, healthcare costs, education fees, and food prices.

Few Americans live without debt. Debt can be especially hard on impoverished households who can’t save when credit cards and mortgages are due (forget about bettering yourself through education when it comes to student loans). This system of debt is part of the reason why companies must be loyal to investors rather than customers and workers, same as why politicians must be loyal to their campaign donors. Debt can be a great way to spur personal and societal growth, by going to college or expanding businesses, it has gotten to the point that few transactions are made with just straight cash. No wonder some banks are too big to fail. Also, debt makes us as a people live far above our means, raising the cost of everything else.

High debt means most of an individual’s income goes to paying off these debts, rather than saving for an emergency, most likely of which is a medical issue. A family is in a tough spot when the primary earner can’t work because of an accident. Similarly, prescription pills add up quick, even with insurance. But hey, at least we aren’t held down by the yoke of universal healthcare (Imagine the horror). There are those that say prevention is the best medicine. This is absolutely true, but when prevention generally means healthy lifestyle, i.e. diet and exercise, how do you expect a family to justify shopping at whole foods over the local supermarket, how do you expect to work out when you have to work 12 hour days and raise a family. “Just garden! Seeds are $1.29 a pack and you’ll have fresh veggies all season!” Sure, take care of that in between those 12 hour days and not having time off for two weeks straight.

Well, since in America the better paying jobs are for skilled workers, why don’t they just invest a little in themselves? Go to college, or learn a trade. It’s either that or work at the Gap or Subway. This is not so easy when, again, you are so poor you can’t even save a little bit. Let alone the mental toll education can take on a person (remember mental illness is found among the impoverished much more than the comfortable). Education is extremely important and recommended. Certain careers are in demand, and are great opportunities. Medical work and logistics are needed in the US, but going to nursing school or getting a CDL is hard when there’s bills to pay.

Bottom-Up Approach to our Economy

Obviously, attaining these basics to better yourself and get out of poverty is an uphill climb. Again, inflating the income of the poor by government assistance and minimum wage helps, but is ultimately reactive. It does not solve the cause. We need to get out of the debt economy. It is unsustainable, you can only pump so much into the financial industry before the money becomes worthless while everyone lives above their means (increasing costs everywhere). This isn’t a call to return to the gold standard, but it is a call to raise the standard of living of the working class. The government should spend more in grants for education and healthcare. Prevention is the best medicine, remember? This is not to say the government should not directly help those in need. They absolutely should when rough times arise. But the government should also promote programs, not halfheartedly in a good photo-op with little follow through, but programs that bring the working class to just that, the working class. Then, watch all that capital the government spends in welfare to be freed up and be reallocated to other programs, or maybe even lower taxes (gasp!).

On that token, we should not begin a protectionist scheme to prevent importing cheaper made goods. That would not make us competitive in an international market, make our goods more expensive, and ultimately, hurt rather than help our economy. Many groups are afraid of losing jobs overseas, but let’s not forget that the US still leads in innovation and production. Blocking external trade will only affect American manufacturing negatively.

It will be the choice of our country to properly implement the reforms necessary to bring the impoverished into economically healthy lives. This includes government providing long term proactive programs, citizens and businesses buying into less debt, and remembering that people cannot better themselves without having the means to do so. It is the time now in our history to prevent the United States from falling down a long trodden path in history of abandoning the poor while enriching the wealthy. Let’s bring our country to an era of prosperity, fulfillment, and cultural greatness.