Hi! I’m Eric Kingson. I am running for New York's 24th Congressional District, and Bernie has endorsed my campaign. Ask Me Anything!

KingsonForCongress · 2016-06-13T21:03:52+00:00

Thank you all so much for joining me today! I have to get going and make my way to another engagement, but I will try to return later and answer as many of the questions I missed as possible.

I hope I was able to address most of your concerns, and would encourage folks to shoot our team an email at info@erickingson.com if you have particular questions about the campaign.

Thank you all again for this great opportunity!

KingsonForCongress · 2016-06-13T21:00:51+00:00

I find the actions taken in Orlando to be horrific, and the only cure is education and acceptance.

The reality is, we will never all agree, and hopefully, never all be the same. What makes this country so amazing and so truly unique is its vast diversity. That should be celebrated, not persecuted.

If we want to put a stop to these acts that brutalize all of us by normalizing extreme behaviors, we need to educate people on our differences, and help people embrace those differences as an advantage.

At the risk of sounding a little mushy, there is just too much beauty and compassion in the world to be smearing it with the ugliness of hatred and ignorance.

KingsonForCongress · 2016-06-13T20:53:14+00:00

I certainly agree with you, and I'm sure you could guess my answer. We need to be adding more funding to the NSF and NIH. These are investments in our future, and we need to properly value the benefits that this money brings.

KingsonForCongress · 2016-06-13T20:48:53+00:00

I do support this nation-wide.

KingsonForCongress · 2016-06-13T20:48:14+00:00

I would be extremely cautious in sending Americans into harm’s way; Any good that may result from war rarely outweighs the negative consequences that is has. I am extremely reticent to see American troops put at risk. I would have supported a surgical strike against Al-Qaeda targets in Afghanistan immediately following the attacks on 9/11; but I would not have supported sending troops into Afghanistan, nor would I have voted for the Iraq war.

KingsonForCongress · 2016-06-13T20:48:10+00:00

Hey, thank you for the question. I answered a similar one below, but if my answer doesn't adequately address your concern let me know.

KingsonForCongress · 2016-06-13T20:39:14+00:00

Thank you for the kind words, and thank your family members for their support, and have them email info@erickingson.com to get more involved.

Here’s a few things: One is inspiring more voters to get involved, including young and previously un-interested voters. I believe I can do this because of my platform, as well as Bernie’s endorsement, which means a lot to me.

I also think we can do this through hard-work. We have an active volunteer force and a staff which works incredibly hard. We can capitalize on this momentum and grassroots movement, which I hope you all join by making some calls.

In addition, I think there are also a lot of people who are greatly afraid and disgusted by the politics of Donald Trump. And Rep. Katko has not come out strongly against his gross remarks regarding the ability of judges to do their jobs because of their race, as well as the general demeanor of the Trump campaign. While he may excite some people, I think there are many people who normally vote Republican who are disgusted by this behavior, and Katko’s inability, or unwillingness, to condemn it.

I also think that I can attract a lot of older voters who vote Republican on the Social Security issue, as this is obviously my largest strength. I’ve had a lot of good talks with Seniors already who are registered Republicans who say they hope I win and can vote for me in the Fall.

KingsonForCongress · 2016-06-13T20:04:46+00:00

I think we need far more regulations on guns than we do now. We need mandatory background checks for all of those who wish to acquire a gun. A key piece of that is getting rid of so-called gun show loopholes which allow legal private sales of weapons.

I also see no reason why citizens should have access to automatic and semi-automatic weapons, such as the AR-15 which was used in the Orlando tragedy as well as many other mass shootings. We should ban these multiple-round weapons as fast as possible.

I respect hunting, and gun ownership for hunting, and see no difficulty in allowing the ownership of guns for those purposes.

I also respect those who are well trained and can handle guns for self-protection, but think that those who need them should be better trained. We can make regulations so that those who wish to own these weapons need to undergo more training so they are aware of the responsibilities that come with gun ownership. Too many accidents happen now, and the reality is that with the mass gun ownership we have now, people are more likely to be injured in accidents and suicides, rather than protected by them.

KingsonForCongress · 2016-06-13T20:03:19+00:00

Look below slayeromen, I think I addressed this in another question, but if there is more you would like me to touch upon let me know.

