PRAGMATIC ISSUES

While headlines about Jeffrey Epstein and the elite circles he mingled in continue to capture the attention of media pundits and social media sleuths, the average working-class American is focused on something far more pressing: surviving. The truth is, most people who wake up before dawn to work a full shift, care for their families, and juggle bills aren’t staying up late decoding conspiracy theories or analysing unsealed court documents. They’re too busy trying to afford groceries, manage crushing medical bills, and figure out how to keep a roof over their heads.

This isn’t apathy—it’s survival.

Economic Anxiety Over Scandal Curiosity

In America’s working-class neighbourhoods, Epstein’s crimes, while horrific and emblematic of larger systemic corruption, do not top the list of daily concerns. For a warehouse worker in Ohio, a single mother in Nevada, or a grocery store clerk in Kentucky, the most urgent question is: How will I make it to the end of the month?

Interest rates have soared, making car loans and mortgages unaffordable. Rents have skyrocketed across urban and suburban areas, forcing families to choose between downsizing or relocating altogether. Groceries that once cost $150 a week now come closer to $250, and even the price of basic over-the-counter medication is climbing.

These are the stories you won’t see on primetime cable news or endless Twitter threads. But they’re the stories that matter most to the people who keep the country running.

Healthcare That Hurts More Than It Heals

Even before inflation reared its head, affordable healthcare was a distant dream for many. Now, it’s a luxury. Millions of Americans delay going to the doctor, skip filling prescriptions, or choose between paying rent and getting treatment. The debate over who flew on Epstein’s plane means little to a diabetic who’s rationing insulin, or to a father praying his child doesn’t break an arm because he can’t afford the ER bill.

The Invisible Weight of Working-Class Life

There’s a narrative gap in America. While the political elite, celebrities, and media conglomerates chase each other’s tails in outrage cycles, the working class has its head down, trying to stay afloat. The obsession with elite scandals often feels like a distraction—a grotesque soap opera while the people in the audience are starving.

Most Americans aren’t naive. They know that the Epstein case likely ties into broader problems of wealth, power, and accountability. But what good is watching the downfall of a billionaire pedophile ring if you still can’t afford childcare or dental care?

A Plea for Practical Politics

The American working class doesn’t want culture wars or headline chases. They want meaningful policy solutions. They want to see wages rise alongside the cost of living, not fall behind. They want politicians who understand that paying $2,000 for rent on a $40,000 salary isn’t “toughing it out”—it’s economic cruelty.

They want affordable healthcare, not just promises. They want homes they can buy, not dreams they’re priced out of. They want stability, not sensationalism.

The Disconnect Between Media and Main Street

There’s a widening gulf between the topics that dominate the national media cycle and the issues that dominate American households. The Epstein files, no matter how dark or important in scope, are a symptom of a society obsessed with the sins of the powerful but disinterested in the pain of the struggling.

Working Americans aren’t ignoring corruption—they just don’t have the luxury of focusing on it 24/7. Until the media and political class start prioritising jobs, healthcare, education, housing, and economic stability, they will continue to miss the heartbeat of the real America.

Whatsmore is that if the files are released then what? My gut tells me that celebrities and politicians alike more than just Trump will be on that list. Then what? Will we cancel them or better yet, hunt them all down and Lynch them? String them up to hang  on the proverbial public stage?

The working class doesn’t need another headline. They need hope. And more importantly, they need help.

By Avery Mantel exclusively for the CrimeShop