| 1. How do you personally define socialism? |
Socialism is the collective ownership of the economy, governed by grassroots democracy. In a socialist society, we will not leave democracy at the doorstep of the workplace, but will bring it inside! We working people will control our workplaces and set the agenda for what we produce and why. We will eliminate capitalism and all of the social problems embedded in it: racism, sexism, homophobia, xenophobia, and anti-immigrant hatred. In short we will create a system run from the ground up -- a real democracy that will replace the false democracy imposed upon us by our capitalist rulers. |
| 2. Do you plan on running on the Socialist Party platform and the principles embodied in Socialism as Radical Democracy (including social ownership, worker control, and production for use -- not profit)? Is there anything in the Socialist Party Platform or Statement of Principles with which you disagree? |
In all honesty, I've gone over and over the SP party platform and I cannot find anything to disagree with. My campaign would definitely embrace and promote the Party's platform. |
| 3. If you take any positions that differ from those of the Socialist Party, are you willing to make clear at all times that your views differ from those of the Party? |
My views are quite the same as the Party's. |
| 4. In what way will your campaign take a working-class orientation? How will it differ from mainstream appeals to the working class? |
My campaign will address the issues facing ordinary Americans, in much the same way as alternative media outlets such as Michael Moore's movie SiCKO. My approach will be to listen to people's concerns -- about for example health care, child care, jobs, the environment -- and offer a socialist alternative to the double-talk gibberish that will no doubt be coming from the capitalist candidates. The Democrats and Republicans will be falling over each other to find excuses not to implement a National Health Service and will try to win votes from moderates. In contrast I will promote the construction of a National Health Service, using the success of similar programs in other Western countries as well as Cuba. |
| 5. What would be the top three issues you would address in your campaign and why? |
It's difficult to "pick and choose" because under capitalism there is so much wrong with America. If I could wave a magic wand and make the corrupt system just go away I would. However, I believe that bringing about a socialist transformation of society is a social process, not the action of a single politician. There are a few good starting points that address some of the ills of society under capitalism:
- The need for real democracy in America. The fact that we "elect" people every 2-4 years to misrepresent us is illustrative of what is wrong with this country. We need to argue in favor of serious electoral reforms, such as public funding for third parties and alternative approaches to electing officials (other than "winner takes all").
- The need for serious progressive reforms of our social institutions, such as education and health care. Education should be provided free of cost from Head Start right through the PhD level should individuals want to go to grad school. Students should not have to accrue tens of thousands of dollars in debt just to earn a degree, only to find themselves refinancing the debt across the rest of their lives just to make ends meet. On health care, we need to scrap the for-profit system and replace it with a National Health Service. Having been unemployed myself recently and having had the health care door slammed in my face -- even in Massachusetts where there is supposed to be "health care reform" (a coffeeshop joke) -- I can attest to the hardship that lack of health care can bring. What if you lose a job and need to take certain medications? In the United States, in many cases you're out of luck!!
- The need to reign in the corporations -- to bring them to bear on their greed-driven crimes, such as destruction of entire communities (Walmart is an example) as well as the environment. A small handful of Fortune-500 companies now controls trillions of dollars in wealth while millions of American residents barely squeak by on wages that have lost buying power over the past several decades.
