Inequality Reigns Without Economic Democracy

Our economic democracy needs to come before our flawed foreign policy. I believe it begins by building bridges and understanding how pay differential and taxes impact the way we feel about ourselves and our communities. These kitchen table social and economic issues ought to have the goal of bringing dignity and equality of opportunity to our working families.

Many know me as the guy with the "Be Patriotic Impeach Bush" and "Fund Our Future, Not Bush's War" billboards along 95. I'm about having the resolve to defend the "essence" of the American dream outlined in our Constitution.

Coming from humble beginnings, being a father of five and a business owner, I know about how social exclusion stymies equality of opportunity. First, nobody is above our laws, otherwise, we permit two sets of rules. This erodes our sense of fairness and trust. Second, if we work hard we should be able to expect those things that create quality of life. The positive impact is healthier and happier families and communities. We would focus on health care, education and public transportation while safeguarding fair economic security.

No doubt we're experiencing an accelerated pace of change within our families, class and nations. We can easily slip into thinking others' needs threaten our own position and security. I'm unhappy with the results. We see many in leadership positions (or those who aspire to be elected) confuse superiority, status and social rank with service. This leads to efforts to concentrate power and increase resources for a few while reducing living standards for the rest of us.

Concentrated power perpetuates a loss of freedoms, exploitation and subordination. It creates the corrosive effects of exclusion, prejudice and discrimination as well as lower levels of trust. It creates imbalance and high costs of conflict over scarce resources. It leads to a "might is right" dominance mentality and ignores the benefits of cooperation, reciprocity and fairness of allocation.

Our moral compass emphasizes we all need to feel valued and appreciated. It is my hope that you insist public debates occur prior to the primaries. It's the only legitimate discourse the public has to ensure some level of democratic disclosure. There have been no fewer than six separate attempts from our campaign and media personalities to engage all candidates with no success to date.

If candidates won't represent themselves in Rhode Island, why would you and I want them representing us in Washington?