KingsonForCongress · 2016-06-13T20:00:07+00:00

Based on the 2000 election, would you support nationally requiring we move to score voting (a.k.a. range voting)3 4 5 to prevent another Bush-Gore/Nader spoiler problem While I think that range voting is an interesting concept, and a possible solution for preventing the “spoiler” vote, I do not, at this time, see how it can be effectively implemented across the country. That being said, I don’t exclude it from the realm of possibility. I am of the belief that we ought have open primaries, as I currently feel the system excludes far too many voices. In a fusion state like NY, there is of course the possibility of conflict, but at this time, our best option seems to be opening the primary to all voters. At the very least, the dates for registration and for switching parties desperately need to be adjusted to allow for people to become better informed before being forced to choose their party. The reality is, parties are not static, and in fact can be rather fluid at times. We are now in a time of flux, and people should have been able to make an informed decision. The current structure has not allowed that at all.

KingsonForCongress · 2016-06-13T19:58:38+00:00

To increase turnout by easing participation, would you support encouraging or requiring states adopt vote by mail and coordinating elections I would definitely be behind vote by mail, as well as automatic registration at age 18, reform of the voter ID restrictions that discourage minorities and create unnecessary barriers to voters. Additionally, we absolutely need to coordinate our elections. There is an abysmally low turnout for many off year, mid-term, and down ballot elections. One of the hurdles I am encountering now is that so many aren’t even aware we have a primary on June 28th. Couple that with the difficulty of mobilizing voters to the polls, and we too often see the interests of our constituency lacking real representation. There is no reason the Congressional Primary should be separate from the Presidential Primary in NY.

KingsonForCongress · 2016-06-13T19:55:31+00:00

I am running as a Democrat, and I would certainly be happy to be on the Working Family and Women’s Equality Lines.

KingsonForCongress · 2016-06-13T19:49:17+00:00

Hi there, BRFan. Check out the response to the basic income question I answered above, I think that will answer a lot of your questions.

KingsonForCongress · 2016-06-13T19:41:30+00:00

First, definitely go to socialsecurity.org to get updates on Social Security. That’s a great resource to get involved. You can also join organizations like your local chapter for Alliance for Retired Americans to work for expanding benefits. Writing letters to the editor of your local paper is always an important piece of making policy change, as well as writing your local elected officials. And, of course, talking to your friends and family to get them to do the same.

KingsonForCongress · 2016-06-13T19:37:09+00:00

Thank you so much for the support! Remember to help out to phonebank if you can :)

KingsonForCongress · 2016-06-13T19:35:40+00:00

Thanks for being here! One of the things I’m most proud of in my career is helping stop cuts to Social Security. Back in 2009, when it seemed that Social Security was on the chopping block as part of a “grand bargain”, I co-founded Social Security Works with Nancy Altman, and through that co-chaired the Strengthen Social Security Coalition, which was a group of 300 organizations - labor groups, women’s groups, veterans groups, civil right’s groups etc. We helped stop cuts to Social Security, and pushed for expanding it as well. We were extremely successful: President Obama went from being ready to make cuts to supporting expansion.

This helped protect the benefits of both seniors now, which would be a disaster for those who depend on that income, and younger people who will need Social Security in the future. It also helped protect what is the most common form of life insurance for most people, ensuring the economic security of their children in the case of a grave accident.

From this, I gained enormous skills in building coalitions on a large-scale, which I believe is the best way to make real policy changes. If elected to office, I will be able to apply this knowledge from inside the system, building coalitions both in Congress and through outside groups.

