• The Federal Reserve’s surveys and studies on the financial stability of the American middle class revealed that nearly half of American workers could not afford a $400 emergency.
• One missed paycheck after the government shutdown, federal employees, could not pay their mortgage, buy groceries, and buy their medications. 
• The rising cost of education, healthcare, and housing has removed the stability of the average American worker. 

The Federal Reserve’s surveys and studies on the financial stability of the American middle class revealed that nearly half of American workers could not afford a $400 emergency. They would have to put unexpected expenses such as new tires, car repairs, or medical emergency on credit cards or borrow from family and friends.  Local and national media ran the Federal Reserve’s finding then the story quickly died out.

It would take the most prolonged government shutdown in history to shed light on how vulnerable the American middle-class is including those with decent government jobs and benefits.  One missed paycheck after the government shutdown, federal employees, could not pay their mortgage, buy groceries, and buy their medications. GoFundMe pages were created, local food banks prepared baskets, and utility companies postponed payments for federal employees.   That new plight of the American middle-class is a scary one.

The rising cost of education, healthcare, and housing has removed the stability of the average American worker.  Way too many Americans are living on the financial edge. That kind of financial insecurity is a threat to American democracy