The Gilded Age
“We got a generous allotment of smoke breaks.”
They say history doesn’t repeat itself, but it sure does rhyme—and the Gilded Age is no exception. In the latest episode of Toonsplained, I take a skeptical look at one of America’s most infamous periods of inequality and excess. Joined by Gary (our resident boomer), we explore how figures like Rockefeller and Carnegie built their fortunes on the backs of the working class—and what today’s billionaires like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos have learned from their playbook.
From monopolies and political corruption to child labor and tenement housing, the Gilded Age was a glittering façade with a grimy underbelly. Sound familiar? We break down the parallels between then and now, including how philanthropy was (and still is) used to justify unimaginable wealth hoarding.
The lesson? Romanticizing the past is dangerous—especially when it’s more than creeped into the present. Watch the episode now to learn how the Gilded Age shaped America, and why we need to avoid repeating it.
