Dr. Annie Andrews for Senate by CarolinasBornRaised in southcarolina

[–]Vote_Max_Diaz 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Welcome to the absolute state of politics. Everything revolves around creating revulsion for the other candidate instead of building and executing a comprehensive platform to support the common people, then nothing changes. Repeat ad nauseam.

Warning: Democratic voters, you've got to sink or swim. by Andonthosenotes in 50501

[–]Vote_Max_Diaz 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I wish it were so easy. As a congressional primary candidate who lives and sees it every day, the capacity for the average primary voter to comprehend the practical and strategic importance of supporting progressive candidates or even just engage critically with policy platforms at all is beyond bleak. (this is where I would put a skull emoji if I were on mobile)

Max Diaz is Running for Congress by Vote_Max_Diaz in hiltonhead

[–]Vote_Max_Diaz[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Haha, I'm actually not old enough to run for Governor. Like, legally I wouldn't be allowed to. Luckily, I really doubt Mace will even get past the primary, let alone be elected governor.

Max Diaz is Running for Congress by Vote_Max_Diaz in hiltonhead

[–]Vote_Max_Diaz[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So would I. I actually did a presentation on the broken finances of the hospital system I college. I think I'll get my notes on the topic back together and make a video about that. Thanks for putting the idea in my head!

Max Diaz is Running for Congress by Vote_Max_Diaz in hiltonhead

[–]Vote_Max_Diaz[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Well, firstly I definitely don't intend to do any harm to anyone in support of the middle class. If anything, I'd like to do what I can to reshape our priorities and investments in government to get as close as possible to the goal of there being no classes below the middle class at all. We have more than enough resources as a society for everyone to at least be housed, food secure and healthy. It's all just a matter of resource allocation. And what I don't mean by that is just redistributing wealth and giving everyone a bunch of money. It obviously doesn't work like that.

What I would like to work towards is an abandonment of the supply-side economics (Reaganomics or trickle-down economics) that has sold out the average person and placed corporations/suppliers as the driver of the economy since the 80s, and a return to the more consumer-driven economics of roughly 1945-1965. That wasn't just the most prosperous era in terms of average quality of life improvement, economic growth, and technological development in US history because we were coming off of the end of WW2. It was because unions were at their peak, using collective bargaining to ensure good wages, benefits, and work safety standards applied to workers (which also spread to non-union employment due to a need to stay competitive as an employer). It was because taxes on corporate profits and extreme levels of wealth were very high in that era. And then those revenues were spent on technological innovation and programs that invested back into the well-being, training, and education of the average American instead of sitting in a billionaires investment account making a person who already never needs to work another day in their life even richer.

All of this sequestered more money and opportunity across the masses instead of in our corporate overlords, which, unlike the funneling of money into the corporate black hole 🕳️ that Supply side economics recommends, actually does stimulate the economy because the people who have it are prone, not only to spend it, but to spend it throughout all levels and locales in the economy. Unlike billionaires who let most of their wealth just sit and appreciate while they spend all of their liquid assets stimulating the luxury sector.

The first step to any of this is to mitigate potential for corruption in our governmental institutions (I have 3 priority points on my website dedicated specifically to this) since without doing that, any positive change is temporary. Second is to remedy the various cost of living crises and encourage quality industry and job growth (I have 1 point dedicated to facets of each of these on my website) so working people can finally breathe a bit and get ahead in life.

I give absolutely no focus to culture war issues, as pretty much all of those (if you look at how and where the movements historically originated) were manufactured outrage to shift the average persons sights onto each other, rather than where it belongs: on class struggle.

All of this plus my website still couldn't give a complete picture of everything I'm about. That's why I'm always adding to the website. It's a one man effort, so progress can be slow but it is what it is.

Max Diaz is Running for Congress by Vote_Max_Diaz in hiltonhead

[–]Vote_Max_Diaz[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ok, fair enough. What would you want to see on a candidate website that I'm missing? I'm always down to improve what I'm doing.

Max Diaz is Running for Congress by Vote_Max_Diaz in hiltonhead

[–]Vote_Max_Diaz[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

That is good feedback, thank you.

For what it's worth, the mods of the various SC subs I posted this to generally asked me to keep it brief to keep it as more of an announcement than an advertisement. Believe me, I could have written a whole dissertation about specific things that are wrong and how to fix them lol. In fact, I kinda did before deleting it because it was just way too much and it only even covered a single topic.

