Michael Sauers
February 25, 2025
By virtue of their wealth, a small group of people have always exercised a disproportionate amount of power. They have used this power to create systems (government, education, legal, military, etc.) that enhance their power, position and control.
It is only recently that ordinary people have, through constant struggle, emerged to challenge the wealthy. They worked in their unsafe factories, mines, quarries, mills, etc. and paid a heavy price for barely livable wages. Common men and women fought to organize labor unions and many of them were killed (Molly Maguires, Lattimer Massacre, Colorado Labor War, Ludlow Massacre). The wealthy and corporations employed private armies when they could not get government troops to do their bidding. Unions have committed some sins (James Hoffa/blind eye to community impact issues) but for every one of their sins, capitalists have committed a thousand. I am part of a union, PSEA, and I will always stand with labor.
The United States has a long history of war (The United States of War, David Vine). By and large, middle class and poor people have been used as cannon fodder for wars while the wealthy found ways to stay out of harms way. The wealthy and corporations have made huge profits through war and they still do.
The 99% have been and still are fighting for fully funded public schools, medical care for all, affordable housing, responsive government, dignified retirement, access to higher education, environmental justice, etc. The fight is against the 1%. They hold the power through unlimited financing of elections. Most elected officials are dependent on the donor class. Essentially they are bought and paid for.
The governments we see from local to federal levels are dependent on money. Trump is the tip of the spear.
The 1% seem to know no boundaries when it comes to profits. Enough is never enough. Capitalists are in love with the bottom line. Their goal is to keep the middle class in their proper place, struggling to keep up with the cost of living and totally ignorant of decisions that affect their families. The homeless, poor and working poor are footnotes in their thinking because these folks have no political power or advocates.
What can I do? Inform yourself! Vote! Resist! Boycott! Etc.! Doing nothing will get you nowhere. I feel that I have been swimming upstream my entire life. I’m proud of my efforts for justice. Self-respect and dignity cannot be purchased. Remember that.