Brianna Kraemer
Carolina Journal
Republican vice presidential candidate US Sen. JD Vance, R-OH, told students at High Point University on Thursday they should be “pissed off” about the position they’ve been put in at the hands of a failed generation of American leadership.
“You should be pissed off because you’re the first generation in the history of the United States of America that is unlikely to be able to own a home; that is unlikely to be able to earn a wage on which you can raise a family; that is more likely to be indebted than you are to accumulate wealth,” said Vance. “And the reason you should be pissed off is because it’s come from a failed generation of American leadership, the people who are older than me and older than you — they have failed you.”
Vance joined Turning Point USA President Charlie Kirk in North Carolina for a town hall event in which students were able to ask questions to Vance just five days ahead of Election Day. One student asked about how the administration plans to improve the economy in light of the significant rise in prices for everyday items, housing, and rent that young adults are experiencing.
“I want to start out by saying I grew up in a working-class family,” JD Vance began jokingly in reference to Kamala Harris’ frequent mention of growing up in a middle-class family. The Ohio senator pledged to lower costs and housing prices for young adults hoping to one day own a home.
“They’ve created a housing market where it’s nearly impossible for most Americans your age to be able to buy a home. This was a policy choice,” Vance added, stating that housing prices have gone up by 45% in North Carolina and at similar rates across all the major battleground states. “The failure that has fallen on your generation was a policy choice, and we can make a different policy choice, but only if you guys get pissed off about the position you’ve been put in and vote for a change in leadership.”
He said not enough homes are being built, but Trump’s regulatory policies would allow more new homes to be constructed than those of, Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for president. Another driver of high housing prices is illegal immigration, which Vance said takes away housing away from Americans and drives up costs.
While one of the Trump administration’s priorities will be lowering the cost of living, Vance said that can’t be achieved unless the “ridiculous, out-of-control spending from the federal government” is also addressed. Currently, the national debt stands at $36 trillion and the federal government continues to spend more than it takes in, which Vance said is driving the higher prices burdening Americans for years, spending he said must be cut.
“Like so many other issues, this one affects you more than it does me, right?” Vance said. “Because all of you are going to outlive me… You’re going to be paying off the debt that we’re incurring right now for a lot longer than any of our politicians.”
Vance mentioned that he recorded for almost four hours with Joe Rogan on Wednesday, a week after Trump’s appearance.
Targeted at young North Carolinians, the TPUSA event comes as early voting trends show higher Republican turnout among voters ages 18-25 than their Democrat counterparts.
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