ESTHER SCOTT

I ran for president.
No one knew me.
All my life I wanted to be president.
The apex of my life!

 

I went door-to-door
trying to get enough signatures
to put me on the ballot in Michigan.
Most people slammed their doors in my face.
I never got any media coverage.
But I gathered signatures.
I had a few passionate followers.

 

I had a message: in 1990, 13% of all voters were from families
whose incomes were under $15,000.

 

In 1992 that percentage had dropped to 11%.

 

In 1994, of all the families making less than $15,000 a year, only 7.7% bothered to vote.

 

In 1989 the inequality of wealth distribution in the United States was at a 60 year high.

 

Imagine what it is now!

 

The top 1% of families ranked by financial wealth had 48% of all the wealth in the country.

 

The top 20% owned 94% of the country’s wealth.

 

In 1989, 35% of all families of color reported zero or negative net worth.

 

So I got a few hundred signatures.
I shook a few hundred hands.
In brief moments I made real connection
to real people.
I gave them a little hope.
I made their country a little better for them.
For a couple of minutes there were
a few people who could smell change in the air.
Who witnessed the unlikely birth of a new nation.

I ate a lot of red meat with the people.
Funny.
I couldn’t tell if they were humoring me or not.
But I drank a few cold beers.