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submitted 7 months ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/news@lemmy.world

A few decades ago, Leslie McIntire thought she was doing everything right for a comfortable life. She was a tax accountant in Washington, D.C., and co-owned a not-for-profit bookstore. "I had good savings," she says. "I was quite happy, quite frankly, and I was preparing to go back to school."

Then a car accident dislocated her hip and jaw, left her psychologically rattled and derailed her career.

McIntire held on in her rent-controlled apartment for a while, even after she was forced to go on disability and started burning through savings. She eventually realized she needed more help, but then had to endure a three-year wait to get into the federally subsidized senior housing where she now lives.

"And by the time I got in here, I was seriously considering going into a shelter," she says. "I paid my rent, my utilities. I had SNAP benefits for food. And I had $25 left over. And you just can't live on that in the long run."

McIntire is 69, part of the baby boomer generation that is entering older age amid a historic affordable housing shortage and rising wealth inequality in the U.S.

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[-] Cosmicomical@kbin.social 7 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

https://www.statista.com/statistics/1035521/popular-votes-republican-democratic-parties-since-1828/

Many times during the 50s, 70s and 80s republicans won by 10% or more, and this is the popular vote. They were not a random fluke.

I agree we should not be so divisive, but if what's happening is not what you want you should try to make yourself heard.

[-] LesserAbe@lemmy.world 5 points 7 months ago

You're right, people should absolutely make themselves heard, should vote and also get active. We should make systemic changes that improve everyone's lives and also disadvantage antisocial/unsustainable forces.

I think the stats you shared reinforce my point - there are many millions of people who did not vote for Reagan et al., and unlike those comments I mentioned in this thread, we shouldn't have a knee jerk reaction of, "tough luck boomer, you brought this on yourself."

[-] Cosmicomical@kbin.social 5 points 7 months ago

The humanist principle that we are all humans is too often forgotten

this post was submitted on 01 Dec 2023
120 points (99.2% liked)

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