Robert Reich: 60% of American households can't afford a minimal quality of life. Meanwhile, the 19 richest households

[applegrove]

60% of American households can’t afford a minimal quality of life.

Meanwhile, the 19 richest households saw their wealth increase by trillion in 2024 — the biggest one-year increase ever.

Our problem isn't a lack of resources.

Our problem is ever-expanding inequality.

— Robert Reich (@rbreich.bsky.social) 2025-05-15T19:47:31.451432Z

Robert Reich:

60% of American households can’t afford a minimal quality of life.

Meanwhile, the 19 richest households saw their wealth increase by $1 trillion in 2024 — the biggest one-year increase ever.

Our problem isn't a lack of resources.

Our problem is ever-expanding inequality.

[Silent Type]

1. Think that's another reason we lost in Nov, we were forced to run on "economy is great" when it really wasn't.

trump carnival barked that he’d make economy great. Don’t doubt that cost us a percent or two in the soft trump votes, and some no shows at polls.

[Sympthsical]

3. Yep

I banged the drum about housing, groceries, and cost of living all last year. That our message needed to be about legislation to fix it.

Got a lot of, “Why you spouting right-wing talking points?! The economy’s great!” in reply.

People who think reality is whatever seems politically useful at the time genuinely worry me.

[Silent Type]

4. Have seen those replies. I asked several times have we gone from living pay check to paycheck to great economy?

Now, obviously, a Democratic economy is preferable to an austere trumpian economy. But I can see some marginally engaged folks falling for trump lies that we are all going to prosper under his economy.

[Sympthsical]

5. There was/is solid legislation in the pipe ready to be campaigned on

For example, the End Hedge Fund Control of American Homes Act has been floating around for at least two years. That is a winner from every conceivable angle. There's been almost total radio silence about it.

I would've been making that sort of thing central to my campaign. But, I guess we had to pretend?

I just didn't understand it. I've said it a million times. Your message cannot be people are not experiencing what they are experiencing. And somehow, that was the campaign strategy. Also, uh, joy.

[uponit7771]

6. 👆🏿👆🏿👆🏿THIS!!!👆🏿👆🏿👆🏿 Top line econ numbers were great but for 70% inflation was horrible and lowered...

... inflation adjusted income was 4000 lower than pre 2019

Inflation was a killer

[Skittles]

7. inflation WAS NOT BIDEN'S FAULT

and he DID work to bring it down

[uponit7771]

8. **WE** Know that but that's ...NOT.... the narrative voters heard!! The blame was ...NOT.. constantly put right on Trump

... on a daily basis day 1 to day 300.

Trump is attempting to do so with Biden and no one is giving him room cause at organic (NOT NATIONAL) level dems are holding the blame shift line.


The right put the inflation blame on Biden and because there was little to no ***MADE*** accountability to Trump day 1 it gave room for a narrative by the right to blame the new guy!

Just like they did with Obama

Instead of placing economic blame on Trump J6 became the most focused the first 300 days. That's palace intrigue to people not deep tuned, the real issues are economic.

The *""FIRST** thing I would've done on Jan 20/21 with a blame narrative is to do something outrages to keep the blame narrative front and center above anything. Then I would've prepared the American people for hyperinflation from Trumps COVID economy... Both of those weren't done as a central focus day 1 to put out MAGA narrative.

Pocket issues are 60% of US politics... period ... MAGA focused on blaming Biden like they did Obama and was able to shift blame in too many people's eyes.

[NoMoreRepugs]

2. Billionaire Boyz Club Eugenics plan seems to be proceeding as scheduled.