In 2018, Americans all across the country have an opportunity to hold members of Congress accountable. In 2018, Americans have a chance to make their voices heard. There's something happening across this country. If you've seen the results of the recent elections in Virginia and in Alabama, then you know exactly what I am talking about. Americans are rising up and demanding a change. Americans all across the country are demanding a fresh start. There is something happening in this country.
Like most Americans, I am in favor of tax cuts. I want everyone to tangibly see the fruits of their labor, that's what America is all about. What I cannot support is more corporate welfare. Every day millions of Americans go to work and come home with a paycheck that doesn't meet their most basic needs. Every day millions of Americans are left to decide between keeping the lights on or keeping food in their fridge. Every day millions of Americans are left to decide between paying down their student loans or buying their first home. That's not only wrong, it's un-American.
I was raised to believe that what truly made America great was the opportunity it provided, not how high the stock market had risen. I was raised to believe that if you worked hard and played by the rules, you could move up the economic ladder. I was raised to believe that if you went to school and found a job, you could comfortably raise a family. I was raised to believe in the American dream. For the middle class, that dream has become harder and harder to make a reality. That's why I am exploring a run for U.S. Senate against Bob Menendez.
Unlike President Trump and Speaker Ryan, I realize that not every American has been born into a wealthy family. Unlike the majority of the Republican party, I realize that not every American has had the opportunities that allow them to "lift yourself up." And unlike the members of the GOP, I realize that everyone deserves a shot, everyone deserves a chance, and everyone deserves an opportunity. The tax bill passed by Republicans doesn't help middle-class Americans' ability to improve their lot in life, it hinders it. That's wrong and un-American.
We can't continue down this path of exploding debt. We can't continue down this path of only investing in the people who need our help the least. If we truly want to live up to our nation's creed, if we truly believe the words that we toss around like "patriotism" and "liberty," then it's time to have a conversation about how our nation spends it's citizens' tax dollars. It's time to have a conversation about the choices that we make moving forward.
We can choose to cut taxes for the wealthiest and perpetuate a lie about trickle down economics, or we can choose to invest in our most vulnerable--we have that choice. We can choose to cut the business tax rate by double digits while slashing Americans' access to Medicaid and Medicare--that's a choice. I believe those choices are the wrong choices.
I believe the better choice is investing in our education system and giving every American an equal shot at opportunity. I believe that rather than redistributing wealth from the middle-class to the wealthiest, we can invest in ensuring that every American has access to affordable healthcare. I believe that if the stock market is at an all-time high, we should be investing in rising wages and lowering the burden of taxes on the middle-class. I believe in common sense reform.
This shouldn't just be a Democratic philosophy, it should receive support from both sides of the aisle. Unfortunately, as many of you know, everything has become political. Everything has become a battle between parties, not a battle of ideas. That has to change. Our future depends on it.
I was raised to believe that how we spend our money shows where our priorities lie. There is no question that we can afford better schools. There is no question that we can afford better healthcare. There is no question that we can afford to make sure our children have a future worthy of America. If we can afford to go to war in Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, North Korea, Syria, or half of North Africa, then we can afford to invest in the American people. We can afford whatever we want to afford--those are all choices. The only question is whether the American people will make the right choice and demand a change in Washington.
The approval rating for members of Congress is at an all-time low for a reason. For far too long, Americans have felt like their Congressmen and women have repeatedly let them down. For far too long, Americans have watched as their elected officials enriched themselves while their constituents have struggled to meet their daily needs. For far too long, corporate kickbacks have become a political reality while help for middle-class families has been a broken political promise.
There is something happening across this country that is bigger than any election. Americans are standing up and demanding a change. Americans are recognizing that we can't just call ourselves great, we have to actually fulfill our obligations to be great. We have to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and shelter the homeless to be great. If we actually strive to be great, we have to do all of the things that politicians talk about in church but forget as soon as they enter Congress. The current tax bill does none of those things. It's time for Americans to rise up and hold our politicians accountable. We can't afford to wait.