For more than a generation, the middle class of this country has not seen any significant improvement in their financial situation. In fact, when you factor in inflation, the majority of the country has actually seen a decline in their economic status over the past 25 years. The wealthiest 5 percent of America has basically garnered nearly all the gains we have seen in economic growth over the last few decades. Many in New York City, Washington, DC and small enclaves around the country have done very very well, while the rest of America is either stagnant or in decline. As we reflect on Nelson Mandela’s passing it is time to ask if we have our own version of apartheid here – not by race, but by economic status.

And all the above has occurred as the presidency and Congress has been lead by both political parties and ideologies including conservatives and liberals. Young Americans have put their hopes in presidents of both political parties who said they were going to change Washington DC and bring a new kind of politics, and have come away very disappointed and frustrated. Recently polling shows these young Americans (along with other citizens) have gone from overwhelmingly supporting President Obama to now incredibly upset about another politician who said one thing and did another. And the economics and dreams of their own life has been set back once again.