What is America?

Ep 6: "The American Dream is harder for people now." (with Owen Williams)

John Minervini Season 1 Episode 6

When we talk about politics, we tend to use the word “should.” Like, we should level the playing field. We should work to correct historical inequalities.

But we don’t do as good a job thinking about how federal policies will impact individual people—people like Owen Williams.

Owen is 66 years old. He's a retired exterminator and the quintessential dad—right down to the Dodge minivan and the Colonial Williamsburg t-shirt. He and his wife Lynne and their three kids grew up on a quiet street in Gainesville, Florida.

Back in 1991, he lost his job because of affirmative action. For the next five years, he struggled to make ends meet. He worked three jobs—delivering packages, delivering pizzas, and landscaping—and slept just 4-5 hours a night.

It was a formative moment for Owen, politically. These days, he is deeply suspicious of government and worried about a ballooning national debt.

This week, we’re talking about property taxes, fact-checking your way through fake news, and French prostitutes on strike 💃