I love this part:
For whatever reasons, the Great American Escalator, which had lifted successive generations of Americans to ever higher standards of living and levels of social well-being, broke down around then — and broke down very badly.
"For whatever reasons"?? Really?
You can start with Reagan's so-called Trickle Down economics, and go from there. Union busting. "Free trade" deals. SCOTUS decisions legalizing bribing of politicians. Non-enforcement of anti-trust laws. The ruination of the FCC Fairness Doctrine. Reduction of tax rates for the super rich. Etc.
There is no ambiguity here. And that kind of bullshit continued through the Clinton, Bush and Obama administrations, (with some bit of correction at times).
The support given by "regular" Americans to a wealthy con man like Trump, who has lived his whole life buying politicians, ripping contractors off, ripping off college students, etc etc is one of the great cons of all time.
He is not like you. He doesn't give a shit about you. He knows what you want to hear. He knows you're desperate/ignorant/hateful enough to be conned by a motto, lies, and a dog and pony show.
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Silly, stupid white people might be waking up.