Letter to the Editor: Not All Americans Benefit from ‘Flourishing Economy’

President Trump constantly gives himself credit for a flourishing economy but the question is who are the beneficiaries? My working life was from 1955 to 1990. I had graduated from college, worked at several jobs the last one being in the Wisconsin Technical College System. Like most of my neighbors we were considered middle class, the family income was derived from one parent being employed while the other managed the home. We were able to enjoy a good life in our own home and help our children to be successful; some graduating from college without accumulating a lot of debt. Unions were effective in helping middle class workers including teachers to maintain living wages.

That is not the case today. Many families survive because both parents work, many in multiple low-paying jobs. This leaves children to fend for themselves resulting in many social problems. Pew Research shows that after adjusting for inflation the average workers wage has the same purchasing power as it did in 1978.

Inflation is outpacing wage increases. Company executives believe their sole responsibility is to stockholders and not to employees and that increases in workers wages are proof of bad management. The huge tax cut that congress gave to corporations this year made executives and stockholders much richer but helped the workforce very little. For some socialism is a dirty word but unless the average American begins to share in this country’s bounty it may become a reality.

George Krall

La Crosse, Wis.