Over the last few months, I’ve been hearing the same thing from retired folks across Cleveland County, Lincoln County, and Cherryville.
Everything costs too much.
Groceries. Power bills. Insurance. Prescription drugs. Home repairs. The everyday expenses of life seem to climb higher every year.
As a retired public school teacher, I consider myself fortunate. When I began teaching in the 1980s, there was a strong retirement system in place for educators and state employees. It wasn’t a path to wealth, but it provided a measure of security after a lifetime of work.
Not everyone had that opportunity.
Many people in our communities spent their lives working in factories, mills, construction, trucking, farming, retail, and small businesses. They worked hard, raised families, paid taxes, and helped build the communities we call home.
Today, too many of those same people are worried about whether their retirement income will keep up with rising costs.
A recent AARP survey found that more retirees are returning to work. Some choose to work because they enjoy staying active, social, and engaged. There is nothing wrong with that.
But many others are going back to work because they feel they have no choice. Their retirement income simply does not stretch as far as it once did. That should concern all of us.
I believe people who work hard throughout their lives deserve dignity and security in retirement. They should not have to choose between filling a prescription and paying an electric bill. They should not have to worry that one unexpected expense will wipe out years of careful planning.
As your State Senator, I will fight for policies that strengthen retirement security, improve access to affordable health care, protect public services that seniors depend on, and address the rising cost of everyday life. This issue is bigger than politics. It is about how we treat the people who built our communities.
Retirees deserve leaders who understand their challenges and are willing to fight for practical solutions. That is one reason I am running for North Carolina Senate District 44.
