Let’s be honest: the economy doesn’t feel good right now. Prices are high. Rent is brutal. Groceries cost more than they used to. Wages have gone up—but not nearly enough to keep up with inflation. And while jobs are technically “plentiful,” good jobs—the kind with benefits, stability, and a livable wage—are still too damn rare.

People are tired of being told things are going great when they’re still choosing between prescriptions and groceries. Tired of seeing billionaires’ portfolios skyrocket while they stress about child care, housing, and debt. Tired of headlines talking about “economic resilience” while their checking account is in the red.

And yet, here’s the hard truth: the United States is still doing better than almost every other developed country right now.

Unemployment is low. Our GDP growth has outpaced Europe’s. Inflation, while still painful, has cooled more quickly here than elsewhere. And we’ve avoided the recessions that hit other nations much harder.

That doesn’t mean things are great. It means we’ve kept the ship from sinking while still bailing water.

So What’s Going On?

The U.S. economy is full of contradictions:

• Strong corporate profits… but weak wage growth.

• Low unemployment… but high cost-of-living stress.

• Robust stock market… but record levels of credit card and medical debt.

We’ve been told for decades that if the numbers look good, the people must be doing well. That’s never been true. And it’s especially false now.

Where Do We Go From Here?

If we want an economy that works for everyone, not just the wealthiest 10%, we need structural reforms. That means:

• Fixing our broken health care system, where one emergency room visit can bankrupt a family.

• Investing in education to make college and trade schools accessible and debt-free.

• Building affordable housing, not just luxury condos and investor-owned rentals.

• Raising the minimum wage to match the realities of today’s cost of living.

• Breaking up monopolies that raise prices while killing competition.

It’s Not Just About Numbers—It’s About People

Too often, we evaluate the economy by how the wealthy are doing, or by how Wall Street feels. But real economic health is about people’s lives:

• Can you afford to see a doctor?

• Can you pay rent without skipping meals?

• Can you take a day off work without fear?

If the answer to those questions is “no,” then it doesn’t matter what the stock market is doing.

We’ve Avoided Collapse. Now Let’s Build Equity.

The U.S. avoided the worst—but survival isn’t success. It’s time we moved beyond reactive policy and started proactively building an economy that lifts everyone.

Because no one working full-time should live in poverty. Because health care shouldn’t be a luxury. Because education shouldn’t be a debt trap. Because your zip code shouldn’t decide your future.

This is still the richest country in the world. We have the resources. What we’ve lacked is the political will.

Let’s change that. Let’s stop settling for “better than collapse.” Let’s demand a future that’s better than this.

The economy may be holding together. But we can build something stronger.