It's all about the money. I get the feeling on both sides of the aisle that the "common people" (or "we the people" on the right) are tired of big powers control our country (whether corporate on the left or government on the right). A few controlling the policy of the nation to benefit themselves. Free trade deals are seen as cheap goods and services from large corporate owners, taking away jobs from the average American. Piles of profits following loopholes made by Congress out of American coffers and into the pockets of the powerful, with politicians that play along on both sides. There is a growing opinion in this country that the deck is not stacked fairly (both right and left point out different instances of this) - so it is not about what level of poverty you have relative to the rich and powerful. It is about a perceived notion that the common folk are not as important or valuable. Commit theft as a rich man? Slap on the wrist and a fine. Commit theft as a poor man? Welcome to jail. Want into the best schools? It helps if your dad went there and also sent you to the best preschool money can buy (or it helps it you are a minority in the opinion of the right). Executive of a large company? Enjoy numerous tax benefits, earn a giant bonus by moving and automating the jobs on the bottom of the period or through deceiving marketing/sales. Average worker? See your job shipped overseas, ask for a raise and be called ungrateful, lose you job and land on welfare and be called a parasite. This is not a statement of facts, it is a statement of perception. So what we're seeing in American politics right now is the anti-establishment candidates swelling in popularity on both sides. Whoever has been in charge ain't doing it right (both sides), so elect someone who hasn't been in charge. Hence, Bernie on the left, Trump/Cruz/et al in the right: