Showing posts with label Criminal Justice Reform. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Criminal Justice Reform. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Why I am Running for Office

Why I am Running for Office


"I am running because of what I see and what I believe. I see that our country and state is in crisis and I believe we can do much better than this for ourselves and our children.

• I see homeowners being forcibly turned in to renters and renters spilling out on to the streets.
• I see a lack of justice in our courts.
• I see that our elected officials seem out of touch with the critical concerns of most of the folks I talk to on a daily basis.
• I see small businesses struggling to navigate a labyrinth of regulation and taxation.
• I see workers who are making 1/3 of what they were making before the recession with no hope of advancement.
• I see the elderly, families and the weakest among us being abused and brutalized by monopolistic forces.
• I see an education system where 1 out of every four of our children doesn’t graduate and more still graduate loaded down with debt and no hope for secure employment.

I believe that TOGETHER we can do much better than this.

• I believe it is time to end all forms of waste fraud and abuse in our state
• I believe it is time to get traffic flowing again because this s good for families, the economy AND our environment
• I believe it is time we put government back in its place and get government out of our businesses, bedrooms and wallets
• I believe is it time we revolutionize our education system so we can prepare our children for the responsibilities of tomorrow, without dumbing them down for the political expediency of today.
• I believe the bedrock of the 48th district and this state is small business and we need to do everything in our power to unleash the ingenuity, passion and opportunity that healthy small business offer our state
• I believe that every employee should have the opportunity to move up the ladder and not be stuck at a minimum wage, no matter what that wage is, their entire lives.
• I believe the people of my district need a representative that will hear their concerns and take that message to Olympia.
• I believe it is time for WE the people to embrace our diversity and respect our differences.
• I believe it is up to US as individuals and communities to solve our problems and that we must stop waiting on the government to do it for us.
• I believe it is time for us to BE the change we wish to see.
I am running for the Washington State House of Representatives to be witness to what I see and an example for what I believe. TOGETHER we MUST BE the change we wish to see.

Thank you and I appreciate your support and your vote in August and November."

- Michelle Darnell

Michelle is fighting for YOU in Washington State.

Pushing for REAL Education Reform in WA!

Michelle Darnell for 48th Legislative District.

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Wednesday, July 13, 2016

END THE INSANITY

END THE INSANITY

   "Recent events are no surprise to me at all.  The situation has developed over time.  A society that no longer cares for its poor and elderly, has little respect for life and does not prioritize its young, is on the decline.  The brutality in our streets are symptoms of much deeper issues and no amount of restriction on weapons or crackdown of the law is going to heal our nation.  We have homeless spilling  out on to our streets, weekly mass shootings, police brutality and daily protests.  Drones, mass incarceration, failing schools, a rising tide of mental health and drug and alcohol abuse are all indications that America is very sick.
   Yesterday, I was driving through a parking lot and a young woman, likely in her 20’s, was driving the wrong direction.  She yelled profanities at ME out the window.  I had a young man in my car.  He yelled profanities back.  Latter when thinking about it, I felt this exchange illustrated well what is going on in our society and this experience coupled with the events this week, inspired this piece."
- Michelle Darnell 

"It is time we had some REAL leadership in this country. Instead of fanning the flames of fear, violence and hate, we need leaders who will work to de-escalate the tension and end this insanity!! Leaders at every level of government. Leaders in my own state. Leaders in my community. Leaders in our homes. Leaders with vision, discernment and the ability to influence and help us become better than we might be with out them. 
 
Violence begets violence and I do not hear ANYONE denouncing the violence but rather "leaders" on both sides spew rhetoric and escalate the tensions. They chant “Black lives matter” and “Gun control”, each seeking to generate the sort of passion within their base to increase their power and influence. This will assuredly result in more loss of life. I see no leaders responding to the cries of the people as they demand justice. This will result in an escalation of the tensions. We are sitting in a powder keg and it is the fault of those who call themselves politicians and leaders. 
 
We need leaders who will tell the truth and that truth is that we are where we are at in this country as a consequence of a lack of leadership. The recent shootings are symptoms of deeply rooted systemic issues. Police brutality IS an issue in this country. But this is a consequence of layers and layers of regulation and the drug war. Police departments have been equipped with weapons of war not the tools to deescalate tension. The real issue is not necessarily rooted in racism, though African Americans have felt the full effect of the war on drugs. The proper response is not to shoot police. Particularly police innocent of brutality themselves. The proper response is a demand to end the brutality, the drug war and the over regulation that causes the increased interaction between police and the public. 
 
Police themselves must also self regulate. Don’t let fellow police abuse the public. Don't choose to enforce unnecessary regulation. Leaders of the black lives matter movement or any anti brutality movement must denounce responding to violence with violence. 
 
Politicians running for office should stop tossing political “red meat” out to the masses for political expediency and assume the responsibility that they have in deescalating the tensions. They must stop playing on the public’s fears and anger to propel themselves in to office. They should aim to identified the cause of the tensions and facilitation resolution. They should inspire us to be better than we would be with out them.
 
This escalation of violence will NOT end well. It is time for some leaders who will denounce the violence, unite the people and inspire us toward real resolutions. If this does not happen, the crisis has only just begun. Our children deserve much better than this. 
 
STOP THE INSANITY. NOW!"
 
- Michelle Darnell 

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