The author of a weekly column in Cádiz ironically reflects on the current social order, highlighting how global threats, from conflicts in the Middle East to resource scarcity, shape a new reality. In this scenario, the figure of the «broke» emerges—individuals who, despite their full-time workdays, cannot cover their basic expenses.
This situation is not limited to a marginal group but represents a significant percentage of the population in Spain and, presumably, in most Western countries. The phenomenon affects various generations, including children and grandchildren with permanent contracts in large cities who share housing or need family support for work-life balance.
Traditionally, economic simplicity was associated with a calmer life and fewer patrimonial responsibilities. However, the author observes a worrying change: today's «broke» live in a constant state of anxiety, overwhelmed by the uncertainty of an insecure future. The personal, family, and social security once taken for granted has been lost.
Until recently, there was a value, that of security, of feeling in a calm, safe environment, which we did not know how to appreciate. Perhaps it is time for us to start doing it properly and, perhaps through that, we can advance in that anxious struggle to shift power towards those who truly maintain the system: the vast majority of the broke who work and live to sustain the powerful.
The text concludes with a call to re-evaluate security and recognize the fundamental role of this working majority that sustains the system, suggesting that in their struggle lies the key to significant change.
