Dear Friends,
I am writing to you as a concerned member of our community, grappling with the challenges that many of us encounter despite achieving certain markers of success by conventional standards. With a career in the California tech industry, I am fortunate to earn a salary that, on paper, would suggest a comfortable lifestyle. However, the reality I, along with countless others, confront is far from comfortable. Despite my efforts, half of my monthly income is paid in rent, aligning closely with the median cost in my area. What remains is largely allocated to basic necessities, leaving little room for any savings.
This struggle is not mine alone; this is a pervasive issue affecting so many of our fellow Americans. The exorbitant cost of living is not merely a financial burden; it's a barrier to true economic stability and security. It shackles the dreams and potential of hardworking individuals striving to save for their future, invest in education, or simply enjoy a reasonable quality of life.
Further, as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I find myself constrained by limited options regarding where I can safely reside. The soaring cost of living, particularly in urban areas with employment opportunities, forces many of us into difficult dilemmas. Must we choose between residing in cities that offer safety and career advancement, albeit at the expense of financial security? Are we compelled to sacrifice savings, postpone life milestones, or compromise our living standards to make ends meet?
I am tired, I wake daily with a profound sense of anxiety and concern for our collective futures. This situation has taken a significant toll on my mental and emotional well-being. Despite my efforts and accomplishments, I often feel overlooked, overwhelmed and undervalued by a system seemingly rigged against those striving for stability and fulfillment. I do not believe I am alone in these feelings.
I fear my success is but a mirage, obscured by systemic issues within our governance and economic structures. At the core lies a form of capitalism prioritizing profits over people, perpetuating inequality and making necessities like housing increasingly out of reach for large portions of the population.
I recognize that the fundamental issues are not new; they're centuries-old, ingrained in societies since the time of the Magna Carta. I believe our failure to address them stems from a reluctance to confront the flaws in our economic and political systems. If we are to make any positive gains in the future, we must acknowledge that unchecked pursuit of profit often comes at the expense of citizens' mental, physical, and economic well-being.
I am frustrated and angered by the ongoing ignorance of these systemic issues. The voices of hardworking individuals are drowned out by capitalist interests, leaving us to suffer while a small elite amasses wealth. This disparity is not merely unfair; it's inhumane.
Limited by time devoted to work, I have little opportunity for political engagement, which seems to be part of the plan of capitalist and Republican Party. Despite my financial constraints, the Democratic Party incessantly solicits campaign contributions. I have to ask, where are these funds supposed to come from? How many more times must we endure the most important election of our time?
While sympathetic to the Democratic Party's goals of social justice and economic fairness, I'm increasingly disheartened by its leadership seemingly complicit in perpetuating policies exacerbating our struggles. The gap between party elite and everyday working-class struggles erodes trust and breeds disillusionment. Calls for contributions highlight this disconnect, oblivious to the daily financial strain on ordinary citizens. Moreover, the suspicion that the party elite are profiting from the stock market with insider knowledge further widens this gap, deepening the sense of alienation and frustration among voters.
I am not naive to the difficulties the party has faced in trying to make things better for people with the nearly even split of our Congress, however, I am frustrated because I do not see the party officials publicly angry about the roadblocks nor out front with policies designed to address these fundamental disconnects. I grow tired of the endless ways we are trying to address the symptoms of the problem instead of tackling the root causes head on.
We work daily, contributing to national growth, yet we're denied affordable housing and economic security. Our cries for help are seemingly met with indifference, dismissed as collateral damage in a system favoring the few over the many.
Finally, as an Xennial, I'm deeply concerned about the disillusionment among younger generations, while, at the same time understanding their concern. Their perception of a political landscape failing to address their needs exacerbates their disillusionment. They see a government and system perpetuating inequality and lacking meaningful action on their concerns. This sentiment risks alienating a generation seeking representation and solutions. A trend I fear is beginning to show in lagging support for President Biden’s reelection campaign.
I implore the Democratic Party to awaken to the reality millions face. We need leaders to confront powerful interests perpetuating inequality and neglect. We mustn’t hide from our past but instead learn from our mistakes. Our younger generations see that America, while virtuous, has often failed in our promise that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. We can and must do better; Bold action to address these and other systemic failures is imperative for our future, if there is to be one.
Thank you for your consideration.