Issues Facing America

Floor Speech

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Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, when I was growing up, I was raised to believe in the American dream. My mom taught me that we were blessed because God and our Founders created the greatest country ever, where anything was possible. We weren't allowed to complain. Debt, Big Government, socialism, and communism were bad. College was for a better paying job. Church on Sundays was absolutely not optional.

While I didn't always appreciate my tough-love, my-way-or-the-highway mom growing up, I now thank God every day for my mom and this country. She gave me the opportunity to experience every lesson this country had to offer before I was 20.

Sadly, the values that I grew up with are becoming a way of the past, but I believe these values, these virtues, can and should be part of our country's future. The left has worked hard over the last 50 years to discredit the values of the America I was raised with and the values of the America I want my grandkids to grow up with.

In recent weeks, we have seen the Democrats try hard to paint our President and the entire Republican Party as ``darkness,'' but let me tell you what darkness would actually look like in America.

What if our country turned the keys over to the far left and turned away from capitalism in favor of socialism? The data is already in on that. The result would be the same as it has been throughout history: Socialism would destroy our economy and cause widespread poverty and oppression. Darkness.

What if our country just gave up on the battle to protect innocent human life and agreed with the political party that proudly embraces the killing of the unborn at any time, for any reason? Darkness.

What if we decide to change our First Amendment, editing out our freedom of speech and freedom of religion, forcing Christians and Jews to retreat from the public square and silencing any who dare to speak up? Darkness.

What if America did what every authoritarian government in history has done and must eventually do--disarm the American people? Darkness.

What if we defunded our police forces across the country, even just partially? What would happen to public safety? How would life in our cities be affected? Turn on your TV for the answer. Darkness.

What if we allowed people to throw homemade bombs at police and burn down police stations and then pretended that these violent demonstrations are peaceful? Darkness.

What if we enacted the Green New Deal? Literal darkness.

What if we let China--a Communist country that systematically imprisons and murders its own citizens--take advantage of American workers and put them out of work? Darkness.

What if we teach our kids that America is a bad country with an evil history that must be erased and that America is fundamentally a morally bankrupt country? Darkness.

Republicans are fighting for issues that the American public care about. People want good jobs, a good education for their kids, and they want to live in safe communities. Republicans are working to defend our law enforcement, invest in our military, secure the border, and stop illegal immigration. Republicans are standing up to dictators in Latin America and to Communist China, after the Democrats have appeased them for decades.

Here is the fundamental difference between Democrats and Republicans: Democrats want to control your life; Republicans want to give you a life. Republicans want to give every American the opportunity to live their version of the American dream. Governments don't do that. Politicians don't do that.

The American people are dreamers, and if we get government out of their way, the innovation, determination, and entrepreneurial spirit of the American people and American business will shine bright.

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