Pt. 4) Broken Bridges, Broken Dreams
Like a fractured mirror reflecting distorted images, the partisan chasm in Congress distorts the ideals of unity, progress, and opportunity. As legislators retreat into their ideological echo chambers, gridlock replaces governance, and the machinery of democracy grinds to a halt. The 118th Congress symbolically and realistically resemble a divided house, where discord reigns supreme and the common good takes a backseat to partisan gain.
““Even comparing against other periods of divided government, 2023 was definitely not a high water mark for Congress’ productivity,” ”
In the 1980s, the seeds of division were sown, as ideological fault lines deepened and partisanship took root. With the rise of Reaganomics: or trickle down economy, the Republican Party embraced a conservative agenda that prioritized tax cuts, deregulation, and free-market principles. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party grappled with its own internal divisions, as centrist and liberal factions clashed over issues such as welfare reform and foreign policy.
As the years passed, the partisan divide in Congress became more entrenched, fueled by gerrymandering, polarizing media, and the influence of special interests. Like two ships sailing in opposite directions, Democrats and Republicans drifted further apart, their once-shared vision of the American Dream fading into distant memory.
The consequences of this partisan divide are profound, extending far beyond the halls of Congress to impact the lives of everyday Americans. From healthcare and education to immigration and infrastructure, vital issues languish in legislative limbo, while partisan bickering and political posturing take precedence.
This crack in cooperation leaves any real effort to improve the nation at peril; even the American Dream itself becoming a casualty of congressional dysfunction. Once a beacon of opportunity and upward mobility, the American Dream now feels like a distant mirage, out of reach for many who struggle to make ends meet in an increasingly polarized society.
In the 1980s, the middle class was characterized by stable employment, homeownership, and upward mobility, embodying the quintessential American Dream of opportunity and prosperity. However, over the past few decades, corporations and specifically public corporations have scaled back their moral responsibility to society by reducing investments into their stakeholders and focusing more on their greedy desire to enrich shareholders.
This major change has seen the erosion of economic stability for the middle class. The rise of globalization and technological advancements has led to the outsourcing of manufacturing jobs, automation of labor, and a shift towards a service-based economy. This has resulted in stagnant wages, job insecurity, and a widening wealth gap between the middle class and the wealthy elite. Additionally, the 2008 financial crisis dealt a severe blow to the middle class, and more specifically the millennial generation, leading to widespread job losses, home foreclosures, and a decline in household wealth.
Furthermore, corporate price gouging post the 2020 global pandemic has seen the rising cost of essential goods, such as food, healthcare, education, and housing, which has put increased financial strain on families. Skyrocketing tuition fees have made higher education less accessible, while soaring healthcare costs have left many families struggling to afford medical care. The dream of homeownership, once a cornerstone of the American Dream, has become increasingly elusive for many Americans, particularly in expensive urban areas where housing prices have skyrocketed.
The corporate owned news has often pointed fingers at inflation as the primary culprit behind the rising costs affecting consumers. However, recent data unveils a more nuanced reality, revealing that corporate greed and profiteering play a significant role in driving up prices. From price gouging to monopolistic practices, certain sectors prioritize maximizing profits over ensuring affordability and fairness. Addressing corporate greed and implementing measures to hold corporations accountable are crucial steps our government needs to take to reverse the rampant shareholder capitalism that is driving wealth inequality and incentivize stakeholder capitalism to promote a better and greener long-term solution.
This bridge between where Americas were in the 1980s and were we are now is broken. For the first time in US history a 30 year old is no longer doing as well as their parents did at the same age. This fundamental breakdown in the societal contract can be traced to the limited options the two-party system has provided for leadership. It is time to move past the past, and build our own independent bridge.
