I work two jobs—mornings at a diner, nights delivering packages—and I still can’t afford to fix my kid’s broken glasses. The rent goes up every 6 months, but my paycheck? It’s stuck like gum on a shoe.
Last month, the news said Congress passed a “relief bill.” Know where that relief went? Not to folks like me who skip lunch to buy groceries. It went to big companies that already have more money than they know what to do with. They talk about “freedom” and “opportunity” on TV, but what freedom do I have when I’m scared to go to the doctor because I can’t pay the bill? What opportunity does my kid have when their school can’t even afford new textbooks?
We pay taxes, we show up to work, we vote—and still, our problems feel invisible. The government acts like we’re just numbers on a spreadsheet, not people struggling to make it to Friday. All we want is simple: a wage that keeps up with rent, healthcare that doesn’t break the bank, and leaders who actually remember who they’re supposed to represent. Is that too much to ask?
