Class struggle in American elections has become a substantive issue that all candidates have become quite aware of. It is not a new phenomenon in America but it has increasingly become a subject of hot contention. This is probably because of the 2007-2008 financial crises that led to a reduction in many people’s incomes and stagnation thereafter. In 2015 the real median income of the majority of households in America stood at $56,516, which was below that of the pre-depression crises period. However, there is nothing that has indicated class struggle as well as the 2016 American election. Experts say that this is a trend that is not about to change in the near future.
A Separation Of The Haves And Have-Nots
While it was easier to sell the American dream a few decades ago, the same can’t be said about the current situation in America. Initially, people who worked hard towards attaining their goals could curve out their piece of the pie in the American dream. However, the same seems not to be working currently.
People feel that the rich are becoming richer by the day while the poor are left to resort to their own means of survival.
This issue was carried along as a hot topic by many candidates in the 2016 election, such as Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton and most notably Donald Trump.
Americans wanted to know how they would benefit from each one’s candidacy and how equality of the classes would be restored to the nation. As a result, each candidate was awash with pledges about how they would revive the American dream. The democrats insisted that the rich would have to be taxed more in order for the money to be used in providing efficient services to the middle-class citizens. However, the republicans were of the notion that Americans were better off locking in their resources to themselves.
They insisted that in order for middle-class citizens to enjoy the country’s resources, there was a need to put in place tough regulations that restricted entry of migrants from other countries. Their whole idea was based on the notion that America’s middle- and lower-class citizens are having their jobs and opportunities stolen by migrants.
Middle- And Lower Class Constitute The Most Voters
All candidates understand that the middle- and lower class constitute the largest voting bloc. This means that in order for you to win successfully, you will have to capture the imagination of this class of voters. However, there is the slight issue of funding. Whereas the middle class constitute the largest voting bloc, the rich citizenry are the ones capable of funding the candidates’ election campaigns. This means that each party has to walk the delicate path of pleasing both classes.
Donald Trump, a well-known billionaire, probably won because of this. The middle class understands that candidates also work for the benefit of the rich who bankroll their election campaigns. However, Trump projected the image of a self-sufficient candidate who did not require any financial backing in order to carry out his campaign. He therefore won the hearts and minds of a vast majority of the middle-class segment who wanted someone who would be able to rebuke the rich without any fear of financial repercussions for his own campaign fund.
It remains to be seen whether the next election will remain to be a class struggle, or whether another issue will crop up.
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