We are not OK. 

I believe that the policies, rhetoric, and behavior coming out of the Trump administration are not only authoritarian, but also cruel and extremely harmful to honestly most Americans. The gutting of government programs alone threatens our water and air, our health and safety, and our ability to take care of ourselves and our families. But maybe even worse is the way our leaders talk about us and to us, even to each other. I cannot and will not stand for the crude and denigrating treatment of all kinds of my neighbors and family members.

 

Everyone who lives in this district is my neighbor, and I feel a true obligation to love you and work with and for you. We have so many divides, some of them are just human nature. But most of them have been pushed on us to keep us fighting: divide the working people, the rural people against the urban people—so that we don’t notice the powerful stealing our crumbs. When I say working people I mean you, me, and everyone we know. The staggering wealth inequality in our country is a choice. Working together we can make a different choice.

 

And, Holy Cow what is going on with our economy! Cuts to services, tax breaks for billionaires, wildly unpredictable and ill-advised tariffs, laying off thousands of government employees, and cuts to healthcare. Every day is a new horror. But if bad policies helped get us here, different policies and programs can guarantee a better standard of living for everyone regardless of what season of life we are in. Higher minimum wage, policies that strengthen unions, universal healthcare, clean air and water, more support for small businesses and family farms, and fair tax policies.