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| 6. Please describe your position on the following issues. |
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| 6a. Do you support a woman's right to choose? |
Absolutely and with full access, free of charge!!! |
| 6b. Do you support Affirmative Action? |
Although it does not end racism it is a step in the right direction, so YES. |
| 6c. Do you support equal rights for non-heterosexuals? |
Non-heterosexuals are human beings just like myself. As a person who has been a socialist for many years, I believe in equal rights for everyone regardless of any characteristic or stereotype society wants to impose. |
| 6d. Do you support equal rights for non-citizens? |
As it happens, my partner Anita came to the USA from Colombia 15 years ago in search of a better life. So this issue is personal to me and I have to answer YES. |
| 6e. To what extent do you support establishing a socialized healthcare system? |
I absolutely say YES to socialized healthcare and it is one of my paramount issues! |
| 6f. How do you envision a socialist solution to the most common problems in the public school system (i.e., funding, assessment, and integration)? |
Under socialism, teachers would be paid decently since they are the folks who, in addition to parents, are shaping the next generation of society! In terms of "assessment" it would not be used as a tool of exclusion as it is under capitalism. Here in Massachusetts the education system has implemented a system of tests that high schoolers have to take and pass before they can graduate. This is counterproductive and aimed at the working class (some students have to take on part time jobs to help their families make ends meet and so do not have time to study to pass such useless tests). As for integration, I support multicultural, multiracial schools and am opposed to recent attempts to "re-segregate" society beginning with our kids. |
| 6g. How do you intend to address living wages and affordable housing? |
Living wages can only be attained either by raising the minimum wage to a "livable" level (probably $15 an hour plus benefits in a place like Boston, for example), or by creating new jobs that pay higher wages. One way of creating new jobs is in building projects. The reality is that schools are overcrowded and affordable housing is in short supply. My presidency will seize control of empty apartment complexes held by greedy speculators and irresponsible landlords, and convert them into affordable housing. Converting or fixing up existing housing stock means doing a lot of carpentry and other work (I can attest to that, having bought a house myself last fall). There's a lot of other work that needs to be done. How many tires have gone flat on my car due to potholes, for example??? The current system is just unwilling to create jobs to address some of the simplest problems in society. My administration will do just that. |
| 6h. How do you propose to address the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan? |
I would immediately withdraw all troops from both countries and sign treaties agreeing to repay those countries for the damages done to their people and their infrastructure. |
| 7. Do you have any experience running for and/or holding public office? For what office(s) have you run? Have you ever run before as a Socialist? |
I have never run for or held a public office, although as a community activist I have supported and volunteered for the campaigns of others, most currently the Jass Stewart for Mayor of Brockton campaign. I do not work on partisan campaigns (that's the reason I left the Communist Party -- their insistence on clinging to the Democrats as a lesser evil), but have at times helped out with nonpartisan campaigns for more down-to-earth candidates like Stewart. |
| 8. Do you satisfy the Constitutional requirements for being elected president of the United States (e.g., you are a natural-born U.S. citizen, at least 35 years of age, and have at least 14 years of U.S. residency [foreign military service notwithstanding])? |
I was born in Turner Falls, Massachusetts November 6, 1970, and grew up in Nashua, New Hampshire. I am a U.S. citizen and am 36 years of age. |
| 9. To what extent are you willing/able to travel while campaigning? Do you have any personal commitments that would significantly limit the amount of time you can dedicate to campaigning (i.e., family, school, work, etc.)? |
Currently I am unemployed. It's uncertain at this time what sort of, if any, work I'll be doing in the near future. I am in the market for a full-time job as it is impossible for me to make ends meet unless I can earn a certain level of income. So in all likelihood I would need to take care to schedule campaign activities around my work life. My style would probably be as a "weekend warrior" of sorts, campaigning on my days (or hours) off. |
| 10. What strategies and/or methods do you think would be most effective in promoting your campaign? Do you have access to any community resources that might aid in publicizing your candidacy? |
I think the best strategy for promoting my campaign is to run for President as "one of you" -- an ordinary, workingclass American. Someone who has the same trials, tribulations, personal problems, social problems as the average Joe. To that end I would try to grab the attention of local media, such as radio, newspapers, Internet web sites. The Internet has proven to be a useful tool for both capitalists and socialists alike to raise money, so why not use it?? Build a great site and advertise it widely among progressive forces in America but also as much as possible in the larger press. Also, the idea of a Socialist campaign in my view is "think global but act local". Use local meeting spaces, for example, to hold "Town Hall Meetings" and similar events. Focus the forums on issues that concern average people, such as health care, jobs, public transportation. |
| 11. Are you comfortable writing campaign statements, speaking to large audiences (including the media), and participating in debates when opportunities arise? |
I am quite comfortable writing, speaking and debating. I've been doing it (perhaps on a smaller-group scale) all of my adult life. |
| 12. What resources (financial, skills, etc.) do you bring to the SP Presidential campaign? And what resources would you request or need from the Socialist Party USA? |
I must admit to being totally broke, so money is not a resource I could bring! However, I have excellent people skills, having spent the past 11 years working in human services (mental health, working with the homeless, etc). I've been both a worker and a manager within the nonprofit world, so I bring those skills as well. I would likely need some sort of financial assistance in running the campaign as well as, admittedly, staying financially afloat myself -- especially if campaigning requires 24/7 availability and therefore not holding down a job. |