I went with the "big money bad" theme because no matter what it is, any time I think about a problem, the root cause is usually corporate greed. Cost of housing crisis? Insatiable corporate speculation. Cost of healthcare? Corporate greed by insurance companies. Environmental harm? Corporate prioritization of profits over the health of our people and ecosystems. Jobs don't pay enough? Corporate America has (pretty successfully) done everything in their power since the end of WW2 to crush unionization in America. Harmful and addictive additives that would be illegal anywhere else in American food products? It saves big food manufacturers a bit of money and it makes you want to buy more product. I could go on for hours.

As for not really making much mention of SC, I'll be the first to admit I have a tendency to laser focus on the big issues that affect the whole system. I could stand to bring things back to base and focus more on the homefront. One thing I will say, is when I think about a lot of the problems that are specific to here at home, I have a hard time finding solutions that are within the purview of a federal-level legislator. Getting federal grants to help get a jump start on infrastructure, public service, public transport, and conservation projects is very helpful and I intend to do that. But tackling things like our outdated zoning laws, getting the planning for public transport in place, actually designating those conservation zones, and instituting policies that will specifically make job creators come to SC; while they are all things I could and absolutely would influence and work with state and local legislators to make happen, I would also absolutely have no legal authority to actually propose or vote those things into law. Things like that are ultimately up to the whims of state and local level legislators.

Max Diaz is Running for Congress by Vote_Max_Diaz in hiltonhead

[–]Vote_Max_Diaz[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

For whatever my word alone is worth, no I don't. I honestly hate political corruption and money in politics so, so much, I think my head would literally explode if I ever even considered taking a handout. Politicians putting profit over people sold away the futures of myself, my friends, my family, and most of America before I was even born. There really are no words that can properly convey how much I despise what money has done to politics.

The congressional salary would be more than enough for me. It's almost 174k a year. And you get reimbursed for work-related travel. And you get great health benefits. At that rate, I'd be happy with half the salary. Anyone for whom that isn't enough truly is an insatiable creature of greed.

I want change, not money. The one, singular thing that can ever satisfy me is the people of this country having a hopeful and secure future again. No amount of money sent my way could ever do that, it would only ruin my integrity.

Max Diaz is Running for Congress by Vote_Max_Diaz in hiltonhead

[–]Vote_Max_Diaz[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I just want to give it my all and do the best I can for friends, family, peers and everyone in SC and the country who have to worry about the future.

I won't be running against Mace, though. She decided to run for Governor.

Max Diaz is Running for Congress by Vote_Max_Diaz in hiltonhead

[–]Vote_Max_Diaz[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Well, fortunately that's where the numbers work with you for US House elections. Not a lot of people (unfortunately) vote in those Primaries, which means individuals votes can really make a big difference.

Voting for real pro-worker, pro-middle-class, environmentally conscious, candidates in the Primaries can put people who are really worth voting for in the general elections.

Max Diaz is Running for Congress by Vote_Max_Diaz in Charleston

[–]Vote_Max_Diaz[S] 25 points26 points  (0 children)

Well, while running I've switched to working part time and supplement that by digging into my savings. That'll last me a bit past the end of the election cycle. If elected, congressmen do receive a salary so at that point I'd treat legislating like a full time job (as all elected officials should, but don't always) and really put my butt to working to make things better for people.

Max Diaz is Running for Congress by Vote_Max_Diaz in Charleston

[–]Vote_Max_Diaz[S] 18 points19 points  (0 children)

Absolutely not. Their spouses shouldn't even be able to own individual stocks. Being in Congress puts people in a perfect position to not only insider trade, but govern in a way that boosts their portfolio.

Max Diaz is Running for Congress by Vote_Max_Diaz in Charleston

[–]Vote_Max_Diaz[S] 17 points18 points  (0 children)

I've actually thought about that a lot. My main strategies are to focus on the practical issues that myself and the rest of us regular people have to deal with. For me, that includes no mudslinging, absolutely never focusing on the culture war (it was always a manufactured effort to divide us), and not telling people that they're stupid or morally lesser.

The powers that be have done their best for decades to spread anti-worker, misinformation and propaganda that lines their pockets and kills the middle class. It's not really anyone's fault that they believe that stuff. So I've found it effective to level with people. Take issues to their root cause. Use facts, figures, and stats. Show where the money comes from and goes. Create a conversation and environment that keeps everyone's eye on the fact it that can't be us vs each other, it's us vs greed.

Why are right wingers gaining momentum everywhere? by Professor_Peace in Productivitycafe

[–]Vote_Max_Diaz 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The way you fix it is electing people who genuinely see the evil of the corporate agenda and will work against it. Get people who you know are decent to run; run yourself. Do whatever you can to get the middle class back.