The current administration in Washington is fond of saying how well the economy is doing. But is it really? Tax cuts that were supposed to put more money in the pockets of average citizens have instead increased the riches of the wealthiest Americans. The rest of us have seen overall price increases in food, gas, housing, and other daily expenses. The federal minimum wage has not seen an increase since 2009, almost 10 years ago. People in minimum-wage jobs have to work two, even three or more, jobs just to provide basic necessities for their families. Affordable housing is difficult to come by, particularly here in the Chattanooga area. It’s no wonder Tennessee ranks first in the country in bankruptcy filings.
But we can help change this by putting the right person in office. Dr. Danielle Mitchell, the Democratic candidate for Congress in Tennessee’s 3rd Congressional District, is a small business owner herself. She comes from a background of poverty and knows the value of hard work. She believes in paying a fair, livable wage that helps raise people up instead of keeping them held down. She supports quality education to help improve the chances of getting and keeping good-paying jobs. She is a strong advocate for local businesses rather than big corporations, and wants to bring the message of breaking the cycle of financial hardship that puts the burden of growing the economy on the working class so the wealthiest reap the benefits. The most vulnerable among us – children, the disabled, the elderly – are the ones who stand to suffer most, and Republicans in power seem to be okay with this kind of policy. Your current Congressman, Chuck Fleischmann, has been silent on these issues, showing his support for the administration’s policy with his silence.
We deserve better than this. We deserve someone who will listen to our concerns and fight for us in Washington. We are hard-working citizens of the 3rd District; let’s put Dr. Danielle Mitchell in office to be that voice for us. After years of silence, we need to be heard.
Kathy Lutes Ebel