I run, not to oppose a particular candidate, but to offer an agenda for Illinois of economic opportunity, social justice, civic renewal, and political reform. And I run to change the nature of what politics has become in our nation and in our state politics of timidness, doubletalk, cronyism, and legalized bribery through the money power of lobbyists and special interests. Today we are in danger of losing our democracy.
Average citizens have no voice.
Cynicism and disrespect of politics and politicians is the attitude of the majority of our citizens. As our democracy erodes, plutocracy takes hold. Plutocracy is defined as government by the wealthy. I stand here today to declare my commitment to be the sworn enemy of plutocracy. Neither political party can take pride in their record of creating these conditions.