Simple simple answer - class struggle

It's foundational by the loud silence. Occasionally you get a figure that makes a career of talking about it. Some, like Hedges, Moore, Sacco, Taibbi have been reporting on this issue for the last few decades. Most have been controversial like Sinclair Lewis, Dickens, Jack London, Daumier, Kley

Found this conversation between Hedges and LeDuff. Fascinating listening to these two old Times Reporters.

The deindustrialization of AmeriKa

What has politics ever been but class struggle?

I tend to blame widespread, societal greed and a really good example of how politicians have, basically, standardized, legalized and otherwise, colored the whole thing and, apparently, they all agreed, both sides, to get it done. If they can do this one would think they could actually get the government open to do business?

It's entertainment now. Trump just understood it better than everyone else.

Latest conversation between Hedges and LeDuff

A good listen. Reminds me of a few starts and stripes reporters that actually went to the front lines and reported on what they saw. That was a different age and a different society than today's but listening to these two men echo an era of speaking truth to power.

It's always been entertainment.

No.
It was not.
Sometimes it's been very serious. Sometimes it's meant the difference between eating or not. Working or not. Voting or not. Etc

Bread and circuses.

slavery, suffragette, labor rights

War and famine.

Wait......
Are we still talking about politics always being entertainment? Because war and famine threw me.
Or is this some of that weird centrist mental ju jitsu stuff. You know... The world is flat, The end of History kind of stuff that was on a best seller list somewhere? There's nothing new under the sun or this, too, shall pass?

Anywho.
As I watch the threat of popular ideas promoted by a new crop of leftists and the media cranking up to smother their ideas their has been a new embrace of critiquing capitalism on the far right. This is a serious developement as the Centrist ridden Democratic Party have staked their careers on capitalism and are hostile to any critique coming from the left. And why wouldn't they. Fat and giggly on a decades long run of political patronage while helping to strip down and sell off the public space and trusts to privateers. It's a gravey train that put a lot of boats in slips and vacays in beautiful places.
If and when an economic downturn kicks out the very shakey remaining supports to a majority of angry Americans who do you think will have a better political position?
The party of 'Nothing to see here, everything's just great' or 'Your leaders have sold you out for a pot of gold!' ?
I'm guessing it will go social nationalist should centrist retain their death grip on the party and smother populist ideas with broad public support. Plenty of historical precedent on this political dynamic.
Nothing new under the sun.