Planning to run for office.

[mosquitobite]

I like your drug response.

 

[Origanalist]

I like your drug response.

I approve heartily.

 

[Icymudpuppy]

Any suggestions on boiling drugs down to a short soundbite?

 

[Christian Liberty]

Any suggestions on boiling drugs down to a short soundbite?

You wouldn't want someone telling you what to eat or drink, or what medicines to use, so stop telling other people what they can or cannot put into their bodies.

 

[kcchiefs6465]

Any suggestions on boiling drugs down to a short soundbite?

You own your body.

 

[KCIndy]

Any suggestions on boiling drugs down to a short soundbite?

This may sound a a bit crass, but I've long since discovered that the very best way to sway someone's opinion is to address their unspoken question: "What's in it for me??"

In regard to the utter failure that is the "War on Drugs" the answer is: "Folks, you get to keep more of your own money."

Or to put it another way, I would probably try for a soundbite summary of: "Folks, I know you all work hard to pay your taxes, so let me ask you this: In the coming years, would you rather pay a lot more in taxes, or a lot less?"

If the discussion goes deeper, toss 'em a few points to ponder:

*The US is spending billions of taxpayer dollars domestically and overseas, and accomplishing nothing. If that wasted money could be returned to the taxpayers, it would make a noticeable dent in everyone's tax bill.

*Right now hundreds of thousands of otherwise productive and nonviolent individuals are being kept behind bars on simple drug convictions. Last time I checked, it cost taxpayers around $25,000 to $35,000 per year to incarcerate a prisoner. Anyone can do that math.

*Many states (including Washington) have started the process of legalizing the sales and use of marijuana. Now, instead of COSTING taxpayers lots of their hard earned cash, legalized marijuana is likely to take a great big bite out of future tax bills. In fact, according to a recent article by the PEW Research group:

"Estimated income in Washington and Colorado varies widely, from tens of millions of dollars in the first few years to as much as $2 billion in the first half-decade of legalization. The disparity comes, in part, over uncertainty about demand...

Washington predicted a “fully functioning” market could bring in $1.9 billion in five years, although the state isn’t counting on those dollars in future budgets."

http://www.pewstates.org/projects/s...l-eyes-on-colorado-and-washington-85899520961

 

[Origanalist]

Firstly, the drug war has failed. It has not had any noticeable effect in reducing drug use, quite the opposite in fact. From a fiscally conservative perspective, it has been a horrible waste of money.

the bans only serve to create a violent black market and gang warfare, which are far more dangerous than the drugs themselves.

Those two quotes from your original statement posted do quite well, add this from KCIndy and you have a pretty good rough draft already.

*The US is spending billions of taxpayer dollars domestically and overseas, and accomplishing nothing. If that wasted money could be returned to the taxpayers, it would make a noticeable dent in everyone's tax bill.

*Right now hundreds of thousands of otherwise productive and nonviolent individuals are being kept behind bars on simple drug convictions. Last time I checked, it cost taxpayers around $25,000 to $35,000 per year to incarcerate a prisoner. Anyone can do that math.

You are trying to win over people who think the war on drugs is sacred and completely worth it. You don't have to convince people who already see it as a failure. Emphasize the gang violence, relate it to Prohibition as a failure, and tie it to the rising police state and the loss of everyday rights for everybody whether they are aware of it or not.

 

[Origanalist]

Bump

 

[Matt Collins]

Take every training course the Leadership Institute and the Campaign for Liberty offer... that is if you want to learn how to actually get elected.

 

[Brian4Liberty]

Q: Abortion.
A: It's a highly charged issue. Next question?

Q: Drugs.
A: There should be no Federal Laws regarding Marijuana. At the local level, we should make the sale of marijuana to minors illegal, punishable by fine. Next question?

 

[Brian4Liberty]

I appreciate constructive criticism and editing on the content of this position which would go on my campaign website. Also, I would appreciate it boiled down to a 30 second sound bite.

IMHO, I would leave it off the website. No use bringing it up unless you have to.

 

[Icymudpuppy]

Okay,

Next subject.

Taxes and Spending.

I oppose all new taxes and any attempts to raise existing taxes. I will look for ways to repeal or reduce existing taxes that do not cause any breakdown in essential services.

Taxes are directly tied to spending. I also oppose all increases in government spending at any level. Indeed, I have a huge list of unnecessary spending I would like to see eliminated. Please see my budget plan...

