PROSPERITY FOR ALL

BANKING FOR ALL

Ricky believes in an America where we, the people, take control of our government—and by extension, our economy—to create a system where prosperity flows from the ground up. America must prioritize consumer rights over the ambitions of major corporations and financial institutions.

Ricky stands firmly against the notion that any bank is too big to fail and supports a modernized version of the Glass-Steagall Act to prevent financial institutions from gambling with working-class funds. He believes we should establish a National Postal Banking Service to offer valuable banking services in low-income communities and create a streamlined National Credit Union Network, allowing credit union customers nationwide access to their accounts.

It’s time for a better, more accessible banking system in America.

A LIVING WAGE

Ricky believes in an America committed to ending crushing wealth and income inequality. If executives at Fortune 500 companies can earn billions, then these companies can absolutely afford to pay every employee a living wage. Ricky believes a fair income should be the foundational standard for workers at all levels.

He envisions an America that compensates workers justly, without allowing corporate profits to be hoarded at the expense of employees’ basic needs. Ricky advocates for a living wage, indexed for inflation, to replace the minimum wage, so that all workers can earn enough to live with dignity.

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT REFORM

There is no reason corporations should continue stock market buybacks without first guaranteeing a living wage for workers, providing paid sick leave up to thirty days, and ensuring CEO compensation does not exceed fifty times the average worker salary. Ricky believes the era of massive corporate bailouts must end.

No worker in America should struggle to afford housing, food, transportation, or education. To continue exploiting labor for corporate gain is inhumane and economically criminal. No one’s labor should be exploited, period.

UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME

It’s clear that our current economic system is broken, serving only the wealthiest while leaving countless Americans behind. Ricky believes, like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., in establishing a transitional universal basic income (UBI) for all Americans earning under $100,000 annually. A UBI will ensure that everyone has access to basic needs and a pathway to economic security.

The time has come to eradicate poverty in America. With a UBI, especially as automation rises, we can move toward that goal, creating a future where everyone can thrive.

Ricky believes in an America where political leadership is fundamentally rooted in serving the public’s needs rather than catering to the interests of a privileged few. He envisions a nation that reflects our collective values of compassion, selflessness, and shared prosperity, ensuring that we, the people, have the power to choose our leaders and shape our political systems.

In Ricky’s America, the fate of elections should not rest in the hands of millionaires, billionaires, and corporations. It is imperative that all legitimate candidates have an equal voice on the campaign trail, and that our electoral system mirrors the will of the majority. Recognizing that elections impact the public at large, Ricky advocates for a system of public funding for campaigns, ensuring that financial resources do not dictate electoral outcomes.

Ricky is committed to creating an America where leaders are duty-bound to be accountable to the people alone. He believes in electing candidates who genuinely represent the interests of all citizens, not just those of large corporations or the elite. Corporations are not people, and they should not wield the same influence in our democracy.

Ricky’s vision includes a bright future for America, one where citizens are safe, healthy, secure, educated, and actively engaged in the political process. The right to vote must remain unabridged and unrestricted, and those who have paid their debt to society deserve the restoration of their civic voices at the ballot box. He advocates for guaranteed early voting for all Americans and for establishing Election Day as a federal holiday.

To realize these goals, Ricky is proposing THE VERB ACT—a comprehensive bill designed to overhaul the nation’s electoral system. The VERB ACT will establish a national voter registration database and implement automatic voter registration for all Americans. Additionally, it will create the Corporation for Economic Democracy, a federal entity responsible for providing publicity, training, education, and direct financing for cooperative development and democratic reforms, encouraging more participatory government agencies and private associations.

Above all, Ricky believes in an America that recognizes the loudest and most influential voice in our elections must come from we, the people.

Ricky has been a proud Seventh-Day Adventist Christian since birth, and his personal relationship with God יַהְוֶה الله is a foundational element of his identity and purpose in the world. However, he emphasizes that his religious beliefs are personal, and he is committed to never using his influence to impose those beliefs on others. This principle is crucial for fostering a respectful and inclusive society.

While Ricky does not claim to be an Islamic scholar, he understands that our Muslim family and friends are not the enemy. Just as many practicing Christians may not strictly adhere to every aspect of their faith, there are Muslims who similarly navigate their spiritual journey in varied ways. It is essential to recognize that extremism exists in every religion, including both fundamentalist Christians and fundamentalist Muslims. Extremists from various sects do not represent the beliefs of the majority of adherents.

Extremism often arises when teachings are taken out of context and manipulated to serve a specific agenda, leading to chaos and division. Socioeconomic factors also play a significant role in the rise and influence of extremist groups. For instance, if a domestic extremist group like the Ku Klux Klan had access to considerable economic power and weaponry during a period of instability, they could threaten the very fabric of society, promoting hate and division under the guise of a misguided ideology, such as Christian Nationalism.

Ricky emphasizes that the real struggle is not against weapons or refugees, but against fundamentalist ideologies that distort the principles of major religions, such as Christian Nationalism. The fight against extremism requires more than military might; it necessitates a battle of ideas. To combat the ideologies that fuel conflict, we must present new ideas and pathways for understanding, cooperation, and respect.

In this regard, Ricky advocates for a cultural shift—one where we replace bombs with books and strive to foster dialogue, education, and understanding. By promoting knowledge and empathy, we can dismantle the ideologies that breed hatred and division, paving the way for a more peaceful coexistence. It is only through the power of ideas that we can hope to change hearts and minds and build a more inclusive and harmonious society.