We are living in a crucial time in American history. We live in the strongest, most capable, creative, and entrepreneurial country in the history of humankind. We have built this country with hard work, an educated society, and the ingenuity and determination to create, build, innovate, and grow the most vibrant, opportunity-filled society on earth.

Yet today, we are experiencing system shock. The complex, beautiful engine of growth and prosperity—our economy—is sputtering. We are faced with a choice: do we choose to each in turn look out for ourselves, or even our local community, and turn a blind eye to our shared national challenge? Or do we, in this moment of national crisis, look to each other to build together a stronger more vibrant society? Do we slander and tear down our national community, or do we work together to build and strengthen those institutions that keep us all stronger, more educated, and healthier?

I am running because I know we can do better. Economically the path of destroying our national community will be ruinous; morally, taking this path would be a failure of our shared duty to one another. I know that each of us works to support our neighbors; our church, synagogue, or mosque; and our community center. We do our best to make our schools better, our neighborhoods safer, our families stronger. We strive towards the good. I am tired of people telling us to be afraid of one another, or to be afraid of our government—which is our national community. We can and must do better — for ourselves, for our families, for our communities, and for our children.