Senator Warren not satisfied with crumbs

If the United States is such a great and wealthy country, why are so many Americans poor or struggling to make ends meet? Why has our country not seen clear progress in many areas of social life? For decades now, many politicians from both major parties have been telling us to be satisfied with the crumbs that fall from our nation’s economic table. At the same time, in other countries of Europe and Scandinavia, the quality of life has increased with many major changes and improvements implemented.

Changes such as: more job security, reduction in the work week, higher incomes, quality public schools, debt-free higher education, strong technical trades programs, comprehensive quality health care (including medications) for all residents, publicly funded daycare, enhanced environmental protection, strong support for clean and green industries and less income inequality. At the same time, they manage to fund their modern infrastructure including high-speed trains.

Most of these countries have a fairer and simpler tax system as well that manages to fund their public benefits, without a significant national debt.

In our country, however, we can’t seem to find enough money for our basic human needs, but there always seems to be enough money for large tax breaks for corporations and high-income earners, increases in our defense budgets and for unfunded wars.

Senator Warren is running for President to change this situation. She recognizes that what this country needs are big changes, like President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal, and not just minor adjustments or a few crumbs from our economic table. She does not believe that making some minor changes will provide for the public welfare of all our citizens, but that we must be bold and demand big change.

She knows firsthand what it means to struggle with minimal income. Growing up in Oklahoma her biggest dream was to become a public-school teacher. She managed to do that with great determination and many sacrifices. That strong work ethic and her personal determination eventually earned her, first a law degree, and then a professorship teaching the law. As part of President Obama’s administration, she, almost single-handedly, created the new Consumer Protection Bureau, which since its inception has returned to American consumers $17 billion of fraudulently collected fees and charges. Of course, making change will be resisted by many established institutions, e.g. the financial sector, the healthcare industry and corporations and wealthy individuals who currently legally, are paying less than their fair share of taxes, and who will be fighting her efforts energetically.

But the final verdict on the direction of our country belongs to us, the voters. Change won’t be easy, but our country and our fellow Americans are worth the effort. And to those who are concerned that a woman can not be elected president, I would only say, look who was just elected president. Can a woman not do better? I believe, yes, she can, and I ‘ll be voting for her.

Democrat Peter Somssich, of Portsmouth, represents District 27 in the New Hampshire House. The views expressed are those of the writer.