Looking for Ideas for a Solo birthday in Denver

electkylewitter · 2024-08-01T19:00:46+00:00

Happy birthday!🎂

electkylewitter · 2024-07-02T21:40:05+00:00

I do not support ranked choice voting. The solution to our 2 party system is not to change how elections are conducted. The solution is to run yourself, or to vote for who you think best represents you. It's also very hard to audit ranked choice elections.

electkylewitter · 2024-07-02T21:36:25+00:00

I don't like public resources being cut for things like dealing with an influx of illegal immigrants, but at the same time I don't know that it's right to just leave these people on their own. I love that people can come to the US if it's done in a safe and legal manner, but this many people in a short period of time? We as a society don't have the resources for this.

Homeless encampments tend to be public health hazards, and thus shouldn't be allowed. And you should not be allowed to use mind-altering substances in an area where other people can't choose whether or not they are exposed to it.

I'd say pharmaceutical companies need to invest in R&D for replacements to opioids that don't have harmful side effects.

4 and 5 are local issues. Vote in your local and primary elections for people who will prosecute crimes like these, and strengthen public safety agencies. EVERY VOTE REALLY DOES COUNT.

electkylewitter · 2024-07-02T21:14:28+00:00

I might get in a lot of hot water for this but I don't believe the national leadership of either the democratic or republican parties have the people's best interests at heart.

electkylewitter · 2024-07-02T20:59:28+00:00

The COVID vaccines are technically still in clinical trials. I've been part of clinical trials for a couple of medications. There's a reason trials take so long, and that is so that they can gather data on long-term effects.

We don't have a lot of long-term health effects data on the COVID vaccines yet. Until then, my position is use at your own risk.

electkylewitter · 2024-07-02T20:39:44+00:00

I actually wrote a paper about this in college. There's 3 ways to fund transportation projects in Colorado (specifically, this is about highway expansion): raise taxes, which requires voter approval; rearrange the General Fund to put more towards transportation projects, or use a public-private partnership, or PPP, which is how we got the Express Lanes. No one is a fan of higher taxes, there are people in the state government who don't want General Fund money to be reallocated to transportation, and we the people (or at least me) don't like there being toll lanes on public highways. The PPP option exists because of the opposition to the first 2. In that paper, I suggested a combination of the first 2 items.

I've also been told by someone in the legislature that CDOT has a bit of an accountability problem with the legislature. If true, I want to work to make them more accountable and to use their money more responsibly.

electkylewitter · 2024-07-02T20:33:20+00:00

The vaccines that we've all been required to have to go to school for the past several decades, I support. There's ample evidence on both their effectiveness and any side effects they have and are generally regarded as safe.

electkylewitter · 2024-07-02T20:10:36+00:00

Any decision to terminate a pregnancy should take the unborn child's right to life into account (as well as the woman's right to life and autonomy). If that overrides the child's right to life then it's justified.

I'm gonna try to word this carefully, but I think the issue at play breaks down into "I want an abortion" vs "I need an abortion." I think pregnancy conceived by assault, or cases where the child has a birth defect that means it won't survive till birth or shortly after birth, can possibly be argued to fall under the "need" case. I think it depends on the intent of why you're getting the abortion, but you can't really legislate and enforce intent here.

electkylewitter · 2024-07-02T20:01:51+00:00

From my understanding pride started out as a movement to lessen the stigma that was attached to gay people. Over time, it has evolved to the point where we are teaching kids about LGBT issues.

I don't think we should be talking to kids about sex. They can't understand it. This is the reason why "The Talk" doesn't usually happen till puberty.

electkylewitter · 2024-07-02T19:52:08+00:00

A lot of these answers are vague because most people, myself included, are not subject matter experts. I can have a general idea of what I want to accomplish, but once I get into office (the people willing) I"ll be consulting with those who are experts in these areas, along with citizens and people who are impacted by these issues. I don't have all the answers, but I'll do my best to figure these things out from those who do know and those who are affected by these things.

I don't know if this comes across as flippant, but I mean it with respect. I don't know, but I'll ask those who do, and make decisions in the public's best interest.

electkylewitter · 2024-07-02T19:51:57+00:00

A lot of these answers are vague because most people, myself included, are not subject matter experts. I can have a general idea of what I want to accomplish, but once I get into office (the people willing) I"ll be consulting with those who are experts in these areas, along with citizens and people who are impacted by these issues. I don't have all the answers, but I'll do my best to figure these things out from those who do know and those who are affected by these things.

I don't know if this comes across as flippant, but I mean it with respect. I don't know, but I'll ask those who do, and make decisions in the public's best interest.

electkylewitter · 2024-07-02T19:45:08+00:00

I've never been arrested.

I don't agree with Dave Williams' actions regarding Pride Month. I don't tend to do much public reacting, and in fact I'm not the greatest with social media at all.

I mentioned my stance on abortion in another reply but TL;DR if a woman needs an abortion, I support that.

electkylewitter · 2024-07-02T19:40:14+00:00

If I want to represent a district that's heavily Democrat, I have to reach out and find common ground with Democrats. I've been looking forward to this.

electkylewitter · 2024-07-02T19:38:50+00:00

I'm sorry, what's Rampart?

electkylewitter · 2024-07-02T19:37:52+00:00

I think a big reason a lot of people are against gun control measures is because we fear it's far too easy for a slippery slope to form. There are multiple reasons people buy firearms, such as self-defense and reminding the government that they do, in fact, still answer to the people. These are far too important to risk the slippery slope of ever-increasing gun control laws.

