The Great American Heist: How Corporations and the Rich Are Cashing In—Again

If you woke up this morning wondering why your grocery bill feels like a mortgage payment while Wall Street celebrates another “record quarter,” congratulations—you’re living in the latest chapter of the Great American Heist.

Republicans in Congress, with an assist from corporate lobbyists in tailored suits, just expanded a fresh batch of tax breaks for the rich and powerful. They’re calling it “pro-growth.” Everyone else is calling it what it is: a cash grab disguised as economic policy.

The Rich Get Richer (With a Little Help From Their Friends)

In July, Congress passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act—a name that sounds like it was focus-grouped by billionaires after a few martinis. Among other “improvements,” it made permanent the 20 percent deduction for pass-through income. Translation: if you already own a profitable business or investment vehicle, you now get a tax break for breathing.

Meanwhile, the rest of us—those who earn our money by actually working—get to enjoy the thrill of watching our payroll taxes fund these giveaways.

Then there’s the SALT deduction cap bump—from $10,000 to $40,000. If you’re a regular person renting an apartment and praying your car lasts another year, this means nothing to you. But if you’re a hedge-fund manager with three homes and a property-tax bill larger than your city’s budget? Congratulations, Uncle Sam just gave you a refund big enough to buy another Tesla.

Corporate Welfare, Rebranded

According to The Wall Street Journal’s November 9 article, corporations are “reaping cash savings” from new accelerated deductions—meaning they get to write off major expenses now, enjoy lower taxable income, and pad their quarterly earnings.

Companies like Meta, Amazon, and Microsoft are reportedly benefiting to the tune of billions—all while stock buybacks and executive bonuses soar. You’d think this corporate windfall might trickle down to workers. You’d be wrong. Wages remain flat. Layoffs continue. The only thing “trickling down” is the disdain for anyone not rich enough to buy influence.

It’s the same pattern we’ve seen since the 1980s: cut taxes for the top, claim it’ll create jobs, then act shocked when the benefits vanish into offshore accounts.

Meanwhile, Back in Reality…

While the wealthy get new deductions, the average American faces higher costs for everything from rent to healthcare. Congressional Republicans are already hinting that ballooning deficits—caused by their own tax cuts—will require “belt-tightening.”

Guess whose belts they’re eyeing?

Medicaid, Social Security, SNAP, and affordable housing programs are all suddenly “unsustainable.” In political translation, that means: “We gave your tax dollars to ExxonMobil and now we need Grandma to skip lunch to balance the books.”

The Moral Math Doesn’t Add Up

Let’s be clear: this isn’t economics—it’s ethics. When you let the wealthiest Americans and corporations write themselves permanent discounts while cutting services for children, seniors, and veterans, you’re not running a government. You’re running a racket.

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities calculated that the top 1 percent of earners will get an average annual tax break of about $132,000 from this new law. The bottom 10 percent? They’ll lose about $1,200 in reduced benefits. That’s not “shared sacrifice.” That’s theft with paperwork.

Where Do We Go From Here?

We can start by refusing to buy the propaganda. When lawmakers promise “relief for working families,” ask which families. When corporations brag about “job creation,” demand proof—actual pay raises, benefits, and hiring in American communities.

And maybe, just maybe, we stop treating billionaires like endangered species who need protection from the IRS.

Because if we don’t, they’ll keep cashing in while we keep paying the tab. And the next time you hear a politician talk about “fiscal responsibility,” remember: they don’t mean for them. They mean for you.

Julie Bolejack, MBA

The Mindful Activist

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