19 Counties And Almost 1,300 Miles

19 counties and almost 1,300 miles in 7 days. My heart is filled with love for my state and the hard working people that live here. In the past 7 days, I have spoken with and listened to small business owners and employees in Anaconda, Billings, Butte, Bozeman, Glendive, Sidney, Poplar, Wolf Point, Circle, and Miles City. I have spoken with and listened to families in agriculture from throughout the state, and I have spoken with listened to residents of these communities and more. The topics people are talking with me about rarely mimic the day's headline or politic party talking points. Whether the person is Republican or Democrat, the subjects are almost always the same -- exhaustion from political extremism and tired of political attacks; frustration over lack of cooperation between the political parties; strong desire for the government to value the American workforce and help build it back; a desperation for the return of American manufacturing; being able to afford housing, food, healthcare, and basic necessities; drugs and violence; concern for their children and grandchildren's future; and more. In each community, I also look for young people to talk with and listen to. Young people are talking with me about alternative forms of energy, compassion for humanity, anger and fear over rampant drugs and violence, wanting to learn trades and working skills, the desire to serve in the military, mental health, tuned out and turned off by politics, and more. 

One of the common themes I find is that people care, and they care about one another. #PeopleOverPolitics