'Being Poor in America Is a Death Sentence'

People with lower incomes live shorter lives. It's time for that to change

- by SEN. BERNIE SANDERS

EVERYONE WANTS TO LIVE A LONG, happy and productive life. If you're working class in America, that's tough to do.

In February, I asked Americans to share their stories about how financial stress is affecting their lives. The response was overwhelming, heart-breaking and infuriating. Working people are dying years before they should. Stress kills.

Put simply: being poor or working-class in America is a death sentence.

Patrick from Missouri wrote: “Living paycheck to paycheck while supporting a family stresses me out. We are always just one financial emergency from being homeless.” Taryn from Alabama shared that she pays $400 for her children’s asthma medication. On top of struggling to pay for groceries and basic utilities, she worries about astronomical medical bills every time her daughters go to the hospital.

I recently asked a crowd in rural Wisconsin: “What is it like living paycheck to paycheck?” Their responses? “You can’t keep the heat on.” “You have to figure out how to eat between paychecks.” “You have to choose between getting glasses for yourself or your kids.” Sadly, these stories are not unique. This is what life looks like for millions of working-class Americans. They are struggling. They are exhausted. And they are dying far too young.