Simone D. is running for President of the United Students of America this Fall 2016 election. Interested in change, she wrote in her original candidacy statement the following: “R stands for Raise WagesIn order to survive this this economy it’s crucial that Americans are receiving adequate wages that allows for survivals after rents and other expenses have been paid within a household.
E stands for Education. Education leads to higher wages, security, and growth. Education also brings forth endless opportunities. Education allows us to push the pen and kindles the flame for questioning. We need programs in all fields of studies whether it’s arts or medical. Education furthermore teaches us to find answers on our own. It makes us more self-aware. It also paves the way for  us to gain a sense of enlightenment. Overcrowding within schools is also a growing problem. We need a new plan for education that allows for more funding and better resources to engage the students.
A stands for ‘A’ ll  are equal In all reality, and in society today discrimination still occurs in every aspect in our everyday lives. Discrimination is not just a black and white issue, it also has to do with age, gender, housing, religion, sexual orientation, and credit score. Together we must come up with a plan to fight the racial stigmas that occur today still. Also, we have to to fix the homelessness in America. A nation divided cannot stand together to bring equality.
L stands for Legislation Change starts within our communities first. In order to be unified as a whole we must start with our mayors, city councilmen, and borough presidents. To be on one accord, we must be on a common ground and fight for what our communities need.”

Simone is interested in changing the justice system. In fact, she submitted an investigative piece on the topic:

CLICK, CLACK, BOOM! That’s the sound that goes off each time a life is taken by the oppressors in our society from police brutality. Police brutality against minorities remains one of the most reoccurring issues in America. What is most common now is minorities are developing bitter hatred for the police and the government. Michelle Alexander suggests that the masses must fight together to challenge and change our racist justice system in “There’s An Unfinished Revolution Waiting to Be Won”. Bonnie Kristian asserts that police brutality is a systemic issue and not anecdotal issue in “Seven Reasons Police Brutality Is Systemic, Not Anecdotal”. However, research should just that there is no evidence of racial bias in police shootings. Harvard university professor, Roland G. Fryer Jr orates this in ‘An Empirical Analysis of Racial Differences in Police Use of Force’. The job of a police officer is not easy and sometimes warrants a little force, but excessive force is something that should not be tolerated. Police officers need to stop racial profiling, need to be trained on how to deescalate before pulling the trigger, and cut the use of excessive force.

Police officers are given a great deal of power when on duty performing their job. Police are expected to protect, honor, and serve the citizens of this country; not kill them unlawfully. Injustice seems to come from those we expect to deliver justice. Continuously we see history repeating itself and no changes made. This silence and no changes coming about are building up fury within the communities that are being affected. Alexander shares, “I am inspired again and again by so much of the beautiful, brilliant and daring activism that is unfolding all over the country. Yet I also know that more is required than purely reactive protest and politics.  A profound shift in our collective consciousness must occur, a shift that makes possible a new America.” Alexander shares her own opinion to provide awareness to communities on the pressing issue before us. Though her words were shared on her Facebook page, her political stance, books she’s written on similar studies, and credibility makes her more believable because she knows the struggle on police brutality. Alexander suggests that I order for us to see change we must first get honest with ourselves about whom our democracy actually serves and protects. She further orates that we (the people) cannot “fix” the police without a revolution of values and radical change to the basic structure of our society. Basically, she (Alexander) is stressing that a nation that was founded on the idea that some lives don’t matter cannot possible come to our rescue now when havoc comes about. She says “Freedom and justice for some, not all. That’s the foundation. Yes, progress has been made in some respects, but it hasn’t come easy. There’s an unfinished revolution waiting to be won.” After reading her piece, she leaves you wanting to start a rival between congress and yourself. She’s saying that in order to bring change we have to go to the higher ups in this country and fight our battle with them, not the “little people” in the food chain of the government. One aspect I respect is that she doesn’t sugar coat anything in this article. At the same time, it’s upsetting and brings anger that you live in a country that doesn’t value your life or any other person’s life that has the same makeup as you. 

