The Seeds of Progressive Populism

Abstract

"Most of us are one step away from disaster," says Kathleen Oliver, a semi-retired social welfare professional who lives in the small town of Marlborough, New Hampshire. At seventy-four, Oliver stopped working full-time some years back, but with only her monthly Social Security check to get by on and various family members to take care of, she was coming up short. She sold her house, then picked up a couple of part-time jobs. "I can see how the elderly become depressed," Kathleen acknowledges, though she does not share the same feeling of resignation. "I probably won't be among the depressed. I'll be among the pissed off."