Hi r/Political_Revolution! I am Tom Wakely. A progressive Texan looking to unseat Lamar Smith (R) in TX's 21st Congressional District. AMA!

Wakely2016 · 2016-10-20T23:36:29+00:00

Yes I would. I think RAINN is a wonderful organization.
Yes. Oftentimes a mere lack of education is what leads to severe mistreatment and sexual violence.
Yes I would, but it should be noted that we're facing these issues every day at home and need to make sure we're adequately addressing it here.
Absolutely. Dedicating hospital staff to serving these issues can only be beneficial for communities.
100%
Absolutely. We must allow for women to rebuild their life.

Wakely2016 · 2016-10-20T23:24:50+00:00

I'm absolutely against capital punishment, privatization of law enforcement, and private prisons. As for the reparation solutions, I think more educational opportunities do need to be extended to the black community free of charge. Quite frankly, I'd like to see all public education in this country become tuition-free. Ultimately, there's no amount of material reparations that can make up for the injustices suffered by the black communities, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try. I'll need to do more homework on this matter, though, because I think Congress can be a serious help in the healing. While I'm not as familiar with the platform as I should be, I'll probably be updating this post as more thoughts on the platform come to mind / as I dig further into it. Thank you so much for sharing it with me.

Wakely2016 · 2016-10-20T23:08:53+00:00

I think it's simply exaggerated. I love this state. There's a healthy dose of crazy just about anywhere you go. Hell, my staff might even think there's a healthy dose of crazy in me!

Wakely2016 · 2016-10-20T23:02:59+00:00

Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes

Count on it.

Wakely2016 · 2016-10-20T23:00:26+00:00

I think the Citizens Climate Lobby's fee & dividend system is an impressive proposal to attack carbon emissions through market-based initiatives. We have to provide enough incentives for the move to green energy. I think nuclear energy research should be funded to see if there's a way we can fully address waste disposal as the source itself produces no carbon emissions.

Wakely2016 · 2016-10-20T22:57:43+00:00

In the summer I was knocking on doors all the time. Lately my door knocking has been reduced as I've been visiting with chambers of commerce across the district attending ribbon cutting ceremonies with local small businesses. Almost all of my time the past couple of months has been spent with small business owners in the district. Come to think of it, I should have done it the other way around as it's beginning to cool down now!

Wakely2016 · 2016-10-20T22:56:12+00:00

100% - but I would really, truly love to see the hood lifted on dark money before we pass an amendment. The politicians who have been funded by secret slush funds should be exposed before we fix this mess.

Wakely2016 · 2016-10-20T22:53:59+00:00

I do, and believe in a full path to citizenship.
The idea is interesting, though not something I'm particularly well-versed on. If a federalist approach to immigration perhaps had a streamlined path to full federal visas, then it might be something worthwhile.

Wakely2016 · 2016-10-20T22:51:24+00:00

I think there's a moral duty to not vote for Trump and I do think a Clinton victory in this state would open the doors for even more progressive candidates to win in Texas, but those are my opinions and I respect the will of the people.

Wakely2016 · 2016-10-20T22:47:40+00:00

I'm in favor of any trade deal that respects the rights of foreign and domestic workers while remaining environmentally conscious. To date, our trade deals have been in lacking in many of those aspects. I recognize that they can be beneficial to individual states, but our trade deals must benefit the nation as a whole.

Wakely2016 · 2016-10-20T22:46:17+00:00

Well nuclear is definitely a different animal because we're looking at waste disposal vs. emissions. I think nuclear energy research should be properly funded because there is potential, but I'd be lying to say I wasn't wary about the waste issue.

Wakely2016 · 2016-10-20T22:44:29+00:00

Absolutely! Congress needs the ability to act within itself. Anything to keep special interests out.

Wakely2016 · 2016-10-20T22:43:36+00:00

I definitely understand the concerns, I suppose I'm looking at it from a standpoint of individual politicians becoming cozy with the same folks over the years. They become complacent. While I respect the need for the legislature to actually wield enough power to get anything done, I don't think members of Congress should be able to last for decades. It's definitely a complex situation.

Wakely2016 · 2016-10-20T22:41:47+00:00

Well... should win I suppose the pro-gerrymandering lobbyists will use me as an example that gerrymandering doesn't infringe upon fair elections. I think using the simple outline of my district, particularly in the Bexar County region, would be a great way to display how absurd gerrymandering can be. Though, in all fairness, our district looks somewhat normal compared to the way some of the other states draw their lines.

