The Economy Is Doing Fine, But Only for the 1%

Ever get that feeling that no matter how much the news celebrates "economic growth," your wallet stays just as empty? You’re not imagining things. This is modern capitalism at work. Welcome to the economy of illusions, where macroeconomic indicators paint a picture that only exists for the privileged few. 1. "GDP Is Up!" (Does That Pay My Rent?) Yes, Gross Domestic Product is rising. Stock markets are hitting record highs. Think tanks insist "the recession was avoided." But here’s the catch: GDP measures economic activity, not your well-being. If Jeff Bezos makes $10 billion in a day, GDP cheers. If your rent goes up $200 this month, GDP doesn’t even blink. The reality: Economic growth no longer means shared prosperity. It’s like a pie that keeps getting bigger… but only a few people keep getting larger slices. 2. Wages vs. Productivity: The Great Silent Heist Here’s the chart that should make you furious: 📈 Worker productivity (since 1979): +62% 💸 Average wages (inflation-adjusted): +17% Where did the rest of the money go? Into CEOs’ pockets (whose pay skyrocketed 1,460% in the same period). Into stock buybacks (companies spent $1.25 trillion in 2023 to inflate their own shares). Into rent-seeking, monopolies, and financial capitalism (where money makes money without producing anything real). Translation: You work harder, produce more, but your paycheck is still stuck in the ‘90s. 3. "Inflation Is Down!" (But Only for the Rich) Headlines scream: "Inflation drops to 3%!" Now check your bills: 🍞 Bread: +100% 🏠 Rent: +25% ⚡ Utilities: +30% Meanwhile: Luxury watches: Prices dropped 5% (because the rich can wait). Used yachts: "On sale" (too many on the market). The truth: Official inflation doesn’t measure what you buy. It measures what Wall Street wants you to believe. 4. "You Just Need to Work Harder" (The Biggest Lie of All) The mantra of modern capitalism: "If you’re not thriving, it’s your fault." But the data tells a different story: Millennials earn 20% less (inflation-adjusted) than their parents did at the same age. 60% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, even with low unemployment. The problem isn’t your work ethic. The problem is a system that extracts value from labor and funnels it to shareholders. 5. Are We Doomed? No. But We Need to Wake Up. This isn’t about socialism. This isn’t about "hating the rich." It’s about demanding that growth actually benefits the majority. Solutions? ✅ Strong unions (unionized workers earn 20% more). ✅ Real progressive taxation (like in the 1950s, when the top 1% paid 90% rates). ✅ Breaking up monopolies (Amazon and Walmart gutted local economies). Conclusion: The Economy Isn’t Boring. It’s About Power. Stop thinking about the economy as some distant, academic concept. The economy is: Why your rent goes up every year. Why your paycheck doesn’t stretch further, no matter how hard you work. Why politicians talk about "growth" but never about who actually benefits. Next time someone says "the economy is doing great," ask: Great for whom?