An economy that works for everyone is not a fantasy – it’s a choice

Economic Inequality & Policy Critique - From 1979 to 2019, US worker productivity grew by 59.7%, while wages only increased by 13.7%, creating a 46% gap in potential earnings [2][3] - The top 1% saw a 160% income increase, and the top 0.1% experienced a 3605% income increase over the same period [4] - The middle class share of total US household income dropped from 62% in 1970 to 43% in 2022, while the upper-income share rose from 29% to 48% [5] - Trade deals like NAFTA displaced approximately 683,000 US jobs, primarily in manufacturing [6] - Displaced workers often experienced an average annual pay decrease of $7,900 when forced into lower-wage work [7] Proposed Policy Solutions - Advocate for universal healthcare to reduce economic insecurity tied to jobs, noting countries with universal systems spend 30-50% less per person with better health outcomes [11] - Support universal and subsidized childcare, citing Quebec's model which increased female labor force participation and generated new tax revenues [12] - Propose a national affordable housing infrastructure plan with zoning reform and anti-speculation measures, noting investors account for 30% of single-family home purchases [13][14] - Recommend investing in resilient clean energy infrastructure to create union jobs and reduce vulnerability to climate shocks [15] - Suggest implementing a national carbon price and reinvesting revenues into transition assistance for workers in fossil fuel industries [16]