Bonnie Kristian asserts that police brutality is a systemic issue rather than an anecdotal one. It is reported that police officers say that they receive little supervision, guidance, and support from the higher ups in their department. They say that “this” leaves them to figure it out for themselves how to perform their difficult and dangerous jobs. There is no doubt that the job of a police officer is dangerous. But, it’s totally unacceptable when using the maximum force is becoming the routine for every crime no matter how big or small the level is. Kristian argues that the consequences for misconduct are minimal for officers. She did a study for central New Jersey and concluded that 99 percent of police brutality complaints are never investigated. She says this can be be explained as stereotypical New Jersey corruption. She says that one out of every three accused cops are convicted nationwide; while the conviction rate for civilians is double that. Another chilling fact I discovered is that many files and paperwork of police misconduct are swept under the rug and some aren’t even filed within the system because it’s not a requirement to fill out paperwork for misconduct. This right here makes it easy to believe that police take advantage of the fact that they can get away with a multitude of crime and won’t reach conviction. Kristian implies that “Police brutality is a pervasive problem, exacerbated by systemic failures to curb it. That’s not to say that every officer is ill-intentioned or abusive, but it is to suggest that the common assumption that police are generally using their authority in a trustworthy manner merits serious reconsideration. She’s saying that the higher ups need to stop putting their faith in these officers to do what is right because indeed they aren’t and violating many acts in the constitution. We need restructure in the police system and better individuals who aren’t afraid to crack down on this unjust system. We also need officials who feel the same way the many Americans are feeling to try and change the direction in which the government is going. Another thing is that these police officers don’t know how to deescalate problems before using excessive force. They all lash out first before seeing what the problem is at hand. We will continue to see the same issues before us if a revolution doesn’t come about to force change within the police system. 

Now, there’s always going to be one person who completely rebuttals everything you stand for. Harvard professor, Roland G. Fryer Jr. created a study suggesting that there is no racial profiling in shootings. His study we a complete slap in the face to all of the political movements created because of racial profiling. For example, Black Lives Matter campaign was created to stress that too many minority lives are being taken because of misconduct and discrimination within officers. Fryer implies that police officers physically do more harm to Caucasian people rather than African Americans. The crazy thing about this study is that he based his information from this study in Houston Texas. Not only is he not credible because he only used one city for statistical data; but he’s even more not credible because he based his information from the early 2000’s. His study is even more infuriating because he’s an African American male and should be a little more aware of the stigmas raised against African Americans. After reading his study I was so angry that I decided to call his office phone and voice my opinion to him. I called only to receive his voicemail. It’s completely insensitive for him to even imply that police brutality doesn’t have any aspects of racial profiling. Imagine how the mothers of Eric Garner and Trayvon Martin would feel if they came across his study. Furthermore, if he was going to make a study on how police brutality doesn’t racially profile against individuals he should have had better statistics and not only use one city to state his case. It is ignorance like this that will lead others to easily believe that police brutality isn’t somewhat based on race. Even though he is a professor at Harvard, he’s not credible whatsoever and should be ashamed of himself for even making an ignorant study like that. I completely disagree against his study. It’s is my firm believe racial profiling needs to end and officers should be trained adequately on deescalating issues they have before them. 

Unlike Fryer, Alexander and Kristian stress that police brutality is a system issue and needs to be fought hardly to achieve change. If elected, I will work hard to really bring forth change within our system and make the people of this country happy again and proud to be Americans. 

Simone clearly feels suited for the job at hand writing, “My name is Simone Dixon and I stand here before you today to announce that the R.E.A.L.Political Party is running for candidacy.

How many of us want change and people in positions of power to make a difference for everyone? Worry no more! R.E.A.L. IS HERE AND READY TO BRING CHANGE!

How many of have seen family members struggle just to make ends meet?

How many us would be more financially stable if we had better wages?

In order to survive this this economy it’s crucial that we are receiving adequate wages that allows for survival after rents and other expenses have been paid within a household. I’m not hearing any other candidates stressing this issue we have before us. But, the downfall isn’t just wages, it’s education too! It’s sad to see that some children’s literacy skills are not up to par because of the previous people we had in power.

I, Simone Dixon , am here today to fight to bring changes to bring forth prosperity. It is my belief that education leads to higher wages, security, and stability. We need a new plan for education. We mustn’t forget that we need more funding and better resources to engage our future leaders and scholars. You shouldn’t have to worry that funding will be an issue for you to better yourself and achieve your goals and dreams. I will be the first in my family to attend and finish college, so I come before you humble and I know first hand what the struggle in education is about.

Another issue that bothers me in this society today is discrimination. Discrimination is not just a black and white issue, it also has to do with age, gender, housing, religion, sexual orientation, and credit score. No other political party before you today has spoke on this issue. It is with confidence that these racial stigmas that occur today will be broken down.We must remember that a nation divided cannot stand together to bring equality. In order to be unified as a whole we must start with electing a fit individual like myself to lead this country in a better direction.Together we will reinvent the government to make it more appealing to the needs of everyone and more effective.

The R.E.A.L. Political Party will be a support system to ensure our community’s safety,promote a positive environment for families to live in, and students to learn in.

We could do what previous parties have done before which is have every American assume personal responsibility for the future of our country, or you can vote for The R.E.A.L. Political Party because I will defend this nation and put the government back on the side of the people.

It’s your decision.

Will you let your vote fall into the box of a candidate who doesn’t have your best interest?”

What do you think voters?