Question

Which excerpt from the song, “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” best emphasizes the idea that average Americans felt abandoned by the wealthy elite and the government?
They used to tell me I was building a dream,
And so I followed the mob—
When there was earth to plow, or guns to bear
I was always there—right on the job.
Once I built a railroad, made it run,
Made it race against time.
Once I built a railroad,
Now it's done—
Say, don't you remember, they called me Al—
It was Al all the time.
Why don't you remember, I'm your pal—
Buddy, can you spare a dime?
Once I built a tower, up to the sun,
Brick, and rivet, and lime,
Once I built a tower,
Now it's done—

Answer 1

"Once I built a railroad, made it run, / Made it race against time. / Once I built a railroad, / Now it's done— / Say, don't you remember, they called me Al— / It was Al all the time. / Why don't you remember, I'm your pal— / Buddy, can you spare a dime?"

Why: These lines contrast the speaker's past public service and contributions with being forgotten and reduced to begging, highlighting the sense that ordinary workers who enabled prosperity were abandoned by those they served.