America was built on the promise that if you work hard, play fair, and take responsibility, you can build a better life for yourself and your family. That’s the American Dream. But today, that dream is being smothered—not by the people who work hard, but by the corporations and banks that have rigged the system to extract wealth instead of creating it.
Let me be clear: I believe in capitalism. I believe in free markets. I believe in strong, thriving companies. But capitalism isn’t free if the game is fixed. A truly free market demands fair play. And right now, we don’t have that.
Banks and corporations can charge 30% interest rates on credit cards and push “buy now, pay later” schemes on kids who don’t know any better. They’ll renegotiate billion-dollar loans with the wealthy but take the homes of working families behind on their mortgage. They’ll lobby Washington to protect their profits, while everyday Americans are told it’s their own fault for drowning in debt.
Yes—personal responsibility matters. But let’s be honest: why do we never look at the predator? Why do we excuse the corporation preying on the vulnerable while shaming the individual for falling into the trap? That is not moral. That is not conservative. That is exploitation dressed up as capitalism.
The Reality: Debt Is Crushing a Generation
The numbers tell the story:
- U.S. household debt hit $18.39 trillion in mid-2025, with credit card debt climbing to $1.21 trillion.
- The average credit card balance is now $7,321, and delinquency rates are soaring—14% nationwide, nearly 23% in the lowest-income communities.
- Student loan debt sits at $1.64 trillion, with nearly 6 million borrowers already 90+ days delinquent after payments resumed. The average debt per borrower? Over $39,000.
- And “buy now, pay later” schemes are targeting young people, luring them into short-term loans with hidden traps.
This is the most indebted generation in American history. And what does my opponent do? She cozies up to the very banks and corporations driving this crisis. She prioritizes their welfare over yours. She defends the system that bleeds families dry while smiling for photo ops back home. That’s not leadership. That’s selling out.
My Approach: Capitalism That Works for People
I’m not here to destroy banks or corporations—we need them. But I will never allow their success to supersede the success of the American people. My approach is simple:
- Break up concentrated banking power. Encourage more local banks, credit unions, and lenders that actually serve communities.
- Protect citizens from predatory lending. No more legalized usury—no more fine print designed to trap.
- Promote lending that creates wealth. Small-business loans, mortgages, and investments in real growth—not endless cycles of debt.
- Hold predators accountable. If you profit by preying on vulnerable people, you don’t get to hide behind the label of “free market.” That’s not free. That’s fraud.
This is not anti-business. This is pro-fairness, pro-competition, pro-capitalism. A free market without rules is not freedom—it’s lawlessness.
The Moral Foundation
And let’s not forget: this is a moral issue. The Bible is clear—usury is a sin. Exploiting the poor with exorbitant interest is condemned in both the Old and New Testaments. You cannot claim virtue while preying on the desperate.
Conservatism rooted in Christian values recognizes this. A system that rewards honest work, innovation, and stewardship is moral. A system that rewards financial predators is not.
Conclusion: People First, Always
Here’s the choice: we can have a future where corporations dictate the rules and Americans drown in debt, or we can return to the principles that made this country strong—free markets, fair play, and a government that protects its citizens, not the powerful.
My opponent has chosen Wall Street and big banks. I choose the people of Missouri. I choose families, workers, small business owners—the builders of this nation.
Because at the end of the day, the question is simple: will America serve its people, or will its people serve the corporations?
I know where I stand. I stand with you.