1. United States
2. Mich.
3. Letter

The Cost of Indifference: A Mandate for Affordability Recent public statements from President Trump indicating that he does not "think about affordability" have sent a concrete message to the American public. While the executive branch may have the luxury of overlooking the price tag of daily existence, the families you represent do not. From the checkout line to the monthly rent check, the struggle to remain solvent is the defining reality of modern American life. I must remind you of a fundamental truth of our democracy: you do not serve at the pleasure of any one leader or political movement. You work at the pleasure of The People. Your authority is a temporary loan from the citizens who are currently drowning in rising costs for housing, healthcare, and basic necessities. Legislative indifference to the cost-of-living crisis is a direct abdication of your duty. When the White House signals a retreat from the struggle of the common citizen, your responsibility to act becomes absolute. I encourage you to prioritize affordability in every vote, bill, and budget. We are not an afterthought; everyday Americans are your employers. It is time to prove that the struggles of the American people are more important than the rhetoric of the powerful.