The voters of our state have given Eyman's Tax and Spend initiatives a resounding approval year after year. I intend to follow the will of the voters and keep government tax and spending limited.

 

[Icymudpuppy]

Take every training course the Leadership Institute and the Campaign for Liberty offer... that is if you want to learn how to actually get elected.

I'm not going to pander, I'm not going to try and be suave. I am looking to run in elections where my state's top-two system gives independents an advantage. I will run as me, not some polished asshat R or D.

 

[Matt Collins]

I'm not going to pander, I'm not going to try and be suave. I am looking to run in elections where my state's top-two system gives independents an advantage. I will run as me, not some polished asshat R or D.

You're going to run as an independent?

Unless you're trying to spoil an election, then you aren't a serious candidate.

 

[muzzled dogg]

spread the word of voluntaryism by either being a third party candidate or a politician. think about it. pm for details; i'd love to chat. but the choice is yours.

see you this time next month.

 

[Icymudpuppy]

You're going to run as an independent?

Unless you're trying to spoil an election, then you aren't a serious candidate.

You didn't read the OP did you?

 

[Icymudpuppy]

Here is a refresher from the original post for those of you who don't get what I'm going for here...

First, WA is a top two state. There is no party registration. All candidates run against one another in the primary, and the top two vote getters proceed to the general election. This sometimes results in two R's running against one another in the General, or two D's, etc.

My local area is very heavily Republican. Most voters are both fiscally conservative, and socially conservative, although the Fiscally conservative, socially liberal group is also fairly heavily represented even inside the local R party but they don't get much attention. In most local elections in my county for State Reps, Senators, County offices, etc, the Democrat party doesn't even field a candidate. Still, about 30% consistently vote Democrat in statewide elections. Another 40% are the social conservative voters who talk a good game about fiscal conservatism, but rarely deliver, and the last 30% are various independents who usually end up voting for R's because the really do want fiscal conservativism. For those of you familiar with WA, you may have heard of Tim Eyman who regularly pushes at least 1 fiscally conservative initiative every year. Limiting taxes, restricting the state gov from spending, etc. These initiatives can usually expect 90% support from my local area.

I think this creates an excellent opportunity for a third party candidate to run as fiscally conservative, and socially tolerant.

I am keeping my eye open for winnable elections. In May, the Online registration posts the positions open for election and who has filed, and what party they prefer. I am looking for local county and state representative races where the race is not contended by one of the two major parties, and it's a job that can actually affect policy. Thus, things like Clerk, Assessor, Coroner, Auditer, etc are not races I'm interested in.

 

[Matt Collins]

I think this creates an excellent opportunity for a third party candidate to run as fiscally conservative, and socially tolerant.

Ok, fair enough.

But you should run a poll to find out if your strategy offers a path to victory or not.

 

[Acala]

Depending on your audience, it might be worthwhile on some of these issues to point out that they are intentionally raised to divide the people into factions to debate about issues the government can never really solve while issues that government can solve - like the growth, cost, and invasiveness of government of government itself - fall by the wayside. Your focus should be on issues government CAN solve (by getting out of the way) and keeping government out of issues it cannot solve.

 

[cjm]

( colloquial "Hello" ) I'm Jack XXX. I'm a local citizen. A concerned local citizen. My wife and I are a part of this community. We're locals. As are our children. We live here. We work here. We go to school here. And I am a concerned citizen. I'm so concerned that i feel the need to take some time from my wife. My children. My business. And put that time into my neighborhood. My town. My county. So that I can make changes that make local governance better for all of us.

This ^

Take every training course the Leadership Institute and the Campaign for Liberty offer... that is if you want to learn how to actually get elected.

This ^

Depending on your audience, it might be worthwhile on some of these issues to point out that they are intentionally raised to divide the people into factions to debate about issues the government can never really solve while issues that government can solve - like the growth, cost, and invasiveness of government of government itself - fall by the wayside. Your focus should be on issues government CAN solve (by getting out of the way) and keeping government out of issues it cannot solve.

and this ^

It's good to have a well worded position on abortion and other topics that you know will come up. You can't just ignore the question. But don't put them up on your web site or otherwise publish them. Deliver those positions only to those that ask you 1x1. Most people on RPF are issue voters, but as a part of the general electorate, issue voters are probably a single digit percentage. You get into office by knocking on doors, making phone calls, and personally reaching out to the voters in your district to let them know you are a "good guy," you're likeable, you share their values, and they can trust you to do a good job. In other words, you're just making friends.