Daniel, Project Mgr, 32 Los Angeles, CA

I went to college for business and landed a project manager job right out of school. I thought I was set. Then they downsized and hired an Indian company to do all my work for about a quarter of what they were paying me.I’ve been trying as hard as ever to get hired doing what I went to school for, but every job has hundreds of applicants. It’s impossible to even get an interview. I ended up taking a job that pays about half what I used to make, and in the same time rent costs doubled.I had to leave my apartment and start living in my car. That was two years ago. Work is fine as long as I show up looking presentable, so I shower at a fitness center every morning. But I can’t save enough to buy a house, and with student loans to pay, I feel stuck. I can’t really date without having a place. I did everything right, is this the American dream?

Daniel

Eli’s Response: Daniel, your story is exactly why I’m running. We’ve let corporations chase cheap labor overseas while our own people struggle just to keep a roof over their heads. Wages haven’t kept up with costs, and housing has turned into a game you can’t win without being rich. We need policies that reward work here at home, rein in housing speculation, and give every hardworking person a fair shot at a stable life.