Part 9/14:
Beyond fiscal issues, Luke connected rising social unrest—manifested as increases in homelessness, shoplifting, and social polarization—to economic inequality. He cited data showing that wealth is increasingly concentrated among the older, asset-owning classes, while the middle and lower classes see their purchasing power eroded by inflation and stagnant wages.
He pointed out that the collapse of the middle class has historically been a precursor to political instability, recalling how in other contexts—such as the Soviet Union, Native American communities, or Argentina—the loss of social cohesion often leads to unrest and upheaval.