Addressing AI and Automation
We stand on the precipice of a technological revolution that will usher in a new era of unprecedented opportunities and daunting challenges.
The rise of AI and automation promises transformative innovations, yet also harbors the potential for widespread job displacement, economic instability, and deepening social disparities.
To address this, I will advocate for a universal basic income starting at $1,000 per month for every adult over the age of 18.
I propose UBI for the following reasons, underpinned by recent studies and pilot programs in California:
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Economic Security: UBI provides a financial safety net for all Californians. This buffer protects against job market uncertainties amplified by automation and AI, and grants the liberty to adapt, retrain, or venture into new paths without the dread of financial insecurity.
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Fostering Entrepreneurship: UBI encourages risk-taking and innovation. With this safety net, Californians can invest in entrepreneurial endeavors, stimulating economic growth and job creation.
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Alleviating Poverty: UBI directly tackles poverty, providing a stable income that could notably reduce homelessness, food insecurity, and other socioeconomic issues in California.
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Promoting Well-being: By easing financial stress and ensuring access to basic needs, the UBI contributes to healthier, happier populations, leading to increased societal productivity and reduced healthcare costs. The Stockton study showed "statistically significant improvements" in emotional health among the participants.
Is there more you'd like me to address about AI and automation? Share your thoughts
Rethinking Education
The United States stands on the brink of a second technological revolution, faced with intense global competition. To keep pace, we must enhance our educational system and elevate students' skills.
American students are currently lagging behind their international peers in key areas like reading, math, and science. Moreover, a significant number of Americans lack essential economic and financial literacy, leading to crippling debt and poor financial decisions.
Add to this a burgeoning mental health crisis among our youth, and it's clear that now, more than ever, comprehensive education and accessible mental health services are critical.
As your representative, I will support:
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Curriculum Reform: I will plush for curriculum reform with new federal standards that include STEM, financial literacy, and personal development as graduation requirements. This will equip students with the skills they need to succeed in modern society and ensure that they are prepared for the workforce.
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Innovative Schools: Congress must authorize and fund legislation to support innovative schools that are at the forefront of education reform. We must also incentivize entrepreneurs to start new schools that incorporate the latest educational technology and practices.
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Educational Savings Account: By proving ESAs nationwide, we can incentivize entrepreneurs to start new schools that incorporate the latest educational technology and practices. This will serve as the catalyst for a modern-day education system.
Is there more you'd like me to address education? Share your thoughts
Designing 15 Minute Cities
15-minute cities alleviate the stress of long commutes and the environmental degradation caused by heavy reliance on vehicles, offering residents a more convenient, eco-friendly lifestyle with essential services just a walk or bike ride away.
Moreover, they counteract urban housing crises and foster local economies, creating cohesive communities where affordable housing and small businesses thrive, enhancing the quality of life for all residents.
I propose a 15 minute city initiative for the following reasons:
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Affordable Living: By spreading out services, we're breaking up housing bottlenecks in busy hubs, paving the way for fair and affordable homes for all. It's a fresh take on city living, putting every necessity within a short, easy reach from your doorstep.
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Sustainable Living: 15 minute cities will shrink our carbon footprint dramatically by reshaping our neighborhoods. By bringing essential services closer to home, we pave the way for greener transportation options, ushering in a future that is both healthier and more sustainable.
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Boosting Small Businesses: 15-minute cities are a lifeline for local businesses, creating neighborhoods where they can thrive. This initiative ensures that every dollar spent circulates longer within the community, fostering economic stability and growth.
Is there more you'd like me to address about housing? Share your thoughts
Reducing Crime and Gun Violence
The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world, a lack of police accountability that has eroded public trust in law enforcement and a rise in crime in our communities.
Addressing these issues with comprehensive, compassionate, and innovative solutions can pave the way towards a fairer and more effective justice system.
As your representative, I will support:
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Petty Crimes Diversion Program: Provide federal funding to establish a program that will allow first-time and nonviolent shoplifting offenders to complete educational courses and community service in lieu of serving jail time or paying fines. The program would also offer participants access to social services including job training, mental health services, and substance abuse treatment, as appropriate.
