Marcy Kaptur: “America needs a new declaration of economic independence: Freedom, justice, opportunity. These are the values that our…”

“America needs a new declaration of economic independence: Freedom, justice, opportunity. These are the values that our parents, grandparents, and forebears lived and died for. These are the values that prompt young men and women to give themselves to military and public service. These are the values that reflect the highest ideals of our country and what America has historically offered to the world. Thus, last week's debate on taxes, the first major economic debate of the 21st century and of the new Presidency, disappointed me greatly. The debate should have centered on what is the wisest economic course of action for the sustenance of our republic. But the debate basically boiled down to what every American can take for himself or herself. The President went around the country divisively and derisively saying, 'It's not the government's money; it's your money.' Except for one thing: We, the American people, are the government. His rhetoric appealed to the most selfish instincts imaginable; and his proposals are proving he is headed towards government of the rich, by the rich, and for the rich.”