Centering working people means (1) naming them expressly so they hear they are the priority; (2) making them the subject of the sentence and the focus of messaging that acknowledges their contributions; and (3) prioritizing their concerns, such as rising prices, while also addressing their aspirations for a stable and secure future for their families.

MESSAGING EXAMPLE

“Hardworking people and families do our part, paying taxes on every paycheck and at every checkout to support the schools, roads, and essential services that benefit everyone. It’s time our tax system ensures that billionaires and big corporations pay their fair share too. We need a tax system that respects the hard work of everyday people.”

Two key ways to do this: (1) Acknowledge and appreciate hard work and hardworking people—including those who do unpaid work like caregiving or offer other forms of contribution when traditional work is not possible—and focus on what working people should be able to expect in return, such as good benefits, livable wages, and childcare, to build a good, stable life; and (2) Frame policies as equipping people with the tools and opportunities to support work and contribution, so we can provide for our families.

MESSAGING EXAMPLE
“We need to build an economy that respects hard working people, including those doing unpaid care work. When we have what we need to contribute — like affordable housing, healthcare, support to care for our relatives, and good-paying jobs with benefits — we are all better off.”

We can create lasting narrative change that elevates Middle-Out Economics and its focus on how working people power the economy, and counters conservative “trickle-down” myths via (1) simple, factual statements that working people are primary drivers of the economy; (2) messaging that shows the many ways working people contribute to economic growth; (3) drawing a clear contrast with current economic models that harm working people; and (4) linking clear examples of bad corporate behavior and villainy to the real costs working people pay.

MESSAGING EXAMPLE
“Our economy runs on the work, spending, and innovation of working people. But for decades, big corporations have hoarded profits while wages stay low and costs keep rising, leaving families struggling to get by. Price gouging, tax dodging, and low pay aren’t just business decisions—they have real costs for working people, from higher grocery bills to underfunded schools. When corporations and billionaires don’t pay what they owe, hard working people end up paying more. But when workers are valued and have more money in their pockets, they can continue to drive demand, support businesses, and keep local economies strong.”

Progressive policies are about equipping people and removing barriers that hold them back. Messaging that keeps government in a supporting role, rather than a leading one, affirms and centers the agency of working people.

MESSAGING EXAMPLE
“Family farmers have new tools through the Inflation Reduction Act to lower their costs, secure our food supply, and prepare for extreme weather. That improves the bottom line for farmers, lowers food costs for working families for our food, and is good for our climate, our air, and our water.”

Stating that a good policy makes good economic sense, and explaining in plainspoken language how it benefits everyone, boosts support. Stating that a bad policy is bad for the economy and will increase costs for everyone, boosts opposition to those policies and those who are pushing them.

MESSAGING EXAMPLE

“Everyone needs healthcare to stay healthy and financially secure. Medicaid is that lifeline for millions of working people and families. It ensures our kids get check-ups and our aging parents get care – most nursing home care in the U.S. is paid for by Medicaid. When politicians talk about cutting Medicaid, they’re not just trimming a budget – they’re forcing people to go without critical care, pushing families out of work and into medical debt, and straining hospitals and emergency rooms who no longer get reimbursed for providing care. When working people and families can count on Medicaid, we can focus on work, school, and building a good life.”