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Challenging Criminal Justice Exclusions: Challenge exclusions that keep people convicted of violent or sex offenses from beneficial reforms. I will work to emphasize that lengthy sentences do not effectively deter crime, and that we must consider the varied backgrounds and experiences of these individuals in our justice system.
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Reducing mandatory minimum sentences: Decrease our prison population and give nonviolent offenders a better chance at reintegration.
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Promoting Police Excellence: Champion legislation that increases police accountability, ensuring our law enforcement agencies are serving and protecting all residents with fairness and justice.
Is there more you'd like me to address about public safety? Share your thoughts
Protecting and Elevating Women
A woman's right to choose is a fundamental human right that is essential for their physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Despite the importance of this right, reproductive rights are under threat, and women face various challenges, including unequal pay, limited access to capital for female entrepreneurs, and the need for paid family and menstrual leave.
As your representative, I will support:
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Codifying Roe into federal law: Congress must take action to protect the right to choose by codifying it into federal law. .
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Fighting for equal pay in the workplace: We must tackle the gender pay gap and fight for equal pay in the workplace, which is a significant part of women's economic empowerment.
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Supporting female entrepreneurs: Women should have the ability to access capital to kick-start and expand their businesses.
Is there more you'd like me to address about women? Share your thoughts
Protecting Small Businesses
The challenges facing small businesses today are increasingly complex and multifaceted, impacted by the global economy, evolving technological innovations, and often, daunting regulatory obstacles.
However, an effective and engaged government can play an instrumental role in nurturing the growth and resilience of small businesses.
As your representative, I will support:
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Easing financial hurdles for small businesses: Capital is the lifeblood of any small business. As your representative, I will push for government initiatives that provide low-interest loans, grants, and tax incentives for small businesses. This will not only help alleviate the financial pressures they face but also encourage innovation and expansion.
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Strengthening business education and mentorship programs: Knowledge is power, particularly in the realm of business. Government-funded training programs and mentorship schemes can arm small business owners with essential skills and insights, from financial management to marketing strategies, fostering an environment of continual growth and innovation.
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Streamlining regulations: Small businesses often struggle to navigate the maze of regulatory requirements. I will advocate for simplified regulations and a more user-friendly interface between government and business. This will free up business owners to focus on what they do best - running their business.
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Creating a supportive business ecosystem: Collaboration between businesses, educational institutions, and government can foster an ecosystem that nurtures small businesses. As your representative, I will strive to build such partnerships, facilitating knowledge exchange, innovation, and growth.
Is there more you'd like me to address about small businesses? Share your thoughts
Protecting Our Democracy
In an era of growing challenges to our democratic values, it is essential to protect and uphold the principles that constitute the backbone of our democracy.
This is a critical juncture, a time when our commitment to transparency, inclusivity, and fairness is tested like never before.
Our democracy, the cornerstone of our great nation, is only as robust as our collective willingness to advocate for and enact necessary reforms.
As your representative, I will support:
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Ranked Choice Voting: Our current 'winner-takes-all' voting system can often lead to polarized politics and leave many voices unheard. Ranked choice voting allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference, leading to more diverse and representative outcomes. It reduces the 'spoiler effect' and ensures that elected officials have broad support among their constituents.
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Ending Citizens United: The Citizens United decision has allowed for unlimited spending in politics, drowning out the voices of everyday citizens. We must aim to overturn this decision to restore the power of individual voters and limit the influence of big money in our political system.
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Campaign Finance Reform: A candidate’s ideas should matter more than their bank account. By implementing stricter campaign finance laws, and overturning Citizens United, we can limit the influence of big money in politics. By also implementing UBI, we would also enhance the financial capacity of voters to contribute to political campaigns.
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Open Primaries: An open primary system allows all voters, regardless of their party affiliation, to participate in the selection of candidates. This ensures that our elected officials are chosen by a wider, more diverse group of voters, not just a partisan few. It promotes more moderate candidates and may lead to less divisive politics.
Is there more you'd like me to address about our democracy? Share your thoughts
Combating The Climate Crisis
The climate crisis we are currently facing is undeniable and urgent. Inaction could lead to severe water scarcity, coastal areas being submerged, and lands turning infertile, disrupting our agricultural systems.
