Rick Scott

Sen. Rick Scott warned Thursday on Newsmax that rising costs for housing, education, and healthcare are fueling frustration among young Americans and contributing to growing interest in socialism.

"In my lifetime, the price of housing, the price of school, the price of healthcare," the Florida Republican said on Newsmax's "Wake Up America." "Everything got worse under [Joe] Biden, but it's still going up."

Scott said the affordability crisis is pushing some younger Americans to seek dramatic political change, including expanded government control, and said that socialism would limit individual freedom rather than solve the economic problems facing families.

"Socialism has never worked," Scott said. "What socialism does is take away all your freedoms."

Scott said his newly launched "Rescuing America" project is designed to address the high cost of living by balancing the federal budget, cutting regulations, and helping Americans find good-paying jobs.

"All of this is caused by government," Scott said. "We've got to balance the budget. When we don't balance the budget, guess what happens? Everything goes up in price."

He said excessive federal spending contributes to higher interest rates, which increase the cost of mortgages, vehicle loans, and credit card debt.

"It's all going to get passed on to you as a consumer through mortgages, through car payments, through interest on your credit card, everything," Scott said. "It's all caused by government wasteful spending."

Scott also said the federal government has made it harder for Americans to start businesses through a growing number of regulations, permits, and fees.

He recalled opening his first business, a doughnut shop, after leaving the U.S. Navy and said he was unsure whether he could do it today.

"I was a poor kid living in public housing. How could I do it today with all these rules and regulations and fees?" he said.

Scott said the federal government should focus on balancing the budget, removing unnecessary regulations, and creating jobs that allow Americans to support themselves.

"Our government's primary job, besides defending the freedom of this country, is to get people a job, a good-paying job," he said. "That's the three things we ought to be focused on."

The senator blamed both parties for the country's spending problems.

"Congress has done this. Republicans have done it, Democrats have done it," Scott said. "They've spent money like it's going out of style and they've caused all these problems."

Scott said the central question for voters is whether they want government officials making personal decisions or want to retain control through individual effort and freedom.

"Do you want government to make your decisions, or do you want to let your hard work make your decisions?" he said. "I'm into the hard work and freedom making my decisions."

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