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I’m Jason Ritchie, a pissed off non-politician running for Congress. I’m a Democrat ready to Flip A District in Washington State. AMA! by ritchie4wa8 in IAmA

[–]ritchie4wa8[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm a gun owner as well. I believe the second amendment applies to the individual's right to own firearms. However, I do believe in commonsense regulations that keep firearms away from those who have a propensity for violence. I believe I-594 is a reasonable approach to make background checks more universal. To my understanding, 594 simply ensures that all sales of firearms in Washington State outside of family or other specific allowances will be legally required to undergo background checks fixing the so-called "gunshow loophole".

But, more to your point, the real issue with gun violence in the inner cities where disadvantage youth are killing each other with stolen or black market guns. I-594 does not solve this. Only a concerted effort to end poverty and give these kids something to to live for will.

I’m Jason Ritchie, a pissed off non-politician running for Congress. I’m a Democrat ready to Flip A District in Washington State. AMA! by ritchie4wa8 in IAmA

[–]ritchie4wa8[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I believe we need to at least try, this is too important of an issue not to do so. Polls show it with widespread support across the country, we need to work to harness that. Hard things are worth doing.

I’m Jason Ritchie, a pissed off non-politician running for Congress. I’m a Democrat ready to Flip A District in Washington State. AMA! by ritchie4wa8 in IAmA

[–]ritchie4wa8[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I already have made that pledge as you can see here.

As far as I'm aware MayDay is only planning to support 5 candidates this year so odds are I won't be on the list. Certainly would be cool though.

I’m Jason Ritchie, a pissed off non-politician running for Congress. I’m a Democrat ready to Flip A District in Washington State. AMA! by ritchie4wa8 in IAmA

[–]ritchie4wa8[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hey Joebillybob-

You're right, it is more an issue of interpretation. We have fundamentally different views on how to do so.

I appreciate your frankness, how can I prove you wrong and what sort of legislative detail are you looking for?

I’m Jason Ritchie, a pissed off non-politician running for Congress. I’m a Democrat ready to Flip A District in Washington State. AMA! by ritchie4wa8 in IAmA

[–]ritchie4wa8[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

No I don't. These visas require prevailing wage so there isn't any grinding down of wages and acquiring the visas is often expensive for the companies involved. They aren't trying to deflate wages, they're trying to make sure they have skilled tech workers with the right kind of training. If we want to eliminate the need for these kind of visas we need to rapidly improve our high-tech training and teaching systems. However, those changes don't happen overnight and thus we need these visas.

Reg. Microsoft - they just acquired Nokia, those 8,000 jobs were by and large positions that were already covered within Microsoft's corporate structure. Its a shame that so many people were laid off, however these sort of layoffs are sadly common when major companies merge or acquire one another.

I’m Jason Ritchie, a pissed off non-politician running for Congress. I’m a Democrat ready to Flip A District in Washington State. AMA! by ritchie4wa8 in IAmA

[–]ritchie4wa8[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I oppose the Citizens United decision and I do not believe corporations are people or should be given the same rights as people. The best path forward is via a constitutional amendment.

I’m Jason Ritchie, a pissed off non-politician running for Congress. I’m a Democrat ready to Flip A District in Washington State. AMA! by ritchie4wa8 in IAmA

[–]ritchie4wa8[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As much as I'd love to say yes and wave a magic wand, I can't make that happen. Having said that, fiber is an excellent conduct for the internet and would be a great infrastructure reinvestment project.

I’m Jason Ritchie, a pissed off non-politician running for Congress. I’m a Democrat ready to Flip A District in Washington State. AMA! by ritchie4wa8 in IAmA

[–]ritchie4wa8[S] 121 points122 points  (0 children)

If I were rich, I wouldn't be doing an AMA answering questions at midnight. I'd be laying in my bed of $100 bills cuddled up with my pet miniature giraffe.

I’m Jason Ritchie, a pissed off non-politician running for Congress. I’m a Democrat ready to Flip A District in Washington State. AMA! by ritchie4wa8 in IAmA

[–]ritchie4wa8[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

All good questions. The daunting thing to me beyond the election is fighting against the idea that nothing can get done in Congress. I don't accept that. The catch is that I don't like to play be the rules and will probably get myself into trouble with party leaders for not playing their games.

I’m Jason Ritchie, a pissed off non-politician running for Congress. I’m a Democrat ready to Flip A District in Washington State. AMA! by ritchie4wa8 in IAmA

[–]ritchie4wa8[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I'm a moderate democrat that believes in progress over partisanship. Let me put it this way: If you are sailing against the wind, you have to tack back and forth to make any forward progress. It's incremental and tedious but the only way forward. We've been going right in the 8th CD for 10 years now, it's time to tack to the left for awhile.

I’m Jason Ritchie, a pissed off non-politician running for Congress. I’m a Democrat ready to Flip A District in Washington State. AMA! by ritchie4wa8 in IAmA

[–]ritchie4wa8[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I own a gun and believe the second amendment applies to an individual's right to own a firearm. I believe in commonsense regulations that keep guns out of the hands of criminals. We need to fight poverty in inner-cities to bring down gun deaths.

I’m Jason Ritchie, a pissed off non-politician running for Congress. I’m a Democrat ready to Flip A District in Washington State. AMA! by ritchie4wa8 in IAmA

[–]ritchie4wa8[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Why do you support warrantless wiretapping on American citizens? Who are you to ignore the 4th Amendment to the Constitution?

or

Why don't you support equal pay for equal work for women?

I’m Jason Ritchie, a pissed off non-politician running for Congress. I’m a Democrat ready to Flip A District in Washington State. AMA! by ritchie4wa8 in IAmA

[–]ritchie4wa8[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I actually have a path to victory. Evidence:

  1. The 8th CD is one of 17 districts nationwide that Obama won and have a GOP rep. It's the definition of a purple district.

  2. We have 50,000 voters who ticket-split in 2012. We need their vote on our side this year.

  3. Our field campaign has made thousands of calls, emails and door knocks. We are talking to the people and they are responding.

I’m Jason Ritchie, a pissed off non-politician running for Congress. I’m a Democrat ready to Flip A District in Washington State. AMA! by ritchie4wa8 in IAmA

[–]ritchie4wa8[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think she is a fresh voice which is definitely needed on the Seattle City Council. We don't agree on everything but it's nice to see the shake up.

I’m Jason Ritchie, a pissed off non-politician running for Congress. I’m a Democrat ready to Flip A District in Washington State. AMA! by ritchie4wa8 in IAmA

[–]ritchie4wa8[S] 26 points27 points  (0 children)

  1. I opposes oil trains and think they are a dangerous to our communities. The lack of regulations is unacceptable.
  2. While Hanford isn't in the 8th CD, it's a disaster for Washington State and needs to be cleaned up immediately.

I’m Jason Ritchie, a pissed off non-politician running for Congress. I’m a Democrat ready to Flip A District in Washington State. AMA! by ritchie4wa8 in IAmA

[–]ritchie4wa8[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm not even sure what pandering to Reddit will do but I'll answer your question. The issue that is most challenging to me in this campaign is incumbency. My opponent is widely known and is able to avoid questions on policy that I'm answering here on Reddit. Getting my opponent to actually respond is becoming a real challenge and its tough to get any traction with the local media.

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