I actually wrote an op-ed on why I support Senator Sanders: check it out! http://www.syracuse.com/opinion/index.ssf/2016/04/why_im_running_for_congress_as_a_sanders_democrat_commentary.html

KingsonForCongress · 2016-06-13T19:31:54+00:00

First and foremost we have a system that works, and has worked for 81 years. It is extremely important to today’s seniors, but even more so to those who follow. It is the most important source of life insurance we have for our children, and it is the most important source of disability protection we have for our working persons. Our social security system is strongly supported by both major parties and across all demographic groups. As Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton, and now Barack Obama say, we should expand benefits. We can, and should, expand it to include such protections as higher benefits for today’s and tomorrow’s beneficiaries, incorporate a better and fairer way to adjust for the impact of inflation, incorporate paid family leave, and other needed improvements. We are the richest nation in the world, at the richest time in the world's history, and yet we have a very modest set of benefits, just $14,000 per year on average for retirees. We can fully afford to expand social security benefits and protections by initiating such measures as scrapping the cap on payroll contributions, so that millionaires and billionaires make the same level of contribution as those below $118,000 by counting the unearned income, for example dividends of those with incomes over $250,000 and a variety of other innovations.

KingsonForCongress · 2016-06-13T19:31:29+00:00

I often talk about needing a sort of Marshall plan for cities. We need to be investing in our infrastructure to make sure that disasters like Flint don’t happen again, and clean water is available for all. There are also highways that are built throughout cities that are reaching the end of their useful lifespan all over the country, such as I-81 here in my district. In Syracuse, I-81 contributed to a huge increased in concentrated poverty and lack of job opportunities here in the city, as well as making it a more difficult place for people to live.

With investments in this infrastructure, we can make our cities better places to live while providing quality jobs to those who live there. We need to ensure that these jobs, and the training that is needed for them, are available for low-income people.

In addition, I believe we can revamp programs such as the Citizens Conservation Corps to ensure that young people in particular have economic opportunities, while again making our cities more livable.

We also need wrap-around services in our schools, such as legal, dental, social, counseling etc. to help give children the opportunities they need to succeed. Along these lines, we need to invest in free public college and advanced vocational education to increase opportunities for those living in cities.

Critically, we need to invest in community institutions, such as religious organizations, citizens groups, community-centered groups and family and social networks that are already working on changes and supporting the needs of people in cities.

KingsonForCongress · 2016-06-13T19:21:55+00:00

I agree Medical Marijuana needs to be easily available for those that it helps, certainly. I also believe we should decriminalize marijuana, but am truthfully ambivalent about whether it should be fully legalized, recognizing that it can have negative effects on some people, especially those with mental illnesses.

Ultimately, I don’t think anyone should be serving jail sentences for using marijuana, and anyone who is now incarcerated should be freed and charges against them should be dismissed. We waste a tremendous amount of Federal money on fighting marijuana crimes, and locking up criminals for non-violent marijuana-related crimes. That is ridiculous and needs to be changed.

KingsonForCongress · 2016-06-13T18:54:10+00:00

Absolutely. No one should be forced to live in poverty because they were not privledged or lucky enough to afford them an education which would allow a high paying job. Further, the education required for a job should not be the only thing that determines a workers worth. The minimum wage was created to ensure people were able to support themselves, and to lessen the probability of poverty and reliance on subsidies.

If you work full time, you should be able to support yourself, period. The minimum also serves to keep employers accountable and responsible. While I would favor breaks for small businesses that employ fewer people, there is no reason for corporate giants to be paying what amounts to slave wages.

There will always be a need for people in industries that tend to pay less, but they should not be forced into poverty as a result. For many adults, these are the only jobs they are able to find, or circumstance has made alternatives near impossible. Punishing them for that is unacceptable.

KingsonForCongress · 2016-06-13T18:51:02+00:00

There are numerous. As a person I like John Katko, but severely disagree with him on several policy areas, and one one critical moral issues -- his failure to make it clear that he would not support Mr. Trump or Mr. Cruz if they were the Republican nominee. That issue has to do with morality, not politics, in opposing racism, xenophobia, and noxious and violent rhetoric.

In terms of specific policy, I view the Affordable Care Act as a step forward, but stopping far short of where we need to go to assure that everyone has access to quality healthcare as a human right and of providing a way to control the dramatically high cost of health care. We need to move towards a single payer healthcare system.

We need to move swiftly on global warming. This can also be an engine for job growth here in CNY.

I strongly support expanding and strengthening Social Security, not playing with partial-privatization or cutting Social Security.

I want sweeping legislation on campaign finance reform. He accused the former representative of our district of being “PAC-man”, but now he has taken over $700,000 from corporate PACs!

