Bernie Explains Why Working Class Is Dying Younger

Senator Bernie Sanders has highlighted a harrowing reality: working-class Americans are dying significantly younger than their wealthier counterparts. Sharing poignant stories from individuals across the nation, Sanders made a compelling case that financial stress is not just a burden but a potential death sentence for millions.

Bernie’s Warning

On March 7, during an event at UW-Parkside in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Sanders addressed a packed crowd, conveying the urgent need for systemic changes in how American society supports its most vulnerable citizens. Citing the overwhelming response he received when he asked Americans to share their financial struggles, he remarked, “The response was overwhelming, heartbreaking, and infuriating.” Sanders underscored that life expectancy disparities are not just statistics; they represent a grim reality for many families. He pointed to a recent report he released as the ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, which states that “the bottom 50 percent of Americans can expect to live seven fewer years than those in the top 1 percent.” The senator further emphasized that this gap widens even more in certain areas, with shocking differences drawn between affluent suburbs and impoverished rural communities.

Bernie’s Example

Using McDowell County, West Virginia, as a stark example, Sanders revealed that residents in this community, where the median household income is a mere $27,682, have an average life expectancy of just 69 years. In contrast, a wealthier region, just 350 miles away in Loudoun County, Virginia, boasts a life expectancy of 84 years — underscoring the direct correlation between financial well-being and health outcomes. “Living paycheck to paycheck while supporting a family stresses me out. We are always just one financial emergency from being homeless,” shared a man named Patrick from Missouri. Taryn from Alabama recounted the extent of her financial troubles, revealing that she pays $400 for her children’s asthma medication, which only deepens her anxiety over mounting medical bills and basic living costs.

Struggling Americans

In making his case for robust social safety nets, Sanders cited that more than 20 percent of American seniors struggle to survive on an annual income of $15,000 or less. He decried that “if Social Security goes away, we will not be able to live,” as reported by Susan from Michigan, who is nearing retirement with a disabled husband reliant on limited benefits. Sanders’ argument extends to the United States’ overall healthcare system, where he insists that financial struggles often lead to medical crises: “If you get sick, and end up with a $20,000 hospital bill, will you go bankrupt? Or will bill collectors hound you every day?” he asked rhetorically. This sentiment echoes a broader national concern, as the U.S. suffers from lower life expectancy compared to other wealthy nations — despite a healthcare expenditure that surpasses theirs.

‘Healthcare is a Human Right’

Highlighting the disparities, Sanders called for actionable reforms and stated, “Healthcare is a human right, not a privilege.” He pointed out that initiatives like Medicare for All could save as many as 68,000 lives annually, effectively easing the stress that weighs heavily on working-class families. He advocated for a minimum wage increase to at least $17 an hour, arguing that “we cannot tolerate millions of workers being unable to feed their families because they work for totally inadequate wages.” Sanders urged the adoption of comprehensive family and medical leave policies, positive expansions to Social Security and unencumbered access to quality education from early childhood through higher education. “It is not acceptable that today Americans who only have a high school diploma will likely live 8.5 fewer years than someone with a college degree,” he noted, stressing that this gap has tripled over the past three decades.

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