What it Means to be Disenfranchised

Disenfranchised people are those who feel deprived of a legal right or privilege. The number of people disenfranchised within the United States is part of the reason Donald Trump, a candidate without a history in politics, was elected to office. While much of the country is recovering from the Great Recession, there continues to be a lag for many disenfranchised Americans.¹

For some, there’s a feeling that they can’t afford anything anymore. One poll found that a large swath of middle-class Americans long for quality jobs, affordable health care and child care and both economic and financial security.²

Over the past three decades, America’s economy has moved from manufacturing-based jobs to service-based jobs. This gradual process transformed the job market. Even with today’s low unemployment rate, there are jobs available, but in many cases, those who need the job may not have the skills and experience that the position requires or it may not pay the wages they are looking for.³

Americans dissatisfied with the health care initiatives introduced by Barack Obama reported a variety of motives for voting Trump. A common complaint was that premiums seemed to increase every year. Others went deeper, saying Trump’s proposals would promote personal responsibility rather than guarantee health care for those who are “lazy and entitled.” Sixty-six percent of Trump supporters said the economy is “rigged for people receiving government assistance.”⁴

The combination of expensive health care options, a difficult job market and overwhelming debt, and it’s easy to see why some have become so disenfranchised. How many Americans are we talking about?

Leading up to the election, a Gallup poll found only 27 percent were satisfied with the current state of the country.⁵ A post-election poll in December found a similar overall result, with Democrats still feeling slightly better than Republicans despite the presidential election results.⁶

Dissatisfaction can take on different forms. Many people have their concerns about the future of the country, but perhaps more importantly, are focused more on their own personal situation. The fact is, contentment has a lot to do with feeling confident, or at least hopeful, about your future.

One way to work toward this confidence is to insure a portion of your retirement assets. That’s where we come in. We are an independent firm helping individuals create retirement strategies using a variety of insurance products to custom suit their needs and objectives. Please contact us if you’d like to discuss ways to develop more confidence about your ability to provide income throughout retirement.

Content prepared by Kara Stefan Communications.

¹ Bob Rapoza. The Hill. Dec. 9, 2016. “Rural America demands the nation’s attention.” http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/presidential-campaign/309735-rural-america-demands-the-nations-attention. Accessed Dec 9, 2016.

² The Center for Retirement Research at Boston College. Nov. 15, 2016. “The Needs of Working Folks.” http://squaredawayblog.bc.edu/squared-away/the-needs-of-working-folks/. Accessed Dec 20, 2016.

³ Ibid.

⁴ Olga Khazan. The Atlantic. Dec. 20, 2016. “If Not Obamacare, Then What?”

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2016/12/if-not-obamacare-then-what/511130/. Accessed Dec 20, 2016.

⁵ Gallup. Oct. 13, 2016. “U.S. Satisfaction Remains Low Leading Up to Election.” http://www.gallup.com/poll/196388/satisfaction-remains-low-leading-election.aspx. Accessed Dec 20, 2016.

⁶ Clark Mindock. International Business Times. Dec. 16, 2016. “Are Americans Happy With The US? Election, Economy, Wars Have Most Dissatisfied, New Poll Finds.” http://www.ibtimes.com/are-americans-happy-us-election-economy-wars-have-most-dissatisfied-new-poll-finds-2461644. Accessed Dec 20, 2016.

This material is intended to provide general information to help you understand basic retirement income strategies and should not be construed as financial advice.

The information contained in this material is believed to be reliable, but accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed; it is not intended to be used as the sole basis for financial decisions. If you are unable to access any of the news articles and sources through the links provided in this text, please contact us to request a copy of the desired reference.

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