American families are under assault.

It’s the price of groceries, gas, and affordable housing.

It’s health care and higher education costs so burdensome that people need exorbitant loans to pay for them.

It’s the trampling of civil rights, both in the courts and at the ballot box.

It’s cruel deportation actions and the dismantling of federal government programs, both at home and abroad, that have fed the needy and cared for the sick.

It’s the assault on science and evidence-based medicine.

Democracy itself is under threat. Orange County Democrats are fighting back.

How?

By providing an alternative vision for this country that addresses the unequal and unfair practices that are the cornerstone of the current administration.

One of our pillars going forward is the “FairShare Framework,” a systematic approach to “leveling the playing field” for all Americans.

 

In a series of posts, we will lay out our vision on how Orange County Democrats can lead the state and the nation in the fight to help our fellow Americans.

And if you think new ideas for a fairer economy and a more democratic society aren’t needed, then just look at the facts:

  • A Harris Poll for Fortune found that 64% of six-figure earners now describe their income as “survival mode, not wealth.

  • Food-at-home prices increased 2.9% in April compared to one year earlier — the sharpest annual grocery inflation rate since August 2023. The USDA forecasts the pressure will continue: grocery prices could rise by as much as 4% to 4.5% by the end of 2026.

  • Gas prices are up 50% since the beginning of the Iran war.

  • CEO pay has risen more than 1,000% since 1978, while worker pay rose only 26%. (Economic Policy Institute)

  • College now costs about $38,270 per year on average for a student in the U.S. (Education Data Initiative)

  • In 2023, the average price of childcare for two children was nearly $25,000 in a center-based program — often exceeding in-state college tuition in many parts of the country. (Center for American Progress)

  • On average across the 50 largest U.S. metros, Fair Market Rents for one-bedroom apartments are up more than 40% since 2021, and two-bedroom rents have climbed more than 37% over the same period. (LendingTree)

  • Analyses of recent Republican tax bills show that 60% of tax cut dollars are going to go to the top 20% of households, and more than one-third would go to those earning $460,000 or more. (Tax Policy Center)

We will look at each one of these topics in greater detail in subsequent posts and offer alternative proposals and policy recommendations that we think will address the highly unfair and unequal environment we see today.

This is not pie-in-the-sky thinking. This is a fact-based framework for sharing the American pie so everyone benefits and everyone wins. Every American deserves a chance to thrive and succeed, not just the one-tenth of one percent.

Join us as we build a better and fairer tomorrow together.