Freedom comes to Massachusetts!

DanMorris

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Feb 27, 2014
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Friends of freedom,

My name is Daniel Morris, and I will be running for State Representative this November for 7th Essex district of Massachusetts, which holds the entire city of Salem. The North Shore of Massachusetts holds a lot of libertarian Republicans, giving me a good basis of support (though I myself am running LP). At the current time there's a specific issue I'm trying to make noise about here in the Bay State; Republicans and Democrats can get $5,000 in a donation from an individual or PAC, while third party candidates can only get $500. R's and D's can also get "in kind" contributions, which pay in full for things like staff and office space. And what about third party candidates like me? Not eligible.

What's good is that we have two independents running for governor, one of which I interned for (Evan Falchuk). Hopefully this means we can put aside our political difference and work against this unfair rules.

I'm running up against a very, very tightly knit Democratic machine here in the Witch City. For nearly 8 years our current State Rep (who's retiring) hasn't seen any competition! Not even a single Democrat challenged him in the primaries.

So far, my only declared opponent is the Salem chief of police, who will be running as a Democrat. There is at least one person considering running as a Republican.

I should also mention that I'm a student and currently work with Students For Liberty as a campus coordinator. My job is to help organize events in Taxachusetts that bring together both conservative and libertarian students so that we can grow opposition to our one party state. Hopefully I can represent my generation in the Massachusetts House of Reps.

I'm here today to introduce myself and seek any advice you are offering. My campaign is only just starting, but I will keep you all updated as things progress over the year. I hope to threaten the Democrats with real freedom this November.

I welcome any questions or comments :) And please like my FB page: https://www.facebook.com/electdanmorris

Pasted below is my press release:

Morris For State Rep, 7th Essex
Freedom for all, or freedom for none.

617-688-6408
[email protected]
facebook.com/ElectDanMorris
PRESS RELEASE 2/28/2014
Contact : Daniel Morris

In the four elections preceding John Keenan’s 2004 election to state representative for the city of Salem, not a single person has taken a stand to give Salem a choice. Not even a single Democrat has attempted to primary Keenan in the nearly 10 years he’s been in office. Daniel Morris, Libertarian candidate for 7th Essex, is the cure to political apathy and will represent Salem with pride on Beacon hill.

In his two years of residency at Salem State University, Morris has grown fond of his new home. As an intern on previous campaigns, Morris gained insight into what’s necessary to win, and more importantly, what’s necessary to make the people feel like they’re listened to. The proud son of a mother who used her own education at Salem State to become the first female manager at several different companies and a father who worked his way up the latter at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Jamaica Plains, Morris understands the necessity of hard work and the importance of a dream.

“When I learned that more than half of our elected representatives, both in the House and Senate, ran unopposed as incumbents during the last election, I couldn't even begin to understand how someone could call that ‘democracy.’ How is it that we can have thousands of Massachusetts residents complain so often when our state fails us, and yet have so few people willing to stand up? I refuse to allow my home, the state that gave birth to our nation’s founding, be governed by a one-party, unopposed machine.”


“What was even more infuriating was when I learned that according to Massachusetts law, a Democrat or Republican candidate for state office can receive up to $5,000 in donations from a single individual, compared to the mere $500 donation that third party candidates are allowed. If our state is so progressive, how can such an oppressive rule exist?”

“Change in our state won’t come from Republicans or Democrats. Change will come from those who are willing to take a different stand, and have no master but the people themselves. As a Representative, I will give my full support to charter school expansion, and will attempt to establish a school voucher system for low income families. This system will give low income parents a check, provided by the state, equivalent to what the state pays per pupil for a year’s worth of education. With these funds, a parent could send their child to any school they choose, public or private, giving their children the ultimate chance at a better future. I will also ban ‘Zero Tolerance’ policies which punish kids for acting like kids.”

“I will fight against taxes on all fronts because money is better spent when it is saved or voluntarily spent in the economy by the individual. Your money is your money. Who can better spend it than you? I will fight against exorbitant salaries for state legislators and public employees. It’s unjust that our public servants should be constantly raising their salaries while our fellow citizens face hunger, homelessness, and financial woes.”

“Our immigrant population also needs attending to. From all over the world, people come to the United States, seeking a better life. Massachusetts must be a beacon of hope for those who want nothing but a brighter future. We must do everything we can to make sure new arrivals in our state feel welcome and included, in our society. We must encourage more schools to create English as a Second Language (ESL) programs, like the ESL program available at Salem High School, which helps integrate the children of our new neighbors and friends.”

“And I will push to change the drug laws in our state. Not only should the prohibition against marijuana be ended, but all other drugs should be decriminalized as well. The rules against personal choice are archaic and serve to punish us for making our own decisions. Helping drug addicts instead of arresting them builds better lives and will reduce crime all over Massachusetts.”

“I look forward to running my campaign, and look even more forward to representing the fine city of Salem.”
 
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Good luck on your race/educational campaign. But here are my thoughts on seeing your title:

Freedom comes to Massachusetts!

...Freedom promptly imprisoned for disobeying authority, obstruction of justice, and disturbing the peace. Freedom is being held in solitary confinement without bail because it poses a great risk to authority. Freedom is facing no less than 20 years in state prison, with the possibility of a death sentence or deportation.

Friends and Family of Freedom are encouraged to write letters so that the state can identify co-conspirators.
 
If there are lots of libertarian Republicans, why are you running LP?

Hi gnuschler,

I have three main reasons. First, I don't want any boss other than my constituents. I can imagine plenty of Republicans trying to force me to change my message to fit the Republican narrative. In other words, I might get a lot of advisement not to talk about social issues, the drug war, and so on, where conservative republicans might get pissed off at me for not being a "True Republican". Running as LP gives me a lot of freedom and no chance for pressure from anyone to change my messaging at all. I hope that makes some sense.

Second, if I go around Salem as a Republican, then I'll be carrying around a preconceived notion about my beliefs. People would be likely to associate me with ideas that I don't share. The Libertarian Party, on the other hand, still carries preconceived notions about it, but to a lesser extent. That is to say, more people are ignorant of the LP platform than the GOP one, which might make people more interested in me.

And lastly, as you read, the campaign laws in Massachusetts are biased against third parties. I think I draw more sympathy as a third party candidate running to change these rather than as a Republican.

If you have any criticisms, I'm open to them. This is my first time doing this!
 
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Libertarian Party is a waste of time and money. When you get serious about winning an election, join the GOP.

Sorry to be so blunt, but that's the reality.
 
Libertarian Party is a waste of time and money. When you get serious about winning an election, join the GOP.

Sorry to be so blunt, but that's the reality.

For federal positions, I agree. But I think change can come at the state level. Heck, Philadelphia recently elected someone from the Whig Party for first time in over a century! Of course third party candidates getting elected is rare, but there is a desire for a third party both here in Massachusetts, and the United States in general. See more here: http://bit.ly/1czLvHg

So I think there is a "market" for those not tied to the Democrats or Republicans. Come November I'll see if that market exists in Salem.
 
"Freedom for all or freedom for none" doesn't strike me as a great slogan since there's plenty of people in power that would side with "freedom for none".
 
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