Opinion: Capitalism in America Holds Citizens Hostage

In a country that was founded on “liberty and justice for all”, why is it that the people of the United States of America are anything but liberated?

We, as everyday citizens, are held captive by our paychecks, working for a meager amount of money just to feed ourselves and keep a roof over our head. All the while the billionaires we work to death for live luxuriously, partying in expensive yachts, taking trips on private jets, doing all these frivolous things, while depending on the working class to keep their companies afloat.

If the world is dependent on ordinary citizens to keep things moving, why is it that the people at the top treat us with so little respect?

In 2024, Amazon made $638 billion. The average Amazon warehouse worker makes a minimum of $15 an hour. According to a study by the University of Illinois Chicago, 53% of Amazon warehouse employees report food insecurity, 41% of workers report being injured while working at an Amazon warehouse, and 69% have had to take unpaid time off due to pain or exhaustion from working at the company just during the month of April 2024.

Amazon isn’t the only company at fault. Many large companies rely on the exploitation of the working class to make money.

In countries such as Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and South Africa, baby formula has two to six grams of added sugar in every portion. In countries like Europe, however, there is no added sugar. Why is this? Because Nestlé knows that if they get babies hooked on sugar, they’ve created a loyal customer who will continue to buy their high-sugar products for life. The only reason they don’t do this in Europe and other richer countries is because their legislation forbids it. These companies do not care about our health, they see us as sources of income, a resource to milk until dry.

The housing market is also affected by this for-profit economy. Nationwide, there are over 771,000 homeless people on any given night. In contrast, there are 16 million vacant homes, meaning there are about 28 vacant lots for every unhoused person. What’s preventing these people in need from obtaining shelter?

Corporate entities; buying up units, but holding them vacant to profit from real estate appreciation. These corporate landlords don’t make their money from rents, but from the fact that they treat real estate as a luxurious asset, making housing unattainable for people who need it. What’s worse is these entities have bought up a substantial amount of single-family homes, mobile homes, and apartment buildings to get more money from people who are already economically challenged. All the while they continue to increase rent, while neglecting their tenants and refusing to perform maintenance.

In so many ways we can see the harm that is being afflicted against the grassroot citizens in the name of profit for the people at the top. Why should our country’s wealth be concentrated to the richest one percent, instead of spread out against the general population? The answer is: it shouldn’t. This continuous disrespect of the working class is horrible and unethical, and the people must not sit idly and allow this to happen; we have to fight back. Give less to billionaire corporations by supporting small businesses. Consume consciously, and if you can; make, grow, sew, and build things yourself. Boycott and unionize against exploitative companies. Trade with others. Help out your community in any way you can, so that less will go to the ultra wealthy.