Here are my responses to the League of Women Voters for their 2020 Voters’ Guide!
Published only on Daily Kos.
June 28, 2020
Name: Richard Thripp
Party: Democratic (Dem)
Occupation: Adjunct Faculty Member
Campaign Website: https://thrippforcongress.com
Campaign Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThrippforCongress
Campaign Email: campaign@thrippforcongress.com
Campaign Twitter: https://twitter.com/Thripp2020
Campaign Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thripp2020
Campaign YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/richardxthripp
What are the most important challenges facing our country and how do you propose to address them?
The climate crisis, injustice, and economic inequality are 3 of our biggest challenges.
I support a Green New Deal, banning fracking, and developing new technologies to be exported across the world. Florida is ground zero for hurricanes which are getting worse and worse. We need to empower the EPA and remove subsidies for fossil fuels.
We need to demilitarize our police, restore federal oversight, legalize cannabis, and federally invest in healthcare, education, childcare, and housing. We need a fairer and more progressive tax code along with fully funding and staffing our IRS to close the $450 billion annual tax gap. The wealthiest nation on earth should not have such suffering and inequality!
How will you work to increase job opportunities for your constituents?
Daytona Beach, and all of Volusia County as well as Flagler County and the rest of the 6th district, has been left behind. Two-thirds of Volusia County's schools are Title I. I will work toward increased federal funding for them. Investing in education will bring us better job opportunities.
Our politicians are selling us a pipe dream of Space Force jobs coming to Volusia County. This won't happen, and our economy is especially hard-hit by COVID-19 due to our reliance on retail, hospitality, and tourism. We are also a retirement community. My strong focus on a $15 per hour minimum wage, universal healthcare, and strengthening Social Security and social safety nets will dramatically improve our region's prosperity.
What will you do over the long term to ensure healthcare access for all?
I suppose a single-payer universal healthcare system that disintermediates the big insurance companies. Big businesses merge all the time for synergy, economies of scale, and efficiency. The USA should do the same. This would be great for Americans' health outcomes and great for our healthcare providers and local economy. Recent research shows that rural hospitals are closing at higher rates in states, like Florida, that refused to expand Medicaid. Stop saying Medicare for All is impossible—we invented the atomic bomb and put men on the moon 6 times!
I think we can get Florida to expand Medicaid if we pass a bill to allow 100% instead of 90% federal subsidies to newly enrolling states like they could get in 2014. I will push that bill!
What kinds of policies, if any, will you pursue to promote social and racial justice in our country?
I will be a champion for racial justice. We need to do it comprehensively. People of color have the deck stacked against them from the beginning. In addition to overhauling the way we do policing, we need bold federal funding and action on items like healthcare, education, childcare, and housing. We need to fully staff and fund our IRS, close our $450 billion annual tax gap, repeal and replace the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act, and end insane military campaigns. Wealth inequality is out of control in this country and has only gotten worse in the past few years. I support a universal basic income for all Americans (Andrew Yang's freedom dividend), which is a part of the 2016 Black Lives Matter platform.
Please explain where you see opportunities for Democrats and Republicans to find common ground on the very serious issues facing our country.
Working with others and building coalitions was critical during my Education PhD program at the University of Central Florida. I've authored a book, co-edited 2 books and 2 journal articles, worked on many joint projects and grant proposals, and am co-chairing 2 virtual academic conferences next month. I'm going to take the same self-discipline and consensus-building skills to Congress to work across the aisle. Nationally, I've already worked with progressive anti-Trump Republican congressional candidates such as Dan Larson of Montana. Under Trump, the Republican party is in crisis. I believe that in time, there will be a backlash and an electoral mandate for the GOP to be pro-environment, pro-worker, pro-small business, and pro-education.
Richard Thripp is a Progressive Democratic candidate for the United States House of Representatives for Florida’s 6th congressional district. Learn more at ThrippForCongress.com and click here to donate $6 for District 6!