Hi, I’m Lore Bergman and I’m running again for Tennessee’s Congressional 6th District.

You may ask, “why are you running again Lore”? I’m running again because none of the issues I was running for last time have been improved or changed for the better. In fact, everything is a bigger mess than before and is getting worse every day. Our economy is being destroyed, and our democracy and constitution are being challenged daily. Hate, bigotry, racism and misogyny are growing at an alarming rate in this country and in this state, like we have not seen in a very long time. Because of this my campaign slogan once again is “Love Thy Neighbor”! Just imagine what this world would be like, right now, if we all lived by that!

As in the last election cycle, I continue to be sick and tired of seeing rich congressmen talk about programs for the neediest and regular hard-working Americans, that they know nothing about and never will. They also tell us about what the price of things are, when some of them have never done their own grocery shopping, or even pumped their own gas. We now have rich congressmen, taking money from the poor to give to the rich, so the super-rich do not have to pay their fair share in taxes. And implementing unneeded tariffs which are ruining businesses and farms.

So here we are in one of the most shameful and destructive times in our country, where 99% of the people are being dictated by the 1%. I believe the biggest problem with Congress today, is that we do not have enough working class and disabled people representing the people of America. In fact, our government representation is reversed, where the majority, don’t have a clue or care about what the 99% go through on a daily basis. Believe me, that Big Ugly Bill would have never passed, if more disabled and regular working Americans represented their districts!

The disabled and regular hardworking people are very underrepresented in Washington and Congress needs our perspective more than ever. Living with a disability is something I know all too well, because I was born with some crazy genetics. I have struggled with my health all my life, but despite that I have accomplished much and worked very physically hard jobs: like waitressing, retail and caregiving. I was working so hard, but still not making ends meet, because it seems the hardest physical jobs pay the least, and it is usually not a living wage.

Anyways, one day my body just said, “enough is enough”. I was waitressing at the time and buckled over in pain and had to go to the emergency room. That day my life changed as I was thrown into the world of learning the ins and outs of Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, HUD, SNAP and utility assistance. I needed help! I could not support myself any longer. I was also thrown into the world of living below the poverty line, so let me tell you, I can balance a budget and make a dollar go a long way; but taking from the most vulnerable, to give to the rich is NOT, how to do it!

I still must use some of these programs just to survive. In fact, 20% of my health insurance right now is Medicaid. So, I know about the anxiety, panic and unneeded pain the Republicans are causing so many people, and I know some of you have had or are having the same anxiety right now, and I am sorry. I feel your pain, and I really do understand.

Running for office is a huge endeavor and people have asked; “what qualifies you to run Lore”? Well, even though I have a college degree, it’s not fancy, and I certainly am not a millionaire or billionaire, but, I am a regular person, who’s been through a lot of life experiences and I get it! I know how hard it is to be a regular American sometimes!

I have also been and still am a political organizer, activist and advocate for the elderly, disabled and veterans. All my experiences have given me great empathy and understanding, which will serve me well when I am writing legislation. I needed reproductive women’s health care when I had a miscarriage years ago and I am horrified to see what some women are going through now, to get the reproductive health care they desperately need.

I fought a landlord who was harming the disabled and the elderly in the building I was residing in. He pushed me out of my apartment for trying to get the issue fixed, and within less than a year I found myself homeless, living in my car, until I found affordable housing again. My sweet dog Porter and I barely survived. So, believe me when I say, I will put myself on the line for you, I will, because I have already done so, when I fought for those people in that building, and I will do it again for you, if necessary.

I am also a 1st generation American from a long line of immigrants, who were farmers, from the former Yugoslavia. I know firsthand how hard immigrants work and that the large majority by far are good people and deserve to be treated with humanity and respect. I know how difficult it is to deal with sexual abuse, because I have had to heal from it, and stand with all survivors and their right to prosecute their abusers without time limits.

I was also raised in an extreme religious group and understand how people can easily be sucked into extremism and lead astray. And as I said before, as a person with disabilities, I understand what it’s like to need help from the government after working so hard, for years. I know personally how all the programs work, because I have had to use them.

I know, that was a lot of experiences, and my openness about them may have made you feel a little uncomfortable. But what I’ve been through, with all of these experiences, will guide me when I write legislation, because I get it and know how it feels. And if you are thinking about running for office, all of your life experiences and that fire in your belly, is the best reason why you should run.

So, what do I want to accomplish when I go to Congress? Well, there are many things, but unfortunately our system doesn’t make it easy to accomplish anything, as you probably know. But, this is what I hope to accomplish.

As your represenatative, I will continue to fight, that all Social Security programs, HUD, affordable housing, SNAP, Medicare, Medicaid, drug prices, eyeglasses, hearing aids, dental and all of the programs that help the most vulnerable, will be improved and expanded, and not gutted and that all Americans will finally get health care and have a hospital close by.

I will fight for the American workers so that they will finally have a living wage, and that all right to work scams like we have here in Tennessee, will be replaced with unions, that will protect the workers, and that we will have good paying jobs in every county of our state.

I will fight so farmers can get the support and subsidies they need, to function well. And that affordability, will be a real thing, and not a false claim perpetuated by the Republicans, and I will continue to fight for immigrants and DACA recipients, so that they can have a speedier path towards work visas and citizenship, and that they will be treated with empathy and respect as human beings and that all immigration policies will be cruelty free, humane and lawful.

I will continue to fight for all women’s rights. I will continue to fight for common sense gun reforms like secure storage and temporary transfer. And as a Christian, I will say that there is nothing Christian about Christian Nationalism and I will work to make sure that church and state stay separate.

I will continue to fight for parents and the gay community, so that they can decide how they and their children will live, and that they will feel safe. I will also fight to save our history from being distorted and for the truth to always win, and that this great curse of disinformation and the fact that half our country is living in an alternate reality, will stop.

I will work to remove corporate money, dark money and Citizens United from our politics. And in my opinion, the Electoral College, must also go. These things have wrecked our political system and have been corrupted. So, I can guarantee that I will fight for fairness and integrity, to be put back into our three branches of government, and that the gap between the haves and the have nots, will become much smaller.

Tennessee is one of the poorest states in the country and District 6 has much poverty. And now because of unneeded tariffs, business owners, farmers and consumers of every kind are suffering. Tennessee is already at the top, for the most jobs lost so far under this administration, and most are in the rural areas. So, I will work to make sure that all the counties in our district are represented equally, with good paying jobs, access to health care for all and more hospitals, not less.

We need good public-school funding and no voucher schemes and libraries for all children, where they can read more, and not less. And our farmers are in real trouble right now all over the country, including this district. Farmers are losing workers and programs that help them be successful and earn extra income. I am very angry for them and will fight to protect and support them, when I go to Congress.

So, in conclusion, I know you may be feeling depressed and fearful about everything going on in our country right now, I get it! But I want you to know that there is hope! This country has been through hard times before and we have survived.

I am encouraged because I see many people in the 6th District waking up and joining together, because they have had it with the tyranny of this administration. People are angry and not just us Democrats, but also Libertarians, Independents and even Republicans. “WE THE PEOPLE” still have the power and when we speak out and fight back, together, it works.

So, my goal is to reach all the people in the Congressional 6th District and show them that I really care about them all. I am excited to represent all the people in this District, when I go to Washington. I hope you will help me accomplish all these goals.

Please join my “Love Thy Neighbor” campaign by donating, volunteering and of course voting for me again or for the first time.

Thank you.