For generations, Americans have outright rejected the encroachment of socialism, and many more generations to come will follow suit. The simple truth is that the United States will never become a hotbed for socialism and our capitalist society will never be undercut by overt government control and political tyranny. This is because of our nation’s shared commitment to the pursuit of freedom, liberty, and opportunity through hard work and sacrifice.

History dictates that socialism is nothing more than a decrepit approach to governance, and human flourishing has suffered immensely from it. The Soviet Union crumbled under Lenin and Stalin, Venezuelans have endured what can only be described as systemic rot from the rule of Chavez and Maduro, and Germany cascaded downward under the National Socialist German Workers’ Party. If the United States, the most prosperous nation in the world, were to wholeheartedly adopt socialism, there would be dire consequences. I refuse to let that happen.

I say all of this because defeating socialism has become a prevalent topic across the nation, and one that we can’t afford to ignore now or ever. Millions of people from across the world have sought better lives in America because of the freedoms we espouse, and the promise that’s embedded here. They come to escape retribution from tyrannical governments and dangerous factions so that they, and their loved ones, can have a chance at a life that’s not marred by fear and uncertainty.

You see, my story is the epitome of the American dream. I grew up in a house with no electricity and no running water in Avery County, and I worked my way up to serve the citizens of North Carolina’s fifth district in the United States House of Representatives. I got to where I am today because my hard work, and the fact that America harbors opportunities that can’t be found anywhere else in the world. In a socialist country, my story would have never happened.

Know this: I’ll never stop fighting for a country that has provided a platform for people to pursue a better life. That means rejecting policies that infringe on your livelihoods and defending the values that both you and I hold dear. Some may say that safeguarding America is a lofty task, but I disagree. It’s a directive that each of us must meet. Defending freedom is not merely an issue of the day, it’s an issue of a lifetime. I’ve always fought for it, and I will continue to do so.

Sincerely,