1. United States
2. N.J.
3. Letter

With all the craziness in the world, and all of the media interest focused on very specific topics like ICE, Iran, and the reflecting pool that proved that while money doesn’t grow on trees, wasting it *does* grow on water… underlying issues that have been ongoing for decades still exist and still require attention. Educational deficits, food deserts, social service and public welfare iniquities, homelessness and hunger still exist in this “great” nation, and aside from pretty constant and consistent budgetary and staffing cuts to all of the aforementioned issues, little other action has occurred. In the richest country on earth, there should be no unhoused citizens. No hungry children. No need for Abbott districts. No choosing between food and rent. And while I understand that there is no blanket fix for all of these things combined, there ARE actions that can address things one by one- actions that WE THE PEOPLE feel have been intentionally ignored. So, in an effort to assist you in creating solutions to problems that actually concern your constituents, I respectfully offer two first steps: taxing the ultra wealthy and utilizing those funds to provide free or reduced housing for ALL citizens, and combatting food waste while supporting hungry families by forcing supermarkets to donate foods that would otherwise be thrown away. My first suggested act is not a new concept. Progressive candidates have highlighted the importance of fair taxation on the mega wealthy for decades. Since many of these filthy rich people hold positions of power and influence, it seems highly unlikely that the political figures “owned” by these investors and lobbyists will ever pursue fair taxation. However, the second suggested act is far more niche. In 2016, France enacted legislation for certain produce providers to be forced to donate soon-to-expire foods and produce to the hungry. Recently, they’ve expanded this legislation to include all supermarkets and food sellers. Since the products being donated would have been otherwise discarded, there are no negative effects to the businesses- just pure benefit for the lower classes. The United States of America is one of the top perpetrators of food waste. The average American throws away about 25% of the food they purchase weekly. Grocery stores bin approximately 30% of their products annually- approximately 16 BILLION tons per year. With a federal government that consistently cuts budgets for social service initiatives such as SNAP, this is unconscionable. Stand up for us all- the people and the planet, alike. Introduce legislation to feed the hungry and reduce food waste. It’s a change that literally has no financial or physical victims. You get to look like a hero, your constituents get to eat, and waste is reduced. And it won’t hurt your bottom line. It’s literally a simple thing you could do to start reclaiming the trust and support of your constituents. Thank you.