On December 31, 2011, I received the press release below form The Occupation Party;
“The Occupation Party (TOP) is pleased to announce that it endorses Lance Enderle, Democratic candidate for Congress from Michigan's 8th district.
Mr. Enderle represents what we think of as the ideal candidate. In his own words, he says, "I am not afraid to make the hard decisions that are needed, and will never forget who I represent. I want to be a voice of the people and not the special interests. Money should not be the dominant influence on our political process, it is imperative that we get back to the root of our great American experiment called Democracy." He has been involved with Occupy Lansing from the start, and his positions on important issues are aligned with our draft platform.
He's been through life's ups and downs: he's a parent and a grandfather. He's been a public school teacher and has a master's degree in special education. He has direct experience with modern economic life, having been laid off from a teaching position while still paying for a mortgage, paying for college loans, and supporting his family.
For more information about the Lance Enderle for Congress campaign, visit http://lanceenderleforcongress.com/ or follow his Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/....
Frances Arroyo
Media Coordinator
The Occupation Party
PO Box 11076
Cincinnati, Ohio 45211”
As a Progressive Democrat, I am honored and privileged to be one of the fi¬rst in the country to gain the endorsement that represents the 99%! I believe this endorsement to be a badge of honor and a litmus test for accountability.
Since I got into this congressional race in 2010, my campaign has been one based on; restoring faith in our financial system, social and economic justice for all, tax reform, campaign finance reform, and safe guards to protect our environment for future generations.
By restoring faith in our financial system, we will hold the corporations and financial institutions accountable for their actions. After all, they are individuals after the Citizens United ruling. We will fight to end all forms of predatory lending, and restore an equitable lending system. We will end the corporate welfare, and restore incentives to those who manufacture within the United States and create jobs in America; the small business owner.
Social and economic justice is achieved first and foremost by recognizing that human rights are equal rights, and every American citizen is entitled to human rights! So for all of my Right-wing friends, who hate on me for being a pro-choice candidate, if HUMAN life begins at conception as you say, shouldn’t human rights be given to that child, just asking? Also, I continue to fight for a single payer public option health care system; because health care is a basic human right and no human being should be denied proper health care.
Tax reform is imperative to the stability and security of our great nation! We need to raise taxes; yes I said raise taxes, especially on the corporations and uber rich who have been taking advantage of the system and the working class for way too long now. Not only do we need to raise taxes, we need to spend our revenues and resources more wisely; but that is for continued discussion.
As a Special Educator, I have dedicated my life as an advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves and to the betterment of society by educating the youth. Through this adventure I have found our education system is in need of repair. We do not invest enough in education, and education is our future.
During the election of 2010, I felt like the poster child for election reform. I got into the primary race as a write in, got on the ballot two months before the election and spent $15,000. I was the only candidate in the country that did not take PAC money during the election, it hurt not to have the money but that was not why I was running, I was running to defend our democratic process. Granted, I did not win last election, but I made the point it does not take money to run for office, it just takes: passion, conviction, character, integrity, and fortitude. These are the traits I carry with me into the 2012 election, the only difference is I will take PAC money from non-corporate groups if it is offered; I have to be able to compete with Mike to beat him.
Since 2010 I have been fighting for the above, but I have also been advocating for the environment. Last election cycle hydro-fracturing became a topic of discussion; I believe I was the only one who was continually pounding away on this destructive process. I have not stopped; “fracking” is bad and needs to be criminalized!
My platform is that of social and economic justice, governmental reform, and protecting the environment for future generations, while standing up and giving a voice to those who have lost it. I am proud to be a voice of the 99%! I look forward to the fight ahead. I will be there in the trenches with the young, old, and working class giving the 99% a voice. It is an honor and distinct privilege to represent the people; the 99%!
Please visit www.Lance 2012.com for more information or to contribute to the campaign.