Survive Everyday

The Real Welfare Queens

Send us a textBillionaires are rewriting the rules of democracy—should we be worried? Join us alongside my guest, Ohio State Representative Joe Miller, as we dissect the seismic shifts in political influence. We tackle complex questions about transparency, the rise of dark money, and the ethical dilemmas posed by wealthy billionaires steering political narratives. We explore Steve Bannon's "flooding the zone with shit" tactic, a strategy designed to divide and conquer public attention. We'll reflect on historical lessons, like the fall of the Roman Empire, to stress the vital role of strong institutions in preserving democracy, looking closer at what our Declaration of Independence had to say about authoritarianism. This episode offers new interactive avenues for dialogue and drawing inspiration from Matthew Desmond's "Poverty by America." Let's rally for balanced political solutions and resist the pull of manipulated outrage.sources:Michael Lewis Article, Has Anyone Seen The President?Heimler's History Citizen's United v FEC : This audio was shortened to fit for time, but the key points remain the same.Support the showSurvive Everyday on BlueskyAdam on TikTok

From Poverty to Policy Change

Send us a textGrowing up in a working-poor family, State Representative Joe Miller (OH-53) brings a gritty, firsthand perspective to the table that challenges the status quo. Our discussion weaves through Joe's life experiences and combines them with insights from Matthew Desmond’s "Poverty by America" to expose the harsh realities of poverty and the systems that cement it. Together, we question the efficacy of political campaign spending and school voucher programs, and how they might unintentionally deepen the chasms of inequality they aim to bridge. The conversation pivots to the overpowering economic influence in politics, unpacking the staggering sums funneled into political advertising and the media's role in shaping public opinion. We reflect on how the middle class, once the backbone of democracy, has been increasingly sidelined by a wealth gap that grows ever wider. The notion that addressing this wealth gap is a provocative one, challenging the priorities of today’s billionaires as well as the affluent, and their potential impact on democracy.Our dialogue culminates in a critical examination of education funding and the role of billionaires in government. As an educator, Joe shares poignant stories of hungry students whose potential is stifled not by ability, but by basic unmet needs. We critique the school voucher system's unintended consequences of increasing segregation and undermining public education. Finally, we underscore the urgency of separating wealth from government to preserve the democratic ideals upon which our society is built. Engage with us on social media and YouTube as we explore these complex intersections of poverty, politics, and education.Nashville Public Education Foundation Study Federal Elections Commission DataWOSU Story on Ohio School Voucher StudyGet the Book, Povery, by America excerpt from Chapter 9 Tear Down The Walls pages 161-165Support the showSurvive Everyday on BlueskyAdam on TikTok

Profiting from Poverty

Send us a textJerry’s expertise provides a rare window into the, sometimes, exclusive world of investment strategies, encouraging us to question who truly benefits from the current financial system and how we can make smarter choices on our financial journeys.Through the lens of corporate giants like Walmart, we dive into the moral and economic dilemmas surrounding minimum wage debates. Do higher wages lead to healthier, less stressed workers, or do they risk job losses and drive inflation? We unpack these arguments, focusing on how economic security can empower individuals while challenging corporations' role in perpetuating income inequality. This discussion sheds light on how capitalism shapes the lives of everyday workers and explores potential paths toward a fairer future.We also examine the intricate ties between poverty, capitalism, and corporate power in government and society. Drawing from historical and contemporary debates on welfare and minimum wage laws, we debunk persistent myths that blame poverty on individual failure. Inspired by Matthew Desmond’s Poverty, by America, we delve into how corporate interests influence societal values and political decisions. This conversation urges us to rethink our roles as consumers and citizens in a system that often prioritizes profits over people. Join us for an eye-opening discussion that challenges conventional narratives and explores solutions to systemic inequality.Support the showSurvive Everyday on BlueskyAdam on TikTok

What is Poverty?

Send us a textEvery day, millions wake up to a cycle they didn’t choose—a system built to keep them struggling, surviving, but never truly living. Poverty isn’t just an empty wallet or a lack of opportunity. It’s a network of barriers: broken systems, historical injustices, and policies that perpetuate inequality.Welcome to Survive Everyday Podcast and our new series, Spark of Change. Today, we begin our journey into the systems of poverty—how they’re built, who they impact, and why they persist.In this series, we’re not just talking about the problem. We’re talking with the people who live it, challenge it, and shape the policies that sustain or dismantle it. From everyday individuals navigating poverty to the politicians who have the power to shape anti-poverty laws, we’ll bring voices from every side of the story.Because to change a system, we first have to understand it. Let’s begin.This episode of Spark of Change was written an edited by Adam GercakMusic provided by PixabayBuy the book Poverty, by America written by Matthew DesmondA special thank you to Matthew Desmond and his team who provided a copy of the book to use for this series. This has been a production of Survive Everyday Media, LLCSupport the showSurvive Everyday on BlueskyAdam on TikTok

The Path Forward

Send us a textIn Spark of Change: Anti-Poverty Conversations, join us on a road trip of deep reflection, raw family discussions, and unfiltered perspectives on politics, community, and the American struggle with poverty.Together, we'll explore America's systemic challenges and ask if uniting around economic class and common struggles could spark a true change. Tune in for raw insights, thoughtful debates, and a shared mission to redefine our future.Resources from this episode:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHAWbU11LB0https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vL59AckZN5Qhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnXiy4D_I8g&t=14shttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1l9YnZgcwYhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDA8dvqKKjkGeorge Washington's Farewell Address"It's A Class Struggle. Goddammit!" A Speech by Fred Hampton 1969Music provided by: PixabaySupport the showSurvive Everyday on BlueskyAdam on TikTok