Tsongas for President 92'
Announcement Speech
Paul TsongasHello Lowell, I grew up here in a part of the old American heartland, but I've stayed here in Lowell, but I've seen what has happened to the middle class and working America by unrestricted trade, and the corporate influence on our capital, and the bloody war on business. I am the son of an immigrant father who ran a laundromat, and the mother who was also from greek stock, but I am an American. and I am a Democrat proud in both of those creeds, for this nation has shepherded tens of millions to its shores, and this party has welcomed those same immigrants to our nation, with open arms.
Two hundred years ago, our Founding Fathers gave us a democracy. It was based upon the simple, yet noble, idea that government derives its validity from the consent of the governed. We were never meant to have American workers rank ninth in the world in wage scales.
We were never meant to have dysfunctional schools or imploding cities or racial disharmony or an environment at risk. America is more than this. We are more than this. Our destiny is greatness and we must return to its fulfillment. Enough of this is Washington avoidance. Enough of this is Washington mediocrity.
Now, after 11 years of Ronald Reagan and George Bush, the record speaks for itself: Falling wages. In 1980, our workers earned the highest wages in the world. Now America ranks 10th. Foreign ownership of industry. Nearly 20% of American manufacturing is now owned by foreign interests. In Japan and Germany, less than 3% of manufacturing is foreign-owned. Foreign-owned commercial real estate includes not just Rockefeller Center, but nearly 50% of downtown Los Angeles, and 40% of downtown Houston. Declining financial strength. In 1980, 2 of the 3 largest banks were American. Now, the largest American bank is ranked 21st. Tripling the national debt. U.S. debt has tripled since 1980, to $3.2 trillion, making us the largest debtor nation in history.
I am a pro-business, pro-jobs, and Pro-Worker President. I am also the first Democrat to run in this years elections, we need a strong, independent voice in Washington, I am that man, not for the Democrats, or the Republicans, but for the Americans. Thank you all, God Bless you all and God Bless America!
