Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) said during a speech in New York City’s Washington Square Park Monday evening that certain industries – namely, the fossil fuel industry, gun industry, and pharmaceutical industry – are causing the deaths of American citizens across the board.
In a speech focusing on her plan to end corruption in Washington, Warren pointed to three issues specifically – climate change, gun safety, and health care – to illustrate the need for anti-corruption reform.
“Despite our being the strongest and wealthiest country in the history of the world, our democracy is paralyzed. And why? Because giant corporations have bought off our government,” Warren said, accusing the fossil fuel industry, gun industry, and health care industry of buying off the government, concluding that Americans are losing their lives as a result.
Trump Announces Iran Deal Is Complete, Says Military Operations Will End Immediately
Trump bet tariffs would bring back American factory jobs. New report says it didn’t work
Trump heads to G7 with Iran deal momentum, trade fights waiting
Immigrants filed tens of thousands of lawsuits in Trump’s first year
Both gubernatorial candidates look to Make Iowa Healthy Again
Detroit sisters accused of stabbing restaurant worker after wrong food order
Trump mixes sports and patriotism with UFC Freedom 250 ‘spectacle’
UFC Freedom 250 White House event: Photos
Sean Strickland removed from UFC White House event by Secret Service
National Guardsman pleads guilty to fatal shooting of soldier he found in bed with his ex-girlfriend
Eric Trump denies asking former UFC star if White House fights were rigged
Trump announces peace deal with Iran, declares Strait of Hormuz will reopen: ‘Let the oil flow!’
Trump arrives for UFC fight
Boston police arrest 14-year-old after masked suspects allegedly rob siblings’ lemonade stand
Congressional baseball game offers longstanding traditions, and plenty of confusion
She said:
Americans are killed by floods and fires in a rapidly waning planet. Why? Because huge fossil fuel corporations have bought off our government. Americans are killed with unthinkable speed and efficiency in our streets and our stores and our schools. Why? Because the gun industry has bought off our government. Americans are dying because they can’t afford to fill prescriptions or pay for treatment. Why? Because health insurance companies and drug companies have bought off our government.
Warren’s wide-ranging speech also took aim at the wealthy, with the crowd repeatedly chanting “two cents” in response to Warren’s “Wealth Tax.”
“That is a two-cent tax on fortunes over $50 million. Your first $50 [million] – don’t worry, you’re in the clear,” she said, adding that it’s “just two cents.”
Trump Announces Iran Deal Is Complete, Says Military Operations Will End Immediately
Trump bet tariffs would bring back American factory jobs. New report says it didn’t work
Trump heads to G7 with Iran deal momentum, trade fights waiting
Immigrants filed tens of thousands of lawsuits in Trump’s first year
Both gubernatorial candidates look to Make Iowa Healthy Again
Detroit sisters accused of stabbing restaurant worker after wrong food order
Trump mixes sports and patriotism with UFC Freedom 250 ‘spectacle’
UFC Freedom 250 White House event: Photos
Sean Strickland removed from UFC White House event by Secret Service
National Guardsman pleads guilty to fatal shooting of soldier he found in bed with his ex-girlfriend
Eric Trump denies asking former UFC star if White House fights were rigged
Trump announces peace deal with Iran, declares Strait of Hormuz will reopen: ‘Let the oil flow!’
Trump arrives for UFC fight
Boston police arrest 14-year-old after masked suspects allegedly rob siblings’ lemonade stand
Congressional baseball game offers longstanding traditions, and plenty of confusion
“I look at it this way. You built a great fortune here in this country– worked hard, stayed up late – unlike anyone else. Yeah– you worked hard, you built a great fortune, or you inherited one. Good for you,” Warren continued, echoing her previous “you didn’t build that” sentiments.
She added:
But I guarantee that any great fortune in America was built at least in part using workers all of us help pay to educate. Built at least in part, getting your goods to market on roads and bridges all of us helped pay to build. Built at least in part protected by police and firefighters all of us– help pay their salaries. And we’re happy to do it. This is America. We’re happy to invest in opportunities for everyone, but we’re saying if you make it big … then pitch in two cents so everyone else gets a chance to make it.
“And what can we do with two cents?” Warren asked, listing universal childcare, universal pre-k, and tuition-free college as a few examples. She also promised to raise the wages of childcare workers, cancel the bulk of student loan debt, and invest $50 billion in minority institutions.
Story cited here.
