The Editor, Sir/Madam;
Elon Musk finds it noteworthy that nearly 160,000 federal civil service workers are now millionaires. This is reported by Amuse. Shouldn’t we be celebrating that under President Joe Biden, many federal workers—who are American citizens—have achieved the American Dream? Why is this a problem for Musk, Donald Trump, and their supporters? Is the goal to strip these individuals of their wealth simply because they worked for the government? It’s worth noting that Musk himself has grown even richer under Biden’s administration.
The real issue seems to be that Black people have also attained wealth. For decades, federal employment has been one of the few reliable paths to economic stability and success for Black Americans. Now, there appears to be a deliberate effort to dismantle this pathway. The recent push to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives under the guise of “efficiency” seems less about improving government operations. It seems more about rolling back progress. By targeting DEI hires, the goal appears to be a return to an America where wealth and power are concentrated among white men.
The firing of the only woman general and the second Black general in the name of “efficiency” raises serious concerns. Is this truly about performance, or is it a strategic move to reinforce systemic inequalities? If these trends continue, they will not only harm Black Americans but also women, people of color, and anyone who does not fit the narrow mold of privilege. This is not just about economics—it is about the very fabric of the American Dream.
Submitted by Rev. Renaldo C. McKenzie, Author of Neoliberalism, Globalization, Income Inequality, Poverty and Resistance, available at The Neoliberal Store or Shop https://store.theneoliberal.com or via Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
Renaldo is also a Professor at Jamaica Theological Seminary and Doctoral Candidate at Georgetown University. Renaldo graduated from University of Pennsylvania with a Master of Philosophy and a Master of Liberal Arts and is President of The Neoliberal Corporation
Renaldo is the host and creator of The Neoliberal Round Podcast https://anchor.fm/theneoliberal, and YouTube Channel https://youtube.com/@renaldomckenzie