- Nicholas Sumners went viral with his video explaining how much he earned
- Her video racked up 11 million views and two million likes, and people agreed.
An auto industry worker has claimed that “the American dream is dead” as he cannot “afford to live” on his salary, which he says is three times the federal minimum wage.
Nicholas Sumners went viral with his video explaining how much he earned and lamenting the fact that he cannot meet his needs.
He stated that he earns three times the federal minimum wage, which is $7.25 an hour, meaning he earns an estimated $3,520 a month if he works 40 hours a week.
Even with his salary, he said he “can’t afford to live alone anywhere” and that it’s a “struggle to survive right now.”
He said: ‘The American dream is dead. It’s finished. Gone and forgotten.’
Nicholas Sumners went viral with his video explaining how much he earned and lamenting not being able to cover his needs.
Sitting in his car, Sumners ranted about the cost of living in America.
His video accumulated more than 11 million views and more than two million likes.
In the clip, he asked viewers to explain to him in “crayon-eating terms” why rent and basic necessities were so expensive.
He said: “I don’t want to hear that ‘get up from your bootstraps, work 90 hours a week’ thing. [arguments]’, that’s not the goal guys. That shouldn’t be our standard.”
He blamed political parties who he claims are “screwing people” and said he was “tired” of people being “complacent” in allowing it.
When his parents were his age, he said, they both lived alone despite earning “less than half” their current salary.
He said: ‘I can’t afford to live alone anywhere.
‘A one-bedroom apartment: $1,800. Two-bedroom apartment: $2,200. Who the hell can afford that?
He added: “It’s embarrassing to come out and say it’s a fight to survive right now, but I know a lot of people are struggling.”
And don’t get me started on what my grandparents did. They [bought] a $3,000 house.’
Inflation rose to 3.5 percent in March as prices rose due to the high cost of housing and gas.
In the clip, he asked viewers to explain to him in “crayon-eating terms” why rent and basic necessities were so expensive.
In 15 major U.S. cities, where the cost of living is particularly high, an annual income of $100,000 is only enough to qualify as “lower middle class.”
Sumner said he understood the impact of inflation and federal interventions, but asked, “Why do we allow it?”
He also appeared to take issue with US foreign aid, saying: “I get off my shift, I’m tired, I have to go home and I look at the news and I see another 60 billion dollars for a country that no one has.” I can point on a map.
He concluded: “We’ve lost it, folks, we’ve lost it.”
‘The American dream is dead. It’s finished. Gone and forgotten.’
Viewers agreed with him and flocked to the comments section to share their support and their own concerns.
One of them commented: ‘I literally don’t even want to be rich. I just want to be able to eat without anxiety.’
Another added: ‘A large percentage of us suffer an unexpected expense from being homeless. “Too many people don’t understand that reality.”
Interest rates remain at their highest level in 23 years, with the federal funds rate between 5.25 and 5.5 percent after inflation peaked at 9.1 percent in June of 2022.