In these days of pipeline protests, political pandering, and divisive media; the total disenfranchisement of the working class has never been more pronounced. The quote, “the poor see themselves not as an exploited proletariat, but as temporarily embarrassed millionaires” seems to completely summarize the state of the working class today. We have no identity. We see ourselves as existing in our place, behind the register, mop, backhoe, stethoscope, or steering wheel. We didn’t work hard like the CEO who makes twice our yearly salary in a week, we do not deserve their kind of salary. We do not buck the system, we embrace it. We ask for higher wages, and when denied we’re reminded of the dozens of other people who’d happily do our job for half the pay. Family after family are living paycheck to paycheck mean while those who aim to represent the most powerful people on the planet are spend the fraction of a medium sized countries GDP on speaking events: bouts of elaborate pageantry meant only to further their station by blinding the working class as to what they really represent. As seen here in Colorado the elite class know exactly who they are, where they stand, and what they must do to maintain their station. Amendment 71, funded by large corporations, and championed by the likes of John Elway, or Governor John Hickenlooper; seeks to make it more difficult to amend the Colorado constitution. Through ballot initiatives the previous two years voters in Colorado have come closer than ever to having the political strength to make a real and direct impact in the operations of multi-billion dollar corporations who put our environment, and the health of the working class at risk while taking in record profits. Amendment 71, cutely named “Raise The Bar” seems to be a reaction of the elite class who witnessed the real potential of the working people to hold them to account. Funded solely by special interests and championed by those beholden, it is a direct assault on the political power of those who make this world turn, the working class. The elites know we’re the sole proprietors of the political power and wish to ensure we never realize it. We do the work people, not the CEO’s not the politicians, not the managers: as so precisely captured by one of my favorite authors, “Remember this. The people you're trying to step on, we're everyone you depend on. We're the people who do your laundry and cook your food and serve your dinner. We make your bed. We guard you while you're asleep. We drive the ambulances. We direct your call. We are cooks and taxi drivers and we know everything about you. We process your insurance claims and credit card charges. We control every part of your life…so don’t fuck with us.”