JOHNSON CITY - U.S. Rep. Harold Ford Jr. believes in simple arithmetic. On Tuesday, Ford, who is running for U.S. Senate, explained at a campaign stop in Johnson City exactly why he believes that most problems facing the nation today must be solved with basic mathematics."What separates me and my opponents - I don't think they're bad people, I just think they have the wrong priorities," Ford said. "We have all these challenges in front of us. My opponents would tell you the way to solve them is to just keep giving tax breaks to rich people."
During his stop at Sunny's Cafeteria on Tuesday, Ford told the primarily Democratic crowd in attendance that he supports using the money gained by not offering such tax cuts to improve other ailments in the United States, such as health care and education. He discouraged the idea of the government continuing to "borrow and spend" money while "running up a huge deficit with no major benefits" from doing so.
While someone might collect $200 for passing "Go" in Monopoly, Ford explained that this is not a game and our government must be conscious of how money is being spent.
"We're playing with real money, real lives and real futures," he said. "If we're giving all these tax breaks, where are we getting the money for all these other things?"
In what Ford calls a "commitment to make government work for you," he focuses on five major issues facing the United States including balancing the budget and lowering deficits, reducing the nation's dependence on foreign oil by 75 percent, and making health care and prescription drugs more affordable.
"The country - and I think voters all across this state - are just looking for answers," he said.
Should he get elected, the Memphis congressman wants to work on "making changes in the way politics is done in America and the way politics is done in the world," he said. "This campaign isn't about me. It's about a change in how the government responds to people. I want to make sure we're doing everything we can to make the America we're giving our kids safer and more secure."
Ford is being opposed by state Sen. Rosalind Kurita in the Democratic primary, while former congressmen Ed Bryant and Van Hilleary and former Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker are battling it out in the Republican primary.
Comments: Once again, I am proud that Congressman Ford is fighting for all Tennesseans in this race.
Congressman Ford understands how crucial the decisions made in the U.S. Senate play in everyday citizens lives.
Since taking power, George W. Bush and the Republican Party have created the largest government in United States history.
This government spends more and and taxes the middle class more than any other in U.S. history.
Our government is clearly in need of reform. And, Harold Ford Jr. will reform it.
Related: Harold Ford Jr. Represents Change
Article Source: Kingsport Times-News
