Which America Do You Live In?
“Our Divided Economy: Which One Are You In? Which one do you want to be in?
An off schedule post
This is an off-schedule post. That means something different or interesting is going on that warrants paying attention to. So, my friends, read on to find out more!
Preamble
In last week’s post entitled Speak Truth, I admitted that it was a rather difficult post to write about. And that’s because while most of us want to live in a truthful world that is honest and forthcoming. The fact is that it is sometimes not that way. Especially in 2025, when many Americans, who are all on the same team, think and act so differently. And while thinking and acting differently is not only acceptable but also desired, in the right context, the fact is that many are acting in ways that are not profitable to anyone. I think you know what I mean. In America, it’s our differences that make us strong. It’s each of us using our God given gifts for good. Not just for ourselves, but for our team. Team America. So, when I write about the importance of speaking truth, it can sometimes be a flashpoint. Truth spoken in love, understanding, and with the goal to help should always be welcome. Unhappily, this is not always the case, and it can be that the message is not received as it was intended or delivered in a manner that is not with the best of intent. And this makes me sad.
It's the same with this week’s post. It’s a little challenging to write about because I don’t want to see anyone excluded from the American dream, but for many different reasons, it seems that some are. And that makes me sad as well.
Timing
As I author this post for publication on November 3, it is October 3, and the government is shut down. People will be hurt because of this, and I dislike the politics that underlie it all. We hired a bunch of folks to go to Washington and do a job. What would happen if you or I did not do our job and shut down the company? I guess, for that matter, what would happen if we used the Company credit card to ring up a bunch of debt we could not pay back? Indeed, we would be turning in our badge and joining the unemployed. Of course, they continue to get paid during the shutdown, they continue to ignore our country’s debt, while many working people don’t receive pay or suffer as a result. You did know that, didn’t you? They get paid whether the country is shut down or not? Makes me mad…
The two (or maybe more) Americas
It’s pretty much common knowledge that in many third-world countries, there are two classes (often called social classes) of people: The haves and the have-nots. The haves typically really do have, and they have a lot. The have-nots are often poor, desperately so in many cases. There is not much opportunity to move from the have-nots to the haves. Many developed countries, such as the United States, will have a third class that is not part of undeveloped countries, and that is the middle class.
The middle class is where most Americans fall. Here in America, we tend to divide the classes a bit further. These classes are typically defined at the upper class (rich), middle class (subdivided into upper, which are typically white collar professionals, and lower, or blue collar, such as trades), and working class (often considered poor). I’ve written about these class distinctions before, and as you probably know, they are not quite as simple as just putting people in buckets or broad categories. For example, while in the past, blue-collar (trade) workers were pretty much relegated to the lower middle class, the fact is that many of them, if they hustle a bit, can easily enter the upper class. Additionally, many households are dual-income, which skews the statistics.
In the US over the past few years, there has been considerable discussion about equity, or more commonly, inequity. When someone talks about equity, they typically mean fairness or that everyone gets the same, or that the playing field is level, such that everyone has the same. Frankly, that is never what America has been about. What we have been about is equal opportunity for all, regardless of where one comes from. We have been and are a meritocracy. That means that what we have and what we achieve is based upon equal opportunity for all, based upon our willingness to learn, take risks, work and achieve.
I’m not so naive as to believe this is always true, but I think we all want it to be this way. Depending upon how and where you were raised often determines what you do for the remainder of your life because how you were raised determines your attitudes and often what opportunities you have. That may or may not seem fair, but it often is what it is. Oh sure, we’ve all heard the rags to riches stories. These are the people who can overcome their past and end up in a better place. They were able to advance from one class to another.
So, to summarize this line of thinking, while many countries in the world where you were born or the family in which you were born into determined what you did and what you had, in America, while some folks do not consider it fair or equitable, the fact is that we all have the potential to reach the upper class. I previously wrote about the differences between the generations (Boomer, GenX, GenZ, etc.) and the time period in which you were born could be a factor in the opportunities you had. So let’s move on to what appears to be happening in America today.
America in 2025
If you regularly read these posts, you know that many of the ideas I have of what to write come from my daily reading of books, newspapers, digital content and of course, content that is supported by the Afterburner Success Partners course and book. Since the pandemic began in 2020, there has been a rising chorus of discussion about how we in this country seem to be separated and divided into more of the haves and have-nots. The primary sources for today’s post come from a September 16, 2025 Wall Street Journal article entitled The Two-Speed Economy Is Back as Low Income Americans Give Up Gains (Note 1), a September 18, 2025 Wall Street Journal article entitled Divergent American Economy Gets More Divided and an October 3, 2025 article from CNBC entitled The Wealth of the Top 1% Reaches a Record $52 Billion (Note 2).
These are just three of the many I’ve been reading over the past few years. You know the issues: High home prices, high interest rates, low housing availability, going back into the office, few promotional opportunities, IT layoffs, AI job elimination, etc., etc. If you made your money in the boom-boom 1980s and 1990s or the amazing 2009-2021 period, your house is paid off and perhaps you are retired, then I’m thinking you are sitting kinda pretty now. If you graduated during the 2006-2008 housing bust, tried to work through COVID, and have a bunch of student loan debt, it may not be so good right now. How about a 2024 Gen Z IT college graduate whose job is being taken over by AI? Oh, and you owe $100 grand on college loans that you have been deferring during the pandemic?
