“People Over Politics”
Marijuana Legalization
In Texas, it’s common knowledge that the current wars on the Mexico-Texas border are, to a large extent, about drugs… The cost to pursue the drug war in the past 40 years runs into hundreds of billions. The social cost, including the loss of civil liberties, is incalculable. Crime relating to the drug laws far surpasses the crime related to the 15 years of alcohol prohibition. I expect that someday the country will wake up and suddenly decide, as we did in 1933, that prohibition to improve personal behavior is a lost cause, and the second repeal of prohibition will occur. This is more likely now than ever before because of the growing perception that the federal government is inept and more Americans are becoming aware of the senselessness of the war on drugs.
It’s time to correct the failures of Prohibition. Legalizing marijuana is not a red or blue issue. It’s an issue of freedom and financial salvation. Veterans, and others let down by the pharmaceutical industry, should not be denied access to the natural medicine they so desperately need. People who find marijuana a safer alternative to alcohol should not be denied the right to consume it recreationally.
Moreover, Texas needs marijuana legalization to spur economic growth and fund infrastructure improvements to our drainage system. Houston’s recently appointed flood czar, Stephen Costello, says “We’re spending over $250 million per year on — we call it ‘street and drainage’ so it’s a combination of drainage and street and the reason why we combine the two is when you get an extreme event, the water travels down the street as well, so it’s part of the drainage system. Several years ago public works had made an estimate that in order to stay ahead of the decaying infrastructure they need about $650 million a year … to spend on their street and drainage program” (Texas Tribune 9/13/17).
The state of Colorado has a population of 5.5 million people. From January through November 2017, Colorado generated $226,157,028 in marijuana tax, license, and fee revenue. Texas has a population of 28.5 million people, which is 5 times greater than Colorado. If Texans consume marijuana at the same rate as our friends in Colorado, it is not difficult to see that marijuana legalization is a multi-billion dollar opportunity for our great state. It makes no sense to get left behind as half of our country is already reaping the benefits of medicinal (highlighted in dark green) and/or recreational (highlighted in light green) legalization:
Furthermore, politicians like to brag about “creating jobs,” which is generally empty rhetoric. New businesses create new jobs! Marijuana legalization will generate a lucrative industry with career opportunities in agriculture, medicine, retail, and education for the state of Texas.
Right now, Texas’ Compassionate Use Program limits marijuana consumption solely to patients with intractable epilepsy. This is unacceptable, as it helps a very small percentage of Texans. Not only are the masses being denied medicine, we are being denied freedom, and financial opportunity. Once elected District 138 State Representative, I will author legislation to create a legal, regulated marijuana industry in Texas.
Eliminate Toxic Water In Texas
There is a water crisis in Texas few people are talking about. Our tap water is tainted with a known cancer causing chemical, chromium-6 (the same chemical made famous by Erin Brockovich). In California– the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, indicates cancer rates start to rise at a concentration of 0.02 parts per billion (ppb). In Houston, tests revealed contamination as high as 6.6 ppb! According to Bill Walker, managing editor of Environmental Working Group,“The city of Houston’s water ranks third in the country in terms of high levels of chromium-6” (source). Currently, Chromium-6 is not a contaminant tested for by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality or the EPA.
In Harris County, 46 out of 48 systems detected chromium-6. 600 out of 854 samples tested positive for chromium-6. And the problem is not unique to the Houston Metropolitan Area. In Dallas County all 21 water systems tested positive for chromium-6 (source). This is unacceptable. Once elected, I will get to the root of the problem and make sure Texas’ tap water is safe for consumption.
Pre-K For All
Data indicates the emotional, social, and physical development of young children has a direct effect on their overall development and on the adult they will become. When my son turned four, I was extremely disappointed to learn he did not qualify for public Pre-K. To be eligible he would have had to be homeless, economically disadvantaged, or unable to speak English. Since he didn’t fit this criteria I, along with countless other parents, had to scrape together what we could to send our children to private pre-schools. The financial strain caused by parents hustling to make sure their children aren’t left behind is crushing. Many middle-class parents can’t afford to send their children to daycare or private school at all. That has to change. Once elected, I will push for Pre-K for all.
Prison Eradication
Prison industry funded politicos have made sure to keep our prisons full, making America the world’s leader in incarceration. Politicians on the other side have been fighting for prison reform for decades with little efficacy. They’re fighting the wrong fight – attacking the symptoms of the problem, instead of addressing the root causes head on. Our goal should be to reduce the need for prisons in the first place! Elsewhere countries have effectively implemented strategies to do just that. For America to claim to be the torch bearer of freedom, we too should dedicate our resources to keeping people free. As District 138 State Representative, I will fight to treat drug addiction as a health crisis, promote a mental health agenda, make prisons a place for restorative justice, and advocate neighborhood policing so the community is well acquainted with the faces of law enforcement.
Women’s Rights
I stand with the Women’s March Movement:
We must create a society in which women – including Black women, Native women, poor women, immigrant women, disabled women, Muslim women, lesbian queer and trans women – are free and able to care for and nurture their families, however they are formed, in safe and healthy environments free from structural impediments. (Source)
As well, I believe in Reproductive Freedom. Any federal, state, or local rollbacks, cuts or restrictions on women’s ability to access quality reproductive healthcare services, birth control, HIV/AIDS care and prevention, or medically accurate sexuality education are unacceptable.
End The Fed
Centralized banking has proven effective at making everyone slaves to debt and inflation, perpetually keeping us on a hamster wheel. Blockchain technology has now given us the option of decentralized public ledgers, which will be used to increasingly stamp out corruption and keep people honest. Despite great resistance, it’s only a matter of time before blockchain renders centralized banking irrelevant. Once elected, I will push for us to be ahead of the curve.
Demetrius Walker 