>Those conditions existed 5 years ago, 10 years ago, etc. The problem is that life has gotten tougher for the "latter" of the two groups. That's partly why Trump has been successful and why Sanders came as close as he did.

Yes.
And while things have become tougher for them, the establishment rhetoric - on both sides- has become increasingly irrelevant or even hostile to them.
The Obama immigration initiative recently overturned by the court is a good example.
To the poor jerk struggling to make a living, a president who thinks that keeping illegal immigrants here is the most important thing he can do is not only out of touch.. he's hostile.
Trump and Bernie understand that.