Showman
Warren criticizes, “In 2016, into this tangle of worry and anger, came a showman who made big promises. A man who swore he would drain the swamp, then surrounded himself with the lobbyists and billionaires who ran the swamp and feed off the government favors. A man who talked the talk of populism but offered the very worst of trickle-down economics. A man who said he knew how the corrupt System worked because he had worked it for himself many times. A man who vowed to make America great again and followed up with attacks on immigrants, minorities, and women."
Warren is overtly referring to President Donald Trump. She does not endorse his approach to administration and his policies because she feels that they are detrimental to the middle class and all Americans. She argues that Trump’s dishonest is favorable to billionaires and not the struggling working Americans. According to Warren Trump’s approach to economics has imperiled ordinary Americans.
The Effect of Minimum Wage on Warren’s Family
Warren writes, “So when Senator Alexander said there would be no minimum wage if it were up to him, I thought about how much that job had meant to Mother and Daddy and me. My mother’s minimum-wage did not only saved our house-it saved our family. No, it didn’t make our lives perfect. It took years to work off the medical bills from my father’s heart attack. My mother worked and reworked the grocery list to squeeze out every last nickel. The carpet in the living room got worn through to the bare floor.”
Warren draws on her personal experiences to appeal to the readers. She underscores that minimum-wage is very significant for families in America that is why it should be raised. Her personal experience amplifies her credibility as an advocate for increased minimum wage. A higher minimum wage would guarantee that working class people can survive comfortably without relying on government aid.
“Citadel Party”
Warren explains, "It's gotten so good that even lavish Wall Street parties have ratcheted up. Citadel, a major hedge fund, had a good 2015. It celebrated with a party featuring Katy Perry (for a rumored $500,000) and another starring Maroon 5 (also $500,000 or so-) along with-my favorite touch-violinists suspended from the ceiling by cables…If a billionaire wants to pay them an army of violinists a fortune ,they should take all the money. But good grief, a party where just the entertainment costs as much as it would take to feed a family of four for half a century?"
Citadel’s expenditure gives an impression of a good economy where a corporate generates sufficient profits some of which are incurred on entertainment. However, the wealthy corporate’s lavish expenditures do not mirror the accurate financial situation of the middle class. Working class individuals would not afford to pay for entertainment from celebrities. The American economy is two-sided: one is thriving and the other is suffering under poverty.
“The no-so-smiley-face facts about the American economy”
Warren reports, “Nearly one in four Americans can’t pay their bills on time. Nearly half of Americans would not be able to cover an unexpected expense of $400.A lower proportion of Americans own their homes than at any time in the past half century-63.5 percent. Nearly one-third of the country’s adult population-76 million Americans-describe themselves as either “Struggling to get by” or “just getting by.”
Warren appeals to Logos by citing statistics that affirm the reality of poverty in America. Statistics describing the American economy paint an impressive picture, but in reality millions of Americans are facing the threat of poverty. The dire situations of millions of households confirm that macroeconomic evaluations are not accurate indicators of the working class' realities. The statistics may indicate a booming economy, but the working class is not enjoying the benefits of the boom in real life.
