Thread by @RevDrBarber

WATCH: #PoorPeoplesCampaign Community Forum | Building Back Better from the Bottom Up! twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1…

These are extraordinarily serious times. The lie of scarcity is just that—a lie. As we say in the #PoorPeoplesCampaign, we never want to be loud & wrong. So we’re grateful for economist @JeffDSachs standing with us & the people of West Virginia today to lay out truth about BBB.

What is “center-right,” @Sen_JoeManchin? This is about doing what is right for those who are in the center of economic turmoil. #PoorPeoplesCampaign #BuildBackBetter

Hunter Sparks is a mom working two jobs, who needs paid family and medical leave. She did not grow up poor, but she’s living in poverty now. Her message to Sen. Manchin who wants to delay and pass a separate bill: “Just do it now!” #BuildBackBetter #PoorPeoplesCampaign

“I think it’s gross to call wanting to have basic living needs taken care of an ‘entitlement.’” —Hunter Sparks, West Virginia working mother #BuildBackBetter #PoorPeoplesCampaign

“We could solve all of these problems without breaking a sweat. ... What is going on with your senator? It’s unbelievable!” —Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, @Columbia #BuildBackBetter

Dr. Jeffrey Sachs on @Sen_JoeManchin: “He’s just voting his pocket, not yours! ... This guy is just completely abusive to his own population here.”

As Dr. Sachs reminds us, every other country in the developed world offers paid leave to its citizens. It’s simply a matter of priorities for us as a nation. Other countries care for their people, why don’t we? We have to make the greedy rich pay their fair share.

Dr. Jeffrey Sachs to the people of West Virginia: “[Manchin] just gets in and out of his Maserati, and he counts the millions in his bank account. He left you behind.” #BuildBackBetter #PoorPeoplesCampaign

“We’re talking about basic means for basic needs for people in this country.” —Dr. Jeffrey Sachs #BuildBackBetter #PoorPeoplesCampaign

“Every other country does this, and does it easily. ... I just had to come to stand with you, because I can’t stand what’s happening to you by your own senator.” —Dr. Jeffrey Sachs #BuildBackBetter #PoorPeoplesCampaign

What happens if we don’t do pass the full #BuildBackBetter plan?

Dr. Jeffrey Sachs: It’s macro-cruelty.

“People would be healthier. People would be happier. People would live longer. ... The U.S. is now somewhere like 40th in the world in life expectancy, because we’re letting people die, poor people.” —Dr. Jeffrey Sachs #BuildBackBetter #PoorPeoplesCampaign

“Manchin is a multi-millionaire. He doesn’t need the outside influence—because he’s it —but of course he has that too.” —Dr. Jeffrey Sachs

Deedra Keys-Switzer, college-level instructor in Charleston, WV, asks: “The increasing financial burden of school is really challenging, not only for students but their families. ... What exactly did we lose when we lost two free years of community college [in #BuildBackBetter]?”

Dr. Jeffrey Sachs: “We’re the only wealthy country that put $1.6 trillion on the backs of our young people. It’s so obviously messed up. ... It’s mean. It’s really mean.” #BuildBackBetter

Dr. Jeffrey Sachs: “You want to make a good investment? Invest in education. It’s the only thing you can invest in right now to be sure that it’s gonna have a high return.” #BuildBackBetter

Dr. Jeffrey Sachs: “It is gonna end, because this campaign’s going to end this trend that we’re on. But we’ve been on this trend for a long time. ... We can’t afford not to do this!” #PoorPeoplesCampaign

Dr. Jeffrey Sachs: “It is gonna end, because this campaign’s gonna end this trend that we’re on. But we’ve been on this trend for a long time. ... We can’t afford not to do this!” #PoorPeoplesCampaign

Congresspeople should be calling Dr. Sachs to get his expert opinion on economic policy, but instead they’re calling the wrong Jeffrey Sachs who lives in New York City to ask for thousands of dollars in campaign contributions.

“Corporations are not people too! We are the people! ... We need people in Congress to represent us. ... My grandkids are living in poverty. Do my grandkids have a future?” —Pam Garrison @WestVirginiaPPC #PoorPeoplesCampaign #BuildBackBetter

6 Americans have a combined wealth of ~$1 trillion.

But we can’t find $350 billion per year for the next 10 years to fully fund the #BuildBackBetter plan for the 330 million rest of us Americans?

Like Dr. Sachs said, it’s weird. It’s just plain weird.

“You’re the experts, not me. I know the numbers, you know the reality. ... And Congress doesn’t care. That’s the problem.” —Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, speaking to members of the @WestVirginiaPPC #PoorPeoplesCampaign

West Virginia has one of the lowest graduation rates for bachelor’s degrees of any state in the nation, per capita. This state’s senators should be the first ones fighting for free community college, not fighting against it. #BuildBackBetter

According to Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, this region, including West Virginia, could be the leader in the new clean energy economy. A plan called “The Marshall Plan for Middle America” has not seriously been considered. Manchin won’t sit down to even look at it.

We’ve gotten some hard truths here today, & it’s the kind of thing that could make you live in despair, except what is the one thing that Manchin fears? Y’all, who are fighting for hope. If they fight you this hard, then that tells you your power. West Virginia must lead the way.

Ricardo Martin points out that West Virginia has the lowest life expectancy of any state in the nation. Many man years than other states. Poverty is literally killing people in Joe Manchin’s state. #BuildBackBetter #PoorPeoplesCampaign

“This is life and death, not just dollars.” —Dr. Jeffrey Sachs

As Dr. Sachs said, if Manchin’s concern is really the debt and deficits, then he just needs to reconsider his opposition to taxing the mega-wealthy and corporations. If we just did that, all of these financial concerns would be solved. #BuildBackBetter