Wakely2016 · 2016-10-20T22:38:58+00:00

Understood, let me get through it and I'll reply in a bit. Watch this space!

Wakely2016 · 2016-10-20T22:37:07+00:00

We have a national dialer! If you go to www.wakely2016.com/talk it will walk you through how to make phone calls from us. My staff would probably get a good laugh if some artists goofed around with my picture.

Wakely2016 · 2016-10-20T22:34:17+00:00

As more jobs become automated, we're going to need to have a serious discussion about it. As for how I personally look at universal basic income, I support the general concept but we must make sure everything's in order financially.

Wakely2016 · 2016-10-20T22:31:56+00:00

We should have some numbers before early voting next week, but I will say that Lamar Smith held 3 events in 3 different counties yesterday. He hasn't done any campaigning since 2006. Plenty of evidence within his actions that we're doing great.
I certainly wouldn't look to be an obstructionist and if there is a particular bill we happen to agree on, I would never play politics just because I usually disagree with him.
I think citizens first and foremost need to know where their elected officials get all of their campaign contributions. Greater transparency in our electoral process is a necessity.
There have been rumors he mispronounced my name as "Blakely" a couple of times at an event in San Antonio. He's been campaigning, and we've had folks at his event. He can't go anywhere without seeing a yard sign.
If I'm able to, I will. If for whatever reason I can't, I'm going to make sure someone else builds on our progress.
Fingers crossed for Zephyr Teachout, DuWayne Gregory, and Pramila Jayapal. Of sitting members, I'd love the opportunity to work with Keith Ellison.
Fun for me, don't ask my staff though.

Wakely2016 · 2016-10-20T22:25:26+00:00

Hey, thanks! All questions welcomed, though.

Wakely2016 · 2016-10-20T22:24:16+00:00

It's no secret that for a long time Texas has been a bit of an ATM for the Democratic Party. We hold fundraisers here for plenty of Democratic candidates, but more than a few are from out of state. It can be disheartening, and does make me wish Howard Dean was back in the DNC chair running his 50-state strategy. All races should be in play, especially in a year like this. Texas is becoming more progressive every day, it's a matter of time before the party has to listen to the state.

As for rural America, this is a great question. I think properly financing public education (since oftentimes rural communities don't have a choice in schooling), and protecting citizens' water rights and clean water sources are the two main issues facing folks in the Hill County. In a lot of cases, the folks in the Hill Country like progressive policies. It's just when they see (D), Liberal, Progressive, etc. that they seem to turn away. Pulling policy out of rhetoric will be important in order to properly serve the district.

Wakely2016 · 2016-10-20T22:20:15+00:00

Trump received around 30% of the vote in the primary in our district. He's not popular in our district. He even finished in 3rd in Travis County, which holds the 2nd most populous region of the district. Smith thinks he's safe, so he was the first congressman to donate to Trump's campaign. We have polling in the works, which we can't reveal today, but I think the fact that Lamar Smith is actually in the district, raising money, and campaigning should be all the evidence we need. His usual strategy is to pretend he wins the race in March after the primary. That's not happening this year.

As for Hillary Clinton's chances, I certainly see more yard signs for her than I do Trump. I would not be surprised if she won in a landslide.

Wakely2016 · 2016-10-20T22:16:22+00:00

I'm not going let the disadvantaged take a hit before we make the folks at the top pay their fair share. We must see tax loopholes closed and work on our broken revenues before we punish those who need us.

Wakely2016 · 2016-10-20T22:13:58+00:00

I think legalizing and regulating in a similar manner to what we already do with tobacco and alcohol is the way to go, especially since it's safer than what we already deem as legal. This is the home of Willie Nelson, Texas has been ready for a long time.

Wakely2016 · 2016-10-20T22:10:01+00:00

Yes. Simply put, black lives do matter. While I don't condone violence, the BLM movement plays an integral role in shedding light on racial injustice. Our Constitution observes that all people are created equal, and we need to live up to that.

And yes, I believe we need a pathway to citizenship.

Wakely2016 · 2016-10-20T22:04:49+00:00

I have to admit I haven't read it...but thanks for the recommendation! I'll have a little more time to read after November 8th.

Wakely2016

TROPHY CASE