It's not inflation. Corporations are *choosing* to raise prices while not significantly raising wages. They do this so that can pocket more for themselves. They feel more emboldened to do this when they've killed off most of their competitors and therefore leave us with less choices as both consumers and workers. That's how capitalism is designed. It's dog eat dog "competition" of capitalists at the expense of workers and consumers. It has to be regulated in order to function enough for workers to live under without them being miserable. Throughout its history it's been regulated and deregulated and so forth. Some of the capitalist ruling class want it regulated enough to keep the masses from revolting. To convince workers that capitalism works. Some have convinced themselves it does. The rest just don't care and don't have the foresight to try to regulate it. They can only see today's profit. Either way, regardless of how well it's working for the workers, the capitalist ruling class will always benefit from and uphold the system of capitalism. And that's why they work mighty hard at making us hate or be ignorant of any alternative to it.

The Pullman Strike of 1894, led by the American Railway Union, was one of the greatest strikes in American history. Workers were protesting layoffs, low wages, and the high cost of rent in company towns, and it spanned across more than half the states. It was the first time the federal government intervened and (literally) stomped out a strike by sending 10,000 federal troops, and legislation was enacted to make it harder for strikes to occur in big industries like this going forward. But because capitalists doubled down the way they did, it essentially kickstarted the modern American labor movement, which, as we know, led to historical improvements in the workforce. It directly led to Labor Day becoming a federal holiday. And Eugene Debs, who had led the strike, would go on to win nearly a million votes when running for president in prison on the Socialist Party ticket.

The top thirty percent of Americans make more than 100k a year, while the bottom 50 percent make less than 35k. 60% of that 50%, (so 30% of Americans total), make less than 25k. And the 1% makes 16 times more than the bottom 50%. We live in the richest country in the world, corporations are making record profits, and we're experiencing the biggest wealth divide in American history, and notably the biggest of any developed nation.

The guy who Bezos called “not smart, or articulate" and regarded as having no chance in successfully organizing against him is now the president of Amazon's first Labor Union. Keep that in mind when you find yourself wanting to doubt yourself or someone else in the face of seemingly overwhelming odds.