Welcome to the Golder Gilded Age
They say history repeats itself, and they weren’t wrong; the early 20th century has returned.
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Laissez-faire economics and government corruption enabled big businesses to plunder the environment and the people. Profit-driven monopolies and deregulation hindered investments in technology, safety, healthcare, and public goods, stunting innovation.
One percent of the population held nearly all the wealth, while the working class endured dangerous work conditions, low wages, food shortages, environmental devastation, and harsh living standards. On behalf of the powerful elites, the government, military, and police suppressed revolts by violently coercing the public into accepting the dismal situation.
Limited job options, unlivable wages, and minimal social benefits perpetuated income inequality and class divisions. Bleak opportunities bound the public to their social class, and birth decided a person’s standing; people born into the working class remained laborers, and those born into wealth stayed wealthy.
Workers formed unions to fight for wage increases, five days a week, 8-hour days, paid leave, safety, and numerous labor rights. They were up against profit-driven business owners who didn’t care about their well-being, and our corrupted government always sided with the capitalists. Thankfully, a lot has changed since…
Labor had some wins, and FDR introduced regulations, but there isn’t a difference between the early 20th century and now. Nothing is protecting us from another financial crisis because every administration since FDR deregulated, annulling consumer and public protections.
Trains derail because they have Civil War-era brakes, and there have been a lot of Democrat and Republican leaders since 1865. It’s not a partisan issue — it’s our corrupt, plutocratic government, continually ruling in favor of a few.
Congress forced rail workers back to work, denying them paid leave, safety, raises, and rights. A few months later, a train derailed, emitting a plume of deadly fumes, destroying the environment and displacing communities. Cancer clusters will appear in the next decade, and it’s unlikely the capitalists will compensate anyone.
