Courtesy of wikipedia.org
Many Americans are standing on street corners waving anti-Trump signs, and the economy might be the reason. The Economic Policy Institute (EPI) notes that never before has so much money flowed into the hands of so few, and given the greatest political influence to those with the fattest wallets. That imbalance, says the report, is not only unfair but harmful to the country.
Well, that may be EPI’s conclusion, but other factors should be considered. True, Donald Trump’s beautiful budget will create an imbalance when implemented. Super-billionaires will enjoy a tax cut of $860 a day while plain-vanilla rich will get $165. And yes, ordinary workers will look forward to no more than an extra dollar. But, technically speaking, there will be fewer oligarchs at the top to watch.
That’s because a new class of super-billionaires has been super successful at widening tax loopholes. Their alliance with Trump has also awarded them gobs of money because neither the President nor they want to regulate the dark sides of bitcoin and cryptocurrency–places where money escapes the taxman.
Trump’s tariffs also serve another profit motive. Not levied at random, as some might think, tariffs target places like India, Australia, and the EU, using them as a cudgel to discourage foreign regulation of the tech industry. According to Melinda Louis, director of Public Citizen’s Global Trade, the strategy seems to be working. (“Method to the Madness,” by Rishab Bailey, Public CitizenNews, Nov/Dec 2025, pg. 4.)
None of this means the President has forgotten the little guy. He’s promised to send them checks worth $2000 to offset taxes they’ve paid for foreign goods. That’s fair, isn’t it? Money like that could help a couple afford a new mattress.
Of course, Trump and his cohorts have another objective for their windfall. In 2024, they spent $119 million to influence political races. Today, it’s rumored that the same amount has been set aside for the 2026 midterms in cryptocurrency alone. (Ibid. Pg. 5)
Senator Bernie Sanders worries these super-billionaires will flood the airwaves, telling the little guy what to think. Naturally, that’s possible, but would that be so bad? These super-rich guys must be smart. For the last three years, their incomes have exploded into the stratosphere. Maybe we should listen to them. Frankly, I’m impressed with the guy in the cheese hat who carries a chainsaw.
Everyone knows the working stiff is taking a beating right now. Civil servants are being fired without cause; programs that aided the poor and brought healthcare into rural areas have been decimated. AI, the darling of big tech, threatens to eliminate entry-level jobs. Companies are reducing their headcount as the economy slows.
It’s easy to look for someone to blame. But why choose the oligarchs? They’ve shown us what success looks like. Sure, they don’t pay their taxes. Sure, they are pouring dark money into politics and ravaging the job market. Yes, they are using AI to invade our privacy. But don’t forget those same folks gave us Black Friday discounts and free deliveries. Perks like those keep the little guy flashing his credit card, mindless of his debt.
People who say we need boycotts to control super-billionaires are wrong because they ignore both the benefits and the convenience these entrepreneurs provide. Americans are groomed to consume. Nobody’s going to tell us that we would serve ourselves and our country better if we shopped at local businesses of the little guys.
BOYCOTT: TESLA, AMAZON, APPLE