As your representative, I will support:
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Championing renewable energy: We must continue to lessen our reliance on fossil fuels. The more we engage with clean energy, the more affordable and accessible it becomes.
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Creating job opportunities: Investment in renewable energy not only protects our environment but also creates numerous job openings..
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Enhancing renewable energy infrastructure: We need to concentrate on constructing the necessary transmission lines for wind and solar power. We must ensure that all communities, even those in regions experiencing economic hardship, can support and benefit from this infrastructure.
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Supporting green energy initiatives: It's crucial to increase tax credits and research funding. We must foster innovation in this field by working with the private sector and researchers and focusing on renewable energy technologies.
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Engaging rural communities and farmers: Their involvement in the transition to clean energy is vital to ensure that the benefits are widely shared.
Is there more you'd like me to address about climate change? Share your thoughts
Fixing Our Broken Immigration System
The US immigration system is broken and benefits only those who profit from its dysfunction.
More than 11 million undocumented immigrants are living in the United States. They need a path to citizenship and access to the American dream.
As your representative, I will support:
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Facilitate citizenship for undocumented immigrants: Providing a pathway to citizenship for over 11 million undocumented immigrants in the US is crucial. In doing so, we extend to them the full range of opportunities that make up the American dream.
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Modernize border security: To bolster border security, we must leverage advanced technologies like surveillance drones, biometrics, AI, and integrated data systems, and enhance personnel training to effectively use these tools.
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Uphold the law: To uphold immigration laws effectively, we must invest into the use of advanced technologies, such as integrated data systems, biometric verification, AI, and user-friendly online platforms, to streamline processes, prevent illegal activities, and improve accessibility.
Is there more you'd like me to address about immigration? Share your thoughts
Simplifying Healthcare
Healthcare is a basic human right that should be guaranteed to all individuals, regardless of their income or employment status. The present healthcare system in the United States, with its high costs and disparities, is unsustainable.
A comprehensive solution should be affordable, accessible, and universal. I'm an advocate for a single-payer system like Medicare for all.
As your representative, I will support:
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Simplifying the healthcare system: Through a single-payer system, we can reduce administrative costs, allowing for greater negotiation with healthcare providers, and bring down costs.
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Reducing financial barriers to healthcare: Through a single-payer system, we can ensure that everyone has access to necessary medical treatment.
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Improving health outcomes: A single-payer system would reduce the disparity in healthcare outcomes between different socioeconomic groups.
Is there more you'd like me to address about healthcare? Share your thoughts
Promoting Civil Rights For All
As a society, we must preserve legal and constitutional protections that prevent discrimination based on race, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, and disability.
Despite these protections, marginalized and disadvantaged groups still face discrimination and prejudice. Ensuring that everyone has access to the same rights and opportunities is crucial for creating a fair and just society.
As your representative, I will support:
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Policies and laws that promote equality: We need to protect the rights of marginalized and disadvantaged groups and ensure that everyone has access to the same rights and opportunities.
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Combatting discrimination and prejudice: We must promote understanding and respect among different groups and create a society where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.
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Fighting Racial Injustice: I propose the establishment of programs dedicated to reducing systemic racial disparities in areas like education, employment, and criminal justice.
Is there more you'd like me to address about civil rights? Share your thoughts
Keeping Religion Out Of Politics
It is essential that we maintain a separation of religion and politics for the benefit of all individuals, regardless of their personal beliefs.
Our religious institutions have done great things for our communities, as with many nonprofit organizations. However, the harmful effects of religious influence on politics has been evident for a long time.
To maintain a separation of religion and politics, decisions must be made based on facts, reason, and evidence rather than on religious beliefs.
I promise to prevent religious ideology from influencing legislation, especially on issues such as women's rights, LGBTQ+ rights, science, and education.
As your representative, I will support:
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Establish clear guidelines to prevent religious groups from using their tax-exempt status to influence political campaigns.
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Protect reproductive rights so that access to contraceptives and abortion services are based on medical evidence and not on religious beliefs.
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Support increasing funding for STEM programs and promote the teaching of critical thinking skills in schools to help students develop the ability to evaluate evidence and think logically.
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Promote the separation of church and state by opposing legislation that seeks to impose religious values on society, such as laws that prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
