America gets its first trillionaire as people starve, while Trump hawks meds to suppress appetite. And as affordability becomes the new bipartisan goal, does that secretly play into oligarchs' hands?
42 million people who may go to bed hungry is simply not acceptable for the richest country in the world. We can solve this in two ways:
1) rather dramatically, raise the pay scale of those at the bottom of the income distribution. Two problems with this one. First, dreaded inflation will creep up. Secondly, as workers cost more, business owners will be more likely to automate, substituting machines for people.
2) change the income tax distribution to place a far larger burden on the super Rich, while concurrently lowering the rates for anyone outside the top 10% of income.
Affordability is not the problem. The problem is the way that we, as a society, elect to distribute the rewards of our work. It’s simple and it needs to change.
Ahh... Well, I wouldn't want to see universal income as a panacea. But, relevant to Anand's post today, basic needs being met does elevate a society in a very pragmatic way. If universal income would do that -- it's a potentially liberating step. I need to dig deeper into the economics. Would love to hear others' insights.
Anand, bless your heart for being so wise and so tender-hearted. Everything you said is exactly right. Everything. Thank you for sharing your wisdom with us.
I think about your book all the time. Remember when you said billionaires shouldn't exist? How are we at the point where a TRILLIONAIRE is celebrated? The connection between a drug to suppress your appetite being cheap but food not being available is...startling. Waiting for the re-release of Soylent Green.
Well seen and well said! Let the struggle continue, so that we all might have a chance at, not only life and liberty, but the pursuit of happiness. As more and more people enter the ranks of the have nots – rendered unseen by the haves’ private jets, limos, gated communities and personal services, we might finally see that we are all in it together. In the richest nation in the history of the world “just getting by” is an obscenity -- not even the first rung on the ladder. A course correction on the scale of the 1960s War On Poverty is needed at a minimum – massive re-consideration of how rights, resources and wealth are distributed.
Wealthy authoritarians plundering the Treasury & exploding the national debt for the benefit of the Great Gatsby/Epstein class with cruelty & chaos for the rest of us...Trump's idea of “affordability.
Trump’s “Gatsby” Party while making needy Americans go hungry & JD threatens to "make the suffering a lot worse”
Your comments remind me of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs (now evolved into Kaufman's sailboat analogy). I so agree. Government and laws can be -- and need to be -- about helping everyone to thrive. In the end, that's what's best for everyone, even the (yikes) trillionaires.
Survival and safety needs come first, of course, but when we're focused there, we're not free to get curious, explore, or even just relax and look around. What has made us (and other societies) "great" in the past is hitting those top tiers of Maslow's pyramid/Kaufman's sail, where dignity, respect, achievement, creation, and exploration are easier for everyone.
Especially ominous to me is that the daily struggles of We the People don’t appear to factor into MAGA calculations.
Even in a hobbled democracy or illiberal state (vs. a ruthless dictatorship - we’re not there yet), politicians have a whiff of interest in accountability to their constituents for political survival. Where is that now among any MAGA politicians?
One possible explanation is Trump-MAGA are setting up conditions of hardship for all but themselves in order to provoke violence, suspend elections and complete the coup.
Whether or not that or something else is the plan, they do not intend to recognize 2026 election results that remove them from power.
(Interestingly, rfk jr had the opposite to say about let them eat ozempic.) Bottom line is that unrestrained capitalism is a fail in so many ways. It has led to a modern day capitalist version of the feudal system. Back in the day there were corporate defined benefit plans that went away and were replaced by 401ks and roths and iras. I squirreled away as much as was feasible in such. As a single retiree I depend on the income my “portfolio” now generates. Which makes me a capitalist because I live off (rely on) every penny of interest, dividends, and asset sales. I am forced to participate in this system. The stock market, et al. And then I myself indirectly/involuntarily participate in a system of corporate greed that profits from SNAP, the ACA, etc. as livable wages or healthcare or decent health care mess with the bottom line. It’s all interwoven. This system hits me in the face every time I tip, and these days even the cashier would like a tip. I am directly subsidizing a businesses’ unwillingness to pay a living wage. Or, paying a living wage with humane benefits would make my (fictional)cup of coffee more expensive so the tip goes to that, too. Complex but I believe “cozy capitalism” a la the Nordic model is the humane solution.
What happened to Opportunity, Responsibility and Caring in such a rich country? For a country to be successful, it should take care of the vulnerable populations while creating opportunity and quality education for all. Let us reclaim the ideals of FDR, Kennedy and Johnson and build a better country for all.
42 million people who may go to bed hungry is simply not acceptable for the richest country in the world. We can solve this in two ways:
1) rather dramatically, raise the pay scale of those at the bottom of the income distribution. Two problems with this one. First, dreaded inflation will creep up. Secondly, as workers cost more, business owners will be more likely to automate, substituting machines for people.
2) change the income tax distribution to place a far larger burden on the super Rich, while concurrently lowering the rates for anyone outside the top 10% of income.
