How to Fix the Nation

Situation

The USA is a very rich nation —with a terrible distribution of wealth.

• T he bottom 50% have 1.3% of the household wealth.
• The top 10% have about 2/3.
• The top 1% have about 1/3.

The U.S ranks 24th in the 2025 World Happiness Report.

People in many happier nations have

• Universal health care with low co-pays and no connection to employment .
• Free or low cost higher education and free lifetime retraining.
• 5 weeks paid vacation, plus holidays and paid sick leave.
• Months of paid parental leave for the birth of a child
• Heavily subsidized, high quality child care
• More secure retirement systems
• Better unemployment and disability benefits

Background

The wealth distribution was similarly bad at the first of the 20th century. To fix the problem, the government enforced laws that protected the working class and small businesses and levied highly progressive taxes. By 1960, the wealth disparity had dropped a lot, we had a strong middle class, the American Dream was widely achievable, and the nation did amazing things.

Around 1970, enforcement of the protections was relaxed and In 1982, Reagan ended the progressive taxation. Now the distribution of wealth is as bad as ever.

Gini Coefficient of wealth distribution:

• It’s 0 if everyone has the same amount
• It’s 1 if one person has all the wealth

(Chart-ChatGPT)

The rich got richer and everyone else got left behind

(Chart – Claude)

Trump isn’t the biggest problem.

We need to fix the system that put him into office:

1) Overrule Citizens United  and overthrow the Rule of Money

Getting big money out of politics could open public office to true patriots again who would repair the government of the people, by the people, and for the people.

2) End Trickle-Down

Returning to pre-Reagan/Bush/Trump tax rates would free up vast wealth — enough to:

• Give us far better benefits
• Fully fund the needs and responsibilities of our great nation.
• Pay down the national debt and begin recovery from trickle-down.

3) Abolish the Electoral College

We need a constitutional amendment providing for election by national popular vote. A democracy should treat each citizen’s vote as equal, regardless of state.

Back to Message Congress tool

Back to We Can Sweep the Midterms

Back to “We Can Sweep the Midterms” email