Part 6/11:
As the economic environment deteriorates, public sentiment shifts. Concern for underrepresented citizens culminates in a plea for leaders to confront the facts. Those in the field have relayed alarming stories of individuals struggling under the weight of rising costs—be it gas prices, grocery bills, or rent—while the superficial metrics of a booming economy trump those lived experiences. An individual recalling the rising costs of filling a car with gas—up from about $25 to $70—captures the growing burden felt across many households.