Affordability is not the problem. The problem is the way that we, as a society, elect to distribute the rewards of our work. It’s simple and it needs to change.
I'm wondering if we could discuss universal income as part of the solution? Might that might be an addendum to option two?
Most certainly, yes. People forget that hard right wing economist Milton Friedman was in favor of a guaranteed income.
Right! And Nixon was behind it until he was given falsified research showing it was detrimental.
I really hate to say it, but Elon Musk also favors the idea.
Ahh... Well, I wouldn't want to see universal income as a panacea. But, relevant to Anand's post today, basic needs being met does elevate a society in a very pragmatic way. If universal income would do that -- it's a potentially liberating step. I need to dig deeper into the economics. Would love to hear others' insights.
Universal healthcare would help. Insurance industry is getting rich off our system.
Anand, bless your heart for being so wise and so tender-hearted. Everything you said is exactly right. Everything. Thank you for sharing your wisdom with us.
I think about your book all the time. Remember when you said billionaires shouldn't exist? How are we at the point where a TRILLIONAIRE is celebrated? The connection between a drug to suppress your appetite being cheap but food not being available is...startling. Waiting for the re-release of Soylent Green.
In the richest country in the world….. everyone should be thriving
Insightful and poetic as always, Anand🙏
Well seen and well said! Let the struggle continue, so that we all might have a chance at, not only life and liberty, but the pursuit of happiness. As more and more people enter the ranks of the have nots – rendered unseen by the haves’ private jets, limos, gated communities and personal services, we might finally see that we are all in it together. In the richest nation in the history of the world “just getting by” is an obscenity -- not even the first rung on the ladder. A course correction on the scale of the 1960s War On Poverty is needed at a minimum – massive re-consideration of how rights, resources and wealth are distributed.
Wealthy authoritarians plundering the Treasury & exploding the national debt for the benefit of the Great Gatsby/Epstein class with cruelty & chaos for the rest of us...Trump's idea of “affordability.
Trump’s “Gatsby” Party while making needy Americans go hungry & JD threatens to "make the suffering a lot worse”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UD3PbQeYEDA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-Iu6qGz-1s
Get up stand up & resist the fraudster authoritarians. Vote Blue!
Your comments remind me of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs (now evolved into Kaufman's sailboat analogy). I so agree. Government and laws can be -- and need to be -- about helping everyone to thrive. In the end, that's what's best for everyone, even the (yikes) trillionaires.
Survival and safety needs come first, of course, but when we're focused there, we're not free to get curious, explore, or even just relax and look around. What has made us (and other societies) "great" in the past is hitting those top tiers of Maslow's pyramid/Kaufman's sail, where dignity, respect, achievement, creation, and exploration are easier for everyone.
Especially ominous to me is that the daily struggles of We the People don’t appear to factor into MAGA calculations.
Even in a hobbled democracy or illiberal state (vs. a ruthless dictatorship - we’re not there yet), politicians have a whiff of interest in accountability to their constituents for political survival. Where is that now among any MAGA politicians?
One possible explanation is Trump-MAGA are setting up conditions of hardship for all but themselves in order to provoke violence, suspend elections and complete the coup.
Whether or not that or something else is the plan, they do not intend to recognize 2026 election results that remove them from power.
Exactly.
(Interestingly, rfk jr had the opposite to say about let them eat ozempic.) Bottom line is that unrestrained capitalism is a fail in so many ways. It has led to a modern day capitalist version of the feudal system. Back in the day there were corporate defined benefit plans that went away and were replaced by 401ks and roths and iras. I squirreled away as much as was feasible in such. As a single retiree I depend on the income my “portfolio” now generates. Which makes me a capitalist because I live off (rely on) every penny of interest, dividends, and asset sales. I am forced to participate in this system. The stock market, et al. And then I myself indirectly/involuntarily participate in a system of corporate greed that profits from SNAP, the ACA, etc. as livable wages or healthcare or decent health care mess with the bottom line. It’s all interwoven. This system hits me in the face every time I tip, and these days even the cashier would like a tip. I am directly subsidizing a businesses’ unwillingness to pay a living wage. Or, paying a living wage with humane benefits would make my (fictional)cup of coffee more expensive so the tip goes to that, too. Complex but I believe “cozy capitalism” a la the Nordic model is the humane solution.
I believe this is one of the best essays I've ever read.
This one hit me profoundly. Thankyou for so eloquently articulating what we all need to hear. Now we need to collectively make change.
You are gifted, Anand, and thank you for sharing that gift.
As you said, Eating and Surviving should be the beginning level, or as European people/countries think of it, NORMAL!
What happened to Opportunity, Responsibility and Caring in such a rich country? For a country to be successful, it should take care of the vulnerable populations while creating opportunity and quality education for all. Let us reclaim the ideals of FDR, Kennedy and Johnson and build a better country for all.
I look forward to your writing. It’s always to the point and beautifully said. Thanks, Anand.