The present day’s top 1% subtly conceals the economic exploitation to which they subject the 99%. But, with the pandemic exposing the underbelly of capitalism, the rising cost of living, and more and more strikes occurring, workers are joining the fight — following in the footsteps of the past labor movements that gave us the five-day work week or eight-hour days.

The coronavirus pandemic stripped away illusions of meritocracy and revealed some hard truths: The government had the ability to stop evictions, postpone student loan payments and hand out $1,200 checks. While this support was due to an emergency, it showed that the government was capable of providing relief for Americans — they just never did until the country was on the brink of collapse.

As my TikTok For You page tells me, “If he wanted to, he would.” But now, as these benefits are being revoked, it hurts to know that the United States government is capable of changing millions of lives with welfare benefits but is unwilling to. It’s not us, it’s you, babe. Most Americans are facing financial difficulties.

In California, the average cost of gas is $5.93, up from $3.67 in 2019. Housing costs are the highest they have ever been, causing 54% of Generation Z to live with their parents and 47% of Gen Z to have to work multiple jobs. We are in a silent recession.

Kevin Sanford, the editor of Stansberry Research’s Stansberry NewsWire, writes, “While government statistics may present a picture of prosperity and growth, the personal experiences of ordinary citizens … tell a different story.” 

On average, Americans make $29,000 less per year today than during the Great Depression when adjusted for inflation. The proletariat is screwed over by companies who price gouge and keep wages low. But, with “Hot Labor Summer,” I have hope for the future. 

With so many strikes currently happening — the Screen Actors Guild — American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, United Automobile Workers, hospitality workers in Las Vegas, and more — the unions that have won have received great benefits for their members. After 148 days of striking, the Writers Guild of America West gained a lot of wins Sept. 26, including artificial intelligence protection and a bigger cut of revenue from streaming shows. In August, the United Parcel Service strike threat led to a new contract for 340,000 employees, with wage increases and better protections for those working in high temperatures. 

Unions work. While a union UPS employee earns $49 per hour, a non-union FedEx employee only earns $20 to $25 per hour. And the best part is, the general public has these workers’ backs. 

Currently, 71% of Americans approve of labor unions, compared to 48% in 2010. The difference between 2010 and now is the increase in social media dissemination of the struggles these workers face and the pandemic’s display of extreme inequality.

Videos under the hashtag #eattherich have 1.2 billion views on TikTok, “Parasite” (2019) won an Oscar and “Squid Game” held the No. 1 spot on Netflix for two weeks. Rising public recognition of critiques of capitalism in the cultural zeitgeist indicates growing dissatisfaction among the working class.

There was a period of time when influencers “flexed on” their audience with pictures of blue-ass water (for all my Cody Ko fans out there), private jets and designer clothes, but people are tired. As one X, formerly known as Twitter, user stated in response to a video Jennifer Lopez posted, “We all hate you.” While not the nicest way to say it, that X user captured our collective exhaustion of celebrity culture.

In a world of ever-worsening financial hardship and lack of community, a lot of people are just looking for down-to-earth authenticity, something money can’t buy. Social media exposes the wasteful lives of the ultrawealthy and the exploitation the general public faces from big corporations. 

I’m not saying that class consciousness is as popular as Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift’s situationship, but the income inequality we face at the hands of out-of-touch billionaires is becoming clearer every day. All we need is a drop in the bucket to start a greater movement where all workers can demand higher wages and better working conditions, as strike signs across the country say, “UNITED we bargain – divided we beg.”