No, this isn’t about all the rapidly changing dynamics of the presidential race.
My question is what has happened to the traditional Democratic Party platform? For decades Democrats have focused on poverty, the blue-collar middle class, the hungry and those needing health care to just get by. But in this election cycle we’ve heard precious little about these issues. Instead, Democrats have hammered almost incessantly on defeating Donald Trump. No doubt that is important, but we haven’t heard what Democrats plan to do if they win. Why is that?
“We dropped the ball,” Jim Clyburn, the venerable South Carolina congressman said in response to the question. In order to beat Trump Democrats are going to need a solid coalition, including young voters, those of color, the blue-collar middle income working folks, labor, urban dwellers and well-educated voters. When they coalesced and voted they have helped Democrats win elections, but recent polling indicates fractures in this coalition. Maybe it’s because the issues important to them are not being talked about much.
Let’s talk about some of them, beginning with poverty. The Rev. William Barber, in his newest book, “White Poverty,” sheds some surprising light on the poor. Barber states there are some 40 million Americans (11.6%) who live in poverty. Here’s the shocker: there are twice as many poor white people as there are poor Black people. Incidentally, if the poor united and voted they would be the largest bloc of voters in the country.
In 2024, a person earning less than $15,000 or a family of four earning less than $31,200 are considered poor, according to Census Bureau data. Regardless of what you’ve been told, the majority of those in poverty are not freeloaders but are the working poor. Many earn the minimum wage — both the North Carolina and federal minimum wage is $7.25 and has been since July 2009.
When that minimum wage was set in 2009, the cost of a loaf of bread was $1.37, a gallon of gas was $1.84, a dozen eggs were $1.66, and a McDonalds hamburger was 77 cents. You know what has happened since then.
A person working 40 hours a week at minimum wage earns $1,256 a month. Today’s average food bill is $303 per month per person or $3,630 per year, according to the NC Justice Center. Social Finance reports the median two-bedroom apartment rent in our state is $973 per month, if you can find one. Food and shelter alone account for $1,276 per month. The math doesn’t work and these numbers don’t include costs of transportation, health care or any other monthly expenses.
It’s helps explain why 11.8% of our North Carolina population experiences food insecurity at least once a month. That’s 1 in 5 children and 1 in 8 adults — the 10th highest rate in the nation. It also explains why we have such a large homeless problem in our state.
Dr. Mary Haskett, co-chair of the NC State Steering Committee on Student food and Housing Security, likens homelessness to a game of musical chairs, with affordable housing as the chairs.
“The supply of affordable housing and rent that working folks can afford on the low minimum wage in NC and the rising cost of living is dwindling rapidly. So, when everyone scrambles for the few affordable housing options available, many will be left without a home.”
Parents with children get an extra dose of pain. Childcare costs for working parents in North Carolina are $9,255 per year for an infant and $7,592 for four-year old’s according to WalletHub.
Since 1979, pay increases in the top 1% of wage earners has increased by 138 percent. Wages in the bottom 90% have grown by only 15 percent. Between 1970 and 2020 those in the middle class decreased from 62% to 42%, according to Pew Research. Upper income people rose from 29% to 50%.
In her first speech as the presumptive presidential nominee, Kamala Harris mentioned some of these issues and indicated her campaign would focus on strengthening the middle class. We hope it becomes the central theme of her candidacy.
MAGA Republicans, most of whom claim to be Christians, aren’t interested in either the issues or those affected. Perhaps they (and we) need to be reminded of Jesus’ words in Matthew 25: “for I was hungry and you gave me food. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me. I was naked and you gave me clothing. I was sick and you took care of me. I was in prison and you visited me.” (New Revised Standard Version of the Bible.)
The moral imperative for Democrats (and all of us) is to respond to the needs of those who are hungry, homeless, poor and hopeless. There cannot be “liberty and justice for all” until we do.
Tom Campbell is a Hall of Fame North Carolina broadcaster and columnist who has covered North Carolina public policy issues since 1965.
Contact him at tomcamp@carolinabroadcasting.com.
