Summary.
While the overall U.S. economy appears stable, a stark wealth divide is emerging. High-income earners (roughly $153,000+ annually) are driving growth, while lower-income households ($73,000 and below) face increasing financial strain.
Consumer debt delinquency is at a near 5-year high, with credit card delinquencies over 90 days reaching 11%, a post-2011 peak. Newly delinquent credit cards are at 9%, also a 2011 high.
Minimum credit card payments hit a 12-year high, while credit scores above 750 reach record highs. Shares of those with scores below 600 have started rising after years of decline.
Nonprime borrowers see default and debt levels exceeding pre-pandemic levels.
The last time minimum wage was raised was in 2009 under Obama with a Democratic congress. The last time progress was made on healthcare was again under Obama with a democratic congress.
The reason these changes weren’t more is because of Republicans and “moderate” democrats. If you want more progressive representation we either need to vote and do work for those candidates in elections including primaries or we need to create a new party that doesn’t just split the liberal/left votes allowing Republican wins.
Essentially RCV or some other form of voting than what we currently have is the best chance of seeing real change and representation.