On the Issues

An Economy that Works for Everyone

Working men and women are the backbone of this nation and the driver of our success. But for far too long, our system has rewarded wealth over work. Too many working families struggle to make ends meet while a small minority amass inconceivable amounts of wealth. The current level of inequality in this nation is unsustainable.

I believe we must work to create a fairer economy where every American has an equal opportunity to succeed and is paid fairly for their labor. It’s about time that the middle class got to share in the prosperity they helped create.

I support:

  • Strengthening our labor supply through expanded workforce development programs:
    • We must focus on the forgotten people in forgotten places. We need to move beyond subsistence programs and bottom-feeding jobs. And we need to retrain people whose skill base is less needed as we shift into the new economy. We can no longer afford to have any people on the sidelines to be competitive in the global economy.
    • We need to tie education to work in a meaningful way, starting early in life. Kids start playing hockey at four or five; they should start educational training as well, ensuring our most vulnerable kids have access to STEM and computing programs. The workers of tomorrow are middle schoolers now; the workers of the future are our toddlers. Education decides the redistribution of wealth; either a person is making money, or others will make money off of them.
  • Recognizing the potential economic benefit of addressing climate change. Clean energy jobs are already growing at twice the rate of other jobs. And we can decide to prioritize growth in this sector even further, creating more high-paying union jobs, especially in traditionally marginalized communities. This will address economic disparities and shift us into a new economy at a time when focusing on environmental crises is critically needed.
  • A focus on easier paths to home ownership and access to capital. This is the basis of stability and intergenerational wealth and prosperity. Homeownership is a major step into the middle class, creating financial and community stability.
  • Making it easier for small businesses to create new jobs and compete on a level playing field with big corporations by reducing bureaucracy, simplifying tax policies and making loans easy to access. Supporting local entrepreneurship and creating well-paying jobs is a clear path to the middle class.
  • Building on the investments of Biden initiatives like the CHIPS Act, which help create a future where America isn’t competing for low-wage manufacturing, but instead for the essential products of the future.
Up Next
Better Education, Greater Opportunities
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