Home Depot founder Bernie Marcus, the billionaire Republican donor, claims that “socialism” has destroyed the American work ethic. He uses the word the way many Republican politicians do—to mean any public investment in people. Like, using tax dollars to build stronger bridges is okay. But using tax dollars to build stronger communities? Socialism.
He also called American workers lazy and stupid.
It made me angry on behalf of all the working people I’ve met knocking doors in D-26. It’s in the district’s modest neighborhoods, with smaller houses and duplexes and older apartment buildings, where everybody seems to be juggling multiple jobs. No matter how hard they work, they can’t get ahead of rising rent or the cost of groceries or their medical bills.
Tennessee’s Republican-led government has done nothing to help these hardworking folks. Quite the opposite: it has refused to disburse hundreds of millions of federal dollars intended to give them temporary help so they at least have a chance to catch up and get ahead.
That because Tennessee’s government doesn’t serve people; it serves wealthy corporations (like Home Depot). Our state government has deliberately kept hourly wages low: the minimum wage here has been $7.25 since 2009. It also suppresses workers’ ability to unionize and fight for higher wages, more job protections, and better benefits. It has prevented our cities from incentivizing affordable housing development, and it has failed to protect Tennesseans from predatory developers and landlords.
Wealthy corporations get big tax breaks in Tennessee. As a result there’s less money available to get more Tennesseans healthy, housed, fed, and educated so they can join the middle class. Because Tennesseans are paid less and get fewer government services than workers in most states, it’s harder for them to get ahead and build generational wealth.
Those are the people I meet when I’m knocking doors in Hixson and Harrison and Lupton City. They’re not lazy or stupid. They’re exhausted and frustrated and worried.
Republicans have held all the power in Tennessee for more than a decade. If you’re tired of the hamster wheel, vote them out. Elect leaders who care about you.
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