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 To follow is a transcript of the Mellon speech. Mellon, Rob.
“Shared Prosperity: Rebuilding America’s Middle Class and Reclaiming
American Democracy”. Clat Adams Bicentennial Park, Quincy Illinois.
17 April 2015. Speech
Good morning – I want to thank you all for your support. My name is
Rob Mellon and I am currently a high school teacher at Quincy High
School and I also serve as the commander of the Army Reserve Drill
Sergeant unit here in Quincy.
I’ve come to you today with a simple message. We are at a tipping
point economically, and politically, our Democracy is in peril. When
I say we are at a tipping point, it is not common political
hyperbole. The last time we had income inequality at the current
levels was 1928. What followed that were the stock market crash and
the Great Depression. During that time the people did not know what
to do and the government did not know how to help.
We all know that we emerged from that dark time and starting right
after World War II in 1947 to 1977 we had the largest sustained
economic growth in our nation’s history. The American economy saw
massive production and a shared prosperity. During that 30 year
period, 90% of the wealth produced in the country was shared by 70%
of the population. So we know if we are willing to learn from our
history that when the American economy is working for the most
people – American families do well.
Unfortunately, since 1980 the system started to be changed to work
for the very few at the expense of the whole. Since that time wealth
has been concentrated in the hands of those who have already made it
and do not even need it.
Now, we have heard all of the scare tactics from the extreme right.
Far right wing politicians like Darin LaHood have extolled the evils
of big government. Extremists like Mr. LaHood have used this
sentiment to deregulate and create an environment where massive
banks and multi-national corporations with little loyalty to the
United States do as they please. These far right policies have
worked great for the few at the very top, but have been a disaster
for America’s middle class.
So what is the middle class facing today? The challenges and
problems are debilitating. Housing costs are up, college costs are
up, health care costs are up, food prices are up, but wages have
been stagnating for 30 years.
I want to make it very clear that I am not calling for equal
outcomes. I consider myself a strong proponent of American
capitalism. It is the incentives that capitalism offers that fosters
innovations and inventions and creates jobs. But for too many
Americans, many right here in Illinois, opportunity for growth seems
far away. America has always been the nation of plenty and about
providing opportunity. We need to return to that place.
So not equal outcomes, but your hard work should mean something. The
American people through hard work should be able to afford a home,
buy a car, take a vacation with your family, have decent access to
health care, and have a reliable pension.
 The problem with our economic condition today is that massive income
inequality has meant that aggregate demand has declined
significantly. What does that mean? – People are making less, so
they have less money in their pockets so they are spending less.
With limited purchasing power in America’s middle class there has
been a decline in upward mobility. I consider this a heartbreaking
fact – a child born in America today is less likely to improve their
station in life than a child born in Canada, Germany or France. Why?
That brings me to my second point – why do we have our priorities so
misplaced? As a nation we have our priorities all screwed up. It’s
a question of how we use our resources. All too often our
politicians have chosen to create tax loopholes for billionaires as
opposed to supporting our students, veterans, and seniors. My
question to Washington politicians is – whose side are you on
anyway?
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Congress is currently carrying out the wishes of less than 1% of the population.
The best example of that was our former congressman Aaron Schock. He is one of
the major reasons why the very, very few at the top have oversized influence,
and Darin LaHood is off to the same start. The first week of his candidacy he
raised a quarter of a million dollars – in less than a week. So with the
question I asked before – whose side are you on? Mr. LaHood has given the entire
district his answer. This flood of money in politics is seriously strangling our
democracy. I am not overstating that either – the democracy we all cherish is in
peril.
But, I have not only come here to shed light on the problems - I have come with
solutions. I want to make it clear that there are no magic potions. It will take
months, even years, of hard work and dedication. This is where you come in. We
have in our own power to make historic change – not only in this election, but
for our nation. The money in politics is significant, but there is no substitute
for getting people energized in a common cause. Make no mistake this is not a
Democrat or Republican cause, it is an American cause.
So here are some of measures the U.S. Congress can take to reverse our poor
economic condition and the decline of our democracy.
#1 – Reform the Tax System – make it fair and close the loopholes that give
corporations subsidies to send jobs overseas.
#2 – Set Rules and Effective Regulation – continue the reforms of Dodd-Frank
with the ultimate goal of reestablishing Glass-Steagall.
#3 – Investments in Education – lower the costs of college, fix the student loan
debacle, provide funds for public education, promote training programs to
produce more skilled labor.
#4 – Increased Funding for Research and Development – restore funding for
medical and engineering research. We need a new pipeline of ideas and
innovation.
#5 – Raise the Minimum Wage – this will not fix all the problems in the economy
but will pull working families from the lowest quintile of the economy out of
poverty. This must be our pledge as Americans – if you work hard for 40 hours a
week you should not live in poverty in America.
#6 – Rebuild our Infrastructure – this is not only a safety issue but a means to
attract new business. Businesses need infrastructure to succeed – water, power,
roads, bridges, police and fire. With the proposed cuts in Quincy we know this
all too well.
#7 – Equal Pay for Equal Work – this is 2015, women should not be paid 88-cents
for every dollar a man makes for the same work. More than that, we need to
protect women in the workplace – a woman should not fear getting fired for
simply asking what the guy down the hall doing the same job is being paid.
#8 – Continue Health Care Reform – keep the parts of the Affordable Care Act
that works to reduce costs and reform or remove the parts of the plan that are
not working.
#9 – Alternative Energy – continue investments in research and development to
lower carbon emissions, find alternative sources of energy and reduce our
dependence on fossil fuels.
#10 – Protect the American Worker – protect a workers right to unionize and
bargain collectively. This is about fundamental fairness, decent wages, stable
pensions, and a healthy work environment.
The challenges are great and it may appear to be an uphill climb, but it can be
done – this is America – it has been done before. Thank you all and may God
bless the United States.
[Text provided by Logan County
Democrats Chair Rebecca Drake] |
