Sen. Elizabeth Warren (Screenshot)

A lack of government help, not spending decisions, is to blame for Americans who are struggling financially, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) declared Thursday.

In a commentary for CNN Business, Sen. Warren argues that no American can succeed without government help - like universal health and child care, minimum wage hikes, and housing regulation:

“Nobody in America succeeds on their own. Government-funded labs are fueling world-changing innovations. Much of American wealth was built through government-sponsored home equity. … “Hard-working families need a higher minimum wage, strong unions, universal child care, affordable housing and trade deals that invest in American communities instead of shipping good jobs overseas. They need guaranteed health care so that no more families are forced into bankruptcy because of an unexpected medical expense. Hard-working families need a higher minimum wage, strong unions, universal child care, affordable housing and trade deals that invest in American communities instead of shipping good jobs overseas. They need guaranteed health care so that no more families are forced into bankruptcy because of an unexpected medical expense.”

High costs, not irresponsible spending, is the problem, Sen. Warren opines in her commentary - in which she calls a tweet by Chase “mean and misguided” for suggesting that financially-strapped Americans should take cost-saving measures such as shunning cabs, coffee shops and eating out:

“Chase's tweet wasn't just mean and misguided. It perpetuates the myth that millions of Americans are in dire financial straits because of their own poor choices, or because they spend money irresponsibly. That's a story designed to let the ultra-wealthy off the hook and pretend they bear no blame for the crisis facing workers and families.”

When Chase posted its tweet on April 29th, Sen. Warren replied in a tweet blaming bailouts, consumer costs and stagnant wages.



