'Middle-class massacre' by Vincent

In the post-World War II era, Americans thrived in every sense of the word.  Incomes grew exponentially, jobs were plentiful and stable, and the American people shared a deep love for the homeland.  People could afford to buy homes, send their kids to college, and even take their families on vacation.  This was a boon time as America’s post war economic revolution began to kick into high gear.
 
Fast forward to present day and what do the American people have?  Unless you’ve been living under a rock, allow me to enlighten you regarding the toxic spread of globalization and mass migration.  The grand illusion sold to the American people by politicians was that free trade agreements and mass migration would create jobs and boost America’s economic output to record-breaking levels. 
Spoiler alert: that never happened. 
 
Between 1996 and 2010, over five million American manufacturing jobs completely vanished thanks to NAFTA.  American jobs were sent overseas for cheaper labor and lax regulations, while workers in cities and towns across America were left to fend for themselves. Industrialized cities turned into economic ghost towns almost overnight.  According to the Economic Policy Institute, between 1979 and 2019, the share of income going to the top 1% doubled, while America’s middle-class took a massive nosedive.  It seems politicians failed to acknowledge the slow insidious death grip that free trade and mass migration placed on the backbone of America’s economy; its middle-class. 
 
Enter Donald Trump and his “America first” policies.  Now before you roll your eyes, America first was not just a catchy political slogan, it’s a real time, living, breathing movement that challenges the status quo on behalf of the ever shrinking middle-class.  Trump and his brilliant team fully understand that the road to recovery lies in adopting policies that prioritize American workers over foreign competition and offshoring operations.
 
There are many nuances to the administrations America first policy, but none more impactful than the use of tariffs.  The implementation of tariffs is often misunderstood or intentionally mischaracterized by the left and the mainstream media.  Tariffs are a strategic tool aimed at leveling the playing field for American workers and America’s national security. 
 
When you impose tariffs on countries that are stealing American jobs with cheap labor, you send a clear message that the American worker comes first.  This forces companies to manufacture their goods in America, creating hundreds of thousands of jobs that are desperately needed, especially with AI looming on the horizon.  Thus far, Trump has secured nearly 18 trillion in new investment during his second term in just under a year; the largest in American history, due to his tariff policy.
 
However, let’s not bask in the glory just yet, tariffs are just part of the equation.  The Trump administration is attempting to renegotiate trade deals with all countries, but most notably China.  According to the Brookings Institute, America’s manufacturing sector decline correlates directly with the rise of free trade agreements with the communist regime.  With the Trump administrations tariff policy America is now running a fiscal surplus for the first time in decades.   
 
Tariffs on countries that take advantage of America are just the first piece of the puzzle.  The Trump administration introduced and passed sizable tax cuts aimed at providing relief to middle class families.  The “Big Beautiful Bill” will allow middle-class earners to keep more of what they earn; and empower them to spend it as they see fit.  This leads to increased consumption, which in turn fuels economic growth.  The full impact will begin to be felt in the early part of 2026, as taxpayers begin to file their tax returns.  
 
The good news is that most families will see a decrease in their tax burden, allowing them more disposable income.  Whether it’s for education, taking a well-deserved vacation, or simply paying down debt, this positive financial impact will make a substantial difference in the lives of America’s families.  This will provide them with some well-earned breathing room heading into the future. 
 
Going forward, it’s vital we constantly monitor the state of affairs of America’s middle-class; this is key to America’s financial future.  Regardless of political affiliation, we can all agree that a stronger middle-class leads to a healthier economy all around.  Every new job that is created strengthens American families and our industrial base. 
 
It’s incredibly important to continue to advocate for policies that reflect the needs of everyday Americans.  Tariffs, tax cuts, deregulation, and strong border policies are the silver bullets to the globalist assault on the working people of United States of America.