As you just read that last paragraph, what thoughts come to your mind? I guess the answer depends on where you are in your life journey. Are you struggling or are you content and have peace of mind? Why or why not? Ponder this question a bit before you move on, will you? Whether you are a have or a have-not.
I want to share my thoughts with you on this topic. If you are a have-not, I hope it will be a motivation for you and show you there is an opportunity for you to get ahead and then ignore all the naysayers with the mentality that says you are a victim and condemned to remain where you are, perhaps because of “the man.” Unless, of course, some generous uncle slips you a little coin. If you are a have, perhaps it will prompt you to provide a hand up (not a hand out!) to others like you have been helped on your journey. We should all be doing this for our fellow man anyway. Americans are a generous bunch, after all, but not as generous as I thought! (Note 3).
What to do if you (or someone you care about) are not content with where you are
So now comes the conversation of what to do if you are not satisfied with where you are. Or you know someone, such as a child or family member, who is not where they want to be and wants to find a way up. The best way for me to illustrate the point is with my own story.
You may know that I grew up in a solid middle-class family and neighborhood. I had every opportunity to go to college and get ahead. Alas, a few poor teenage choices and I found myself living in the basement needing a kick in the a$$, I mean pants! A kick in the pants is what I meant! So I thought about it and decided to join the Air Force to learn a trade (aircraft maintenance) and complete my college education. The hard way. Being a married junior enlisted military member with a family means living pretty modestly. OK, modist is not the right word! I was poor! I qualified for assistance, OK? I lived in a trailer. No, check that, two trailers. Mobile homes, if you want to class it up a bit.
But during that time, I developed a plan and I worked hard. Really hard. No, make that really, really hard. Have you ever heard the quote from Ray Croc, the founder of McDonald’s? “The more you sweat, the luckier you get!” That was me. As I worked hard, I developed a plan that later became the Afterburner Success Course and the book. It’s a way out from the have-nots to the haves. If you do your part, which I describe, then slowly over time, things will change. No handouts, a few hand-ups, and a lot of hard work, and things start to come together. Because this is America, and that’s what happens when you work hard in America.
Summary
I’ve never worried about, much less got angry with, the haves, those in the top 1%, who have more than me. What’s it to me? You know what? More power to them; they deserve it because they worked for it. Along the way, they created opportunities for you and me. During my journey, I did not worry about the have-nots either, except that I did not want to be one of them, although I was for a period of time. Here’s what I want you to know and your takeaway for today. Worry about yourself, and if you find yourself in a hole, dig out of it. You can, I just told you how to do it. Are you worried that the rich have too much? Why? Worry about yourself. This is America and people come here from all over the world because of the opportunities to dig out of a hole. Like Miguel Bezos did. Yeah, that Bezos, as in Jeff Bezos, the Amazon guy’s father (Note 4).
When I wrote this post on October 3, I thought it was done, but I just kept having an uneasy feeling about it, like it made me uncomfortable or that it was not complete. One of the reasons I advocate for pondering things is that over a little bit of time, the right answer or thoughts can come to you. Thoughts or ideas you did not originally think of. And that’s the way it is with me and with this post. In this post, I spoke extensively about classes in America and digging yourself out of a hole. However, as I reread the post prior to publication, after pondering it as I mentioned, I realized that I wanted to leave you with a final thought. An important thought, and it’s something that I briefly mentioned earlier in the post, that I want to be your takeaway for today:
If you are a “have”, consider (and then do it!) how you can provide a hand up to someone today. It does not need to be money, it can be your time or other resource you have in abundance. It can be giving someone a break, however you define it. I write extensively about using our wealth and the fall season in life to help others, and I can think of no better way in America today to utilize the generosity that we as Americans innately possess to help someone who needs it.
Etcetera
I hope you know me well enough that I recognize that there are people who are unable to dig themselves out of the hole they are in. I’m not talking about them, and I hope we are generous and kind enough to recognize that we should be taking care of those folks. Besides being generous, Americans are known for their compassion.
That’s all for this week!
Which American Do You Live In?
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Check out my recently published book, Achieve Your Dreams: A Complete Guide to Live Your Best Life by David Giustozzi. Available on Amazon or on my website. See Note 5.
Up Next
Back to regular posting schedule.
Notes
Please note that as an Amazon Affiliate, I may earn a small commission on the sale of any of these recommended resources.
The Two-Speed Economy Is Back as Low Income Americans Give Up Gains: The Wall Street Journal, September 16, 2025: https://www.wsj.com/economy/us-economy-analysis-wealthy-low-income-8ba80ccc?gaa_at=eafs&gaa_n=ASWzDAi_1avQjJtgKYqwcM0waLT1DxRb33oisV_xYTkk-GxZgdG7XIEjcwnD9FEvXpA%3D&gaa_ts=68e0288e&gaa_sig=0fRivLZcQZ2YcPUzYE5e_OZBnckSvE8o_p4cqy4stnmZfaGhKYA0hhj55TX8VRrRi51PCi46NnmHd0GakSX7yg%3D%3D
The Wealth of the top 1% reaches a record level, CNBN, October 3, 2025: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/03/the-wealth-of-the-top-1percent-reaches-a-record-52-trillion.html
World Giving Index: https://www.cafonline.org/insights/research/world-giving-index
Miguel Bezos: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miguel_Bezos
Achieve Your Dreams: A Complete Guide to Live Your Best Life by David Giustozzi: https://amzn.to/3IxEFgy