CLEARLAKE>>> District 2 Supervisor Bruno Sabatier spoke for the second week in a row at the Judge’s Breakfast in Clearlake. This time he made a presentation on “The State of Politics – how we became so divided” offering his perspective of how things have changed over the last few decades and where it has left American citizens.
Since this past election has left the country in disarray, Sabatier shared his logistical reasoning for not only how this happened, but why. “Too often we use the 1950s as the hey day of America for specific people, not everybody.” Beginning by discussing the financial shift that has occurred since the 1950s, he noted that inflation has risen to 13.10 for every dollar from 1950.
Comparing some averages for what could be considered normal purchases, the average home in 1950 was $7,354, which adjusted for inflation equates to $96,337 today. The current median home value sits at $406,100, an increase of over 320 percent. The average cost of a new car was $1,500 which would be $19,650 adjusted for inflation, an increase of 144 percent.
Although the increases in costs of living were large. The mean household income only raised slightly going from $3,300 annually ($43,320 adjusted for inflation) to $84,907, a 96 percent jump. Sabatier noted that “It is hard for people to be able to continue to live when so much of money they make goes to housing.” He also noted that the federal minimum wage was set at 0.75 cents an hour, equal to $9.83 today, though the minimum wage has been stuck at $7.25, which is under that amount from the 1950s. “This is why people are frustrated and angry, that’s why there is homelessness and poverty that continues to expand because we are losing our ability to maintain our purchasing power for the things we need everyday. It’s a very Star Wars mentality where frustration leads to fear and fear leads to hatred.”
There has also been a significant social shift, with populations increasing while the largest cities and urban areas see the most growth, leaving the rural areas with less people and therefore, with less representation.
Completing his discussion on the social shift, Sabatier shared that the US aggregate income has also switched, whereas in 1950 more middle class individuals and families held more wealth than they do today.
Lastly, he spoke on the changes faced by the executive branch and election matters with Duverger’s Law and Citizens United. Citizens United was the major court case that allowed corporations to be protected as individuals. Speaking on Duverger’s Law, Sabatier noted how our main two party political systems tend to absorb any minor political parties that emerge into their party, using the Libertarian and Tea Party movements that rose and fell within their political party. He also spoke on Obama Care and the Trump Tax Reform, and how these executive decisions have overreached their constitutional duties, which have been worked around without actually appeasing the Constitution itself.
Sharing his idea of the media today, Sabatier defined the fourth branch of government, the media. According to Sabatier, over the years the media’s relationship with the White House has dwindled down to an invitation only event, which according to Sabatier “This is not the freedom of the press…”
In closing Sabatier hopes that everyone will read Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense” as he believes it is where we are all headed.
Diane Watson shares her perspective of the federal changes currently at hand stating, “In my view I can go up to a 49ers fan even though I think they suck, but I can ham it up we can have some fun. If I see a political flag or hat I will not, so that, I can’t. I will listen and I’ll try but I feel closed off from that.” She continued to explain how recent federal changes are drastically effecting large groups of communities, especially trans persons. She worries for our trans youth who already face harsh realities and struggle with their mental health. Resident Dirk Slooten also shared his perspective stating “A multi party system works better in the long run in my opinion.” He explained how polarized society has become and the downsides of that.
The Judge’s Breakfast is held every Thursday morning at 7 a.m. at the Senior Center in Clearlake. Next week’s speaker is District 1 Supervisor Helen Owen.
