The top versus the bottom
9 March 2026
The real fight in this country is not left versus right, it’s top versus bottom, James Talarico, March 3, 2026
I thought Matt Kerbel wrote a thoughtful essay and recommend reading it, especially his discussion of the widening divide between the super wealthy and the rest of us.
In my view, and in the view of many others, this growing wealth gap has contributed to many of the problems we face today, including the rise of Trump. These problems will be difficult to solve unless the divide begins to narrow.
One way to address this is through elections by supporting candidates who are more likely to pursue policies that reduce inequality. But we can also make a difference through our own daily choices. Each time you support a small business instead of a mega corporation, you push back, even in a small way, against the concentration of wealth and power. You do not have to change everything; starting with one or two small steps can matter.
For example:
Shop at a local grocery store instead of a national chain
Avoid chain restaurants for one week
Use cash instead of a credit card for some small purchases
Small decisions, repeated by many people, can gradually shift economic power back toward the public and away from the super wealthy.
My political blog focuses on what you can or should do to make the world a better place and yourself a better person. I have another blog on Cancer and Medicine.
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The index to my political essays since 5 November 2024 is here.
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