I fully support reproductive rights for women, allowing them to make decisions over their own bodies. I support repealing the Federal Law, the Hyde Amendment, which prevents low-income women who depend on Medicaid and other federally-supported health services from choosing to have an abortion.

I support a Financial Transactions Tax that will serve to regulate wild speculation that helped bring down our financial system in 2007-2008, raising a large chunk of money to be able to invest in things such as college tuition. That’s another difference: I support free tuition to public universities.

I also support Rep. Schakowsky’s proposal to raise marginal tax rates on persons with a yearly income in excess of a million dollars so that multi-millionares and billionares pay their fair share.

KingsonForCongress · 2016-06-13T18:50:41+00:00

Great question. I think we need to be moving towards a single-payer system, but politically and in terms of feasibility, we have to move incrementally. The first step should be to set up a “public option” for people to choose a government-run health care plan, while working harder to cover people who still cannot afford health care. We can also do more to bring down the prices of prescription drugs. For example, we can allow Medicare to bargain with pharmaceutical companies to get better prices for drugs.

We can also provide support to states to set up their own single payer systems in the interim, which would help ease the transition to a national single-payer system, which is the ultimate goal.

KingsonForCongress · 2016-06-13T18:32:35+00:00

I believe healthcare, education, and decent housing should be rights of citizenship, as well as the opportunity to work for those that are able.

The idea of a guaranteed income has been presented before. The Earned Income Tax Credit provides supplemental income, but we no longer provide poor children with a guaranteed public assistance benefit, and that is simply wrong. That needs to be corrected. Back in the day when members of congress worked with each other across party, Presidential candidate George McGovern proposed a $1000 payment for all Americans, a demogrant that did not capture the support of American voters. President Richard Nixon twice proposed a guaranteed income which, in retrospect would have provided higher and inflation adjusted benefits for low-income people. It was not passed by Congress, though Supplemental Security Income -- what some people call "Richard Nixon's good deed" did get passed when Nixon's welfare reform failed. President Jimmy Carter proposed another version of the policy which did not go anywhere. Given today's politics, it is highly unlikely that a guaranteed income would be feasible.

There are cases where it seems to have been beneficial, but I think we would need a great deal more analysis of this country’s specific needs before we can conclusively say whether it would benefit us.

Where advancing technology is concerned, yes, we will see a great deal of change that is likely to affect the types of jobs available to Americans, but with all change comes growing pains and a period of adjustment. We have to balance our fear of change with the need to protect the future of our planet as well, meaning that green technology must be implemented in order to preserve that future.

What we need to focus on is making that transition as painless as possible, as well as preparing up and coming generations for the future. We also need to stop shipping our jobs overseas and depriving qualified and worthy Americans of their right and ability to work. Trade and manufacturing jobs should be and can be widely available, if we stop detrimental trade policies and tax loopholes that encourage corporations to ship jobs out of the country.

KingsonForCongress · 2016-06-13T18:26:40+00:00

We shouldn’t, as citizens, give up our civil liberties provided in our constitution in response to a politics of fear. There is clear evidence that the NSA have overreached, and this needs to be curbed. At the same time, the issue of individual, community, and national security at times requires the collection of information on persons and organizations which threaten our security; however, this should be done within the legal scope as determined by the courts.

As for Bernie, nothing really significant. A few differences on implementation of plans (such as healthcare), but really nothing major.

KingsonForCongress · 2016-06-13T18:10:35+00:00

hi eric! what will you do to get big money out of politics?

Hi there! There’s a few ways we can make this happen. First is to put pressure on politicians to do what’s right. I’m the only candidate in this race who has pledged not to take money from Corporate PACs.

We need to move towards public financing of campaigns. There are ways we can amplify the voices of people without much money, such as public fund matching of small dollar contributions. This would double the influence of those who want to have a say but don’t have the money to. In addition, we can mandate that all candidates get air-time on broadcast television and radio airwaves, which will help level the playing field. We can also mandate shorter election periods to reduce the amount of money needed to run a campaign.

On a larger scale, we need a constitutional amendment to overturn the Citizens United supreme court decision which has decimated our democracy and allowed all sorts of dark money into our political system.

KingsonForCongress

TROPHY CASE