If Republican Joe Strada wins Florida's eleventh congressional district in three weeks, he will likely be the wealthiest individual to ever hold a seat in the US House of Representatives.
asserted
he → win → Representatives
It's an impressive trajectory for a man from humble beginnings who got his start fixing equipment in a bowling alley, but always had a zest for learning, building, and working with his hands.
asserted
who → get → hands
Strada, whose HVAC, electrical and plumbing company employs roughly 4,000 people across 13 states, told Fox News Digital that his journey from handyman to wealthy entrepreneur embodies the American Dream but that neither his fortune nor his business success defines him.
"
asserted
fortune → employ → him
Just the kid, a handyman in a bowling alley, fixing things that break…and now I'm blessed to have a business that's in 13 states, thousands of people that work for me.
asserted
that → fix → me
It's been a blessing and, I'm able to live the American dream.
asserted
I → live → dream
It was difficult with the headwinds and the rules and regulations that come out of Washington, D.C.
asserted
that → come → Washington
Strada wants everyone to be able to benefit from the American capitalist system that brought him great success:
asserted
that → want → success
"You know, as a business owner, I realized and recognized all the problems that Washington, D.C. is causing.
asserted
D.C. → know → Washington
All the rules and regulations that are impacting families, small business owners all across the country.
asserted
that → impact → country
And I finally said, we need a different type of person in Washington, DC.
asserted
we → say → Washington
"We have enough lobbyists, politicians and attorneys there.
asserted
We → have → lobbyists
It's time to have a business-minded person that knows how to fix things that could go to Washington, and solve problems for the real, you know, real problems for the American people."
uncertain
you → have → people
Strada is on a nationwide mission to pitch young people on the value of the trades, and suggests it's a worthy alternative to racking up massive student loans:
"The word of trade is really starting to spread now.
uncertain
word → pitch → trade
Sometimes they don't know there's an opportunity in the trades.
asserted
they → know → trades
You come to my company, you don't know how to spell AC, you don't know what end of the screwdriver to hold, but you're paid the very first day.
asserted
you → come → screwdriver
We train you.
asserted
We → train → you
We give you a career that will support yourself and your family the rest of your life.
asserted
that → give → life
You don't have a $250,000 student debt, and you're able to be successful…
asserted
you → have → debt
I'm working with trade schools and high schools everywhere.
asserted
I → work → schools
I'm talking to young people all over our country to come into the trades because it's a great opportunity to live your version of the American dream."
asserted
it → talk → dream
As Strada's HVAC company was growing throughout the country, a labor shortage prompted a serious challenge, and a major shift in business strategy:
"The most difficult challenge was we had the opportunity to grow, and we didn't have enough labor.
asserted
we → grow → labor
So I had to develop a program to teach people the trade.
asserted
I → have → trade
So we could grow, and we've been fortunate: we're in 13 states now and 4,000 people that work with us.
uncertain
that → grow → us
We never would have done that if we didn't develop our own training program.
asserted
we → do → program
I couldn't wait for the government to come and solve my problem.
asserted
government → wait → problem
I'm a business guy who solves problems and I had to go develop a training program for young people."
asserted
I → solve → people
Strada argues that people on government assistance should also take a serious look at the trades, suggesting we have a large untapped labor pool within our own borders:
"The border had to be closed, and we did a great job keeping all the criminals out of our country.
asserted
we → argue → country
And as far as getting more workers, we have Americans that want to work.
asserted
that → get → Americans
We have plenty of people sitting at home getting a government paycheck.
asserted
We → have → paycheck
Let's get them to work.
asserted
them → let → ?
"Some of them are just lazy and don't want to work, others just need the opportunity and the push to say, 'this is easy, let's get into a trade, let's learn a business.
asserted
's → want → business
"I've have plenty of people that turned out to be an entrepreneur.
asserted
that → have → people
They've opened their own business, and I'm very happy and gratified when I'm helping people."
asserted
I → open → people
Hard work is at the foundation of Strada's success, and he argues an inherent part of that economic success is bringing others along:
asserted
part → argue → others
"You know, most people think when you're successful, it was handed to you.
asserted
it → know → you
I got to tell you, David, I'm proud of the hard work my father did, but it was tough growing up.
asserted
it → get → work
We were fortunate, we had a swimming pool, but it was mainly, a lot of times it was green because we couldn't afford chlorine.
asserted
we → have → chlorine
I started with nothing.
asserted
I → start → nothing
And it's always about everybody wins.
asserted
everybody → win → ?
My employees have to win.
asserted
employees → have → ?
…and 18 more, not listed.
The Aporia