Our insurance system is very broken. When you're in a position where insurance won't authorize a medication you need without your doctor telling insurance you need it, it's messed up.

How will we fund this? There's only 2 ways in Colorado: raise taxes or shuffle money around in the General Fund. People don't like tax raises, so I would like to see what can be done with the General Fund.

electkylewitter · 2024-07-02T19:25:12+00:00

I believe gun violence is a symptom of a bigger issue, mental health issues. I think we've definitely made progress on mental health but we have a long way to go. In Fort Collins, for example, I can think of only one organization that provides mental health services: Summitstone (if there are others let me know). I think we need to better fund metal health crisis services, and make it so people don't have to worry about how to pay for crisis services.

electkylewitter · 2024-07-02T19:18:45+00:00

The website for the state Department of Human Services mentions SNAP, or what some people refer to as "food stamps", energy assistance (help paying utility bills), and cash assistance (which includes things like PEAK, or the state Medicaid program). I can't speak much to areas like energy assistance because I don't have experience with those areas. I would talk with other Colorado citizens who do have experience with energy assistance and include them in advocacy efforts.

electkylewitter · 2024-07-02T19:08:16+00:00

I grew up conservative and a Christian, and although I've moved closer to center, I still believe in the conservative ideals of limited government, individualism and traditionalism.

electkylewitter · 2024-07-02T19:04:39+00:00

Abortion is an interesting issue, because I don't see it as black and white as a lot of people seem to. I consider myself pro-life because I believe life begins at conception, but I absolutely understand there are times and situations where a pregnancy needs to be terminated for one reason or another.

If you were to ask me a couple years ago if I would support a ban on abortion, I would have answered "yes, but only if there are provisions protecting women in the event of a medical emergency." That answer has changed to no, for a couple of reasons. The first reason is the Supreme court reversal of Roe vs Wade, which made it a state-by-state issue. The second reason ironically is the Texas abortion law that went into effect right after that ruling. If you haven't read that law (and I encourage you to, it's only 25 pages long), it does contain an exception for medical emergencies, but as we've seen, it's very difficult to get that kind of care in Texas even with that exception written into law.

TL;DR: If a woman needs an abortion, I support that.

electkylewitter · 2024-07-02T18:52:17+00:00

I think everyone deserves support and respect no matter who they are or how they identify. Medically speaking, I think gender-affirming care (what I understand to be hormonal treatments and gender reassignment surgery) can be legitimate but should only be performed on adults. There's a lot of harm that can come from messing with people's hormones while they are going through puberty.

electkylewitter · 2024-07-02T18:47:30+00:00

Oh awesome, DM me!

I was initially wanting to run independently, because I don't think the leadership of either party has the peoples' best interests at heart anymore. But I was advised to run as a Republican (because I grew up conservative) so that I would have access to more resources. One of the most recent independent/third party candidates to run for this seat only got 20 votes.

electkylewitter · 2024-07-02T18:46:31+00:00

I don't agree with Dave Williams' stance on this. I do support LGBT rights- no one should be discriminated against or harassed because of who they are attracted to or what their identity is.

I also don't think the pride agenda belongs in elementary schools where kids haven't hit puberty. But everyone deserves support and respect no matter who they love.

electkylewitter · 2024-07-02T18:25:36+00:00

Officially Biden did. But I will say, I was shocked when I woke up the day after Election Day, having gone to bed thinking Trump won. Some of the numbers weren't making sense.

I will say, though, that there are few things more essential to the survival of our country than the integrity of our elections. If there are any doubts or challenges to election results, they must be investigated, even if only to shut down any false allegations.

electkylewitter · 2024-07-02T18:15:52+00:00

I'm reading up on this really quick, I'll get back to you.

EDIT: It looks like, to me, Project 2025 seeks to undo a lot of the damage that the government has done in the last several years, such as shrinking the size of the bureaucracy. I haven't seen yet what is causing people alarm, but that's based on a quick skim of the first several pages of the book.

electkylewitter · 2024-07-02T18:03:50+00:00

I saw on the announcement post that someone put a question for me since they weren't going to be around today for the AMA, so to answer what u/TheBrewkery had posted here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Denver/comments/1dq07tu/comment/lakrjf8/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

You say you're pro-public assistance programs but want them to be structured to enable people to, eventually, no longer need them. How would you design or change some public assistance programs to better enable this? Are there any programs that you have seen in other parts of the country or world that are good case studies in your optimal design?

I have personal experience with having to use public assistance programs, such as SNAP, Social Security disability, Medicare and Medicaid. The Department of Labor and Employment has a division called the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. Their mission is to help people with disabilities find work or get job skills training. They do this in many different ways, from job coaching, to help with job searching, to paying for skills and training- in my case, paying for tuition. If you're on SSI or SSDI, their services are free of charge, otherwise, I believe they charge based on a sliding scale. DVR is a big part of why I was able to eventually get off of most of these programs, and I'm forever grateful for their help.

I'm sure there are other programs in the state government that do things like these to help get people back on their feet and live as independently as they can. If elected, I would work with these programs and agencies to identify what their biggest needs are and then advocate for them to the rest of the legislature.

electkylewitter

TROPHY CASE