Part 6/12:
The movement's rise is also linked to economic factors such as inflation and changing household incomes. TikTok influencers discuss how the cost of living has skyrocketed—gas, housing, healthcare—which complicates traditional family models where one income supports a household. One influencer laments that in the current economy, "how is a middle-class family supposed to survive?"
The commentary includes references to inflation rates exceeding 3%, rising food and housing costs, and the squeeze on the middle class. It's argued that these economic pressures are, in part, "orchestrated" by government and elite interests aiming to weaken the traditional middle class by forcing dual incomes and reliance on welfare systems like food stamps and Medicaid.