OUR APPROACH

America is drifting—and most of us know it. We feel more divided than before, wages have not kept pace with the cost of living, trust in our government is broken, and fewer people than ever believe in the promise of the American Dream. The Strong Floor, No Ceiling approach offers a bold, unifying solution:

We need a Strong Floor and No Ceiling in America. No one in America should be homeless, no kid hungry, no one bankrupted by a hospital bill, and no one working hard their whole lives and unable to retire and leave their kids better off than they were. America should also be a place of hope and success, building the most incredible companies, large and small; amazing innovations and technologies that define the future; and the world’s strongest middle class.

The solutions are staring us in the face. We need to strengthen Medicare, Medicaid, and social security, not slash them. We need people to get an education without drowning in debt. We need people to feel safe in their communities. We need people to have homes they can afford; lives they can afford. We need people to have good-paying jobs and have a shot at achieving their dreams. We need a strong floor, with no cracks, to make sure no one falls down, and everyone can stand up and reach higher.

WHAT IS THE “STRONG FLOOR”?

A Strong Floor is one that no American should fall below, and on which they can stand to reach into the middle class and beyond. Its planks include the keys to opportunity: healthcare, education, good-paying jobs, housing, safety, justice, and affordability. A Strong Floor for America does not mean everything is free or even that everyone gets the same outcome. It means folks should have enough; they should have a hand up from their government; and that we should make sure that this is true for every American. The Strong Floor is an investment in a healthier, more talented, more productive society. Americans should not fall below this floor, but should also be able to stand on it and strive for success.

WHAT IS “NO CEILING”?

It’s not enough just to have a floor. There must be something to work toward. No Ceiling means that if you work hard, play by the rules, and contribute fairly, your success should not be artificially capped. Innovation, entrepreneurship, and success are good for the country, and the key to making sure that the pie of economic opportunity is getting bigger. No ceiling does not mean no rules, no taxes, or no accountability. It means ambition within a fair system—where those who benefit most help sustain the foundation that made their success possible. After all, the Strong Floor is expensive, and we need a vibrant economy, a growing pie, and lots of aspiration to pay for it all.

America succeeds as a nation —and can afford that Strong Floor—when we support companies big and small, elevate visionary entrepreneurs and leaders, and celebrate an attainable and growing middle class.

These principles together form a new foundation for the American Dream, or a future where everyone has the opportunity to succeed, no matter where they start.

LEADERS TALKING ABOUT STRONG FLOOR, NO CEILING