Blog: A Letter From Richard Keatley

Statement

Dear friends and supporters,

The deadline for registration (called qualification in political parlance) for the Special Election to fill the seat of Georgia's Sixth District in the US Congress is this Monday. The process in Georgia requires the payment of a $5200 qualification fee, which is, of course, only the beginning of the money ball game. Though I find it deeply disturbing that this is how are system works -- no signatures from supporters required, just cash! -- I am hoping to make a difference by adding our voice to the coming debates regarding the future of our district and state. Please make a contribution at our web site Keatley for Change. 

Those of you who know me, know I am not a politician. I am a veteran -- I served seven years in the US Navy (greatest time of my life), sailing the seas and serving my country. I then followed my dream of studying languages, managing, thanks to first my NROTC scholarship and later, by studying and applying myself, on full fellowship during my doctoral studies. One of my greatest accomplishments, however, has certainly been the amazing relationship I have had with my students, who are now going to help me win this seat!

As you know, our state and national Democratic party allowed for Tom Price to run effectively unopposed in 2016. No one (that I have met) knows why or how this happened, but it did. Rodney Stooksbury still has "no image available" on Wikipedia, despite receiving 38% of the vote for the Congressional seat of Georgia's sixth district. The district was 49% for Hillary Clinton and there was no competition, no debate for the choice of our representative in Washington.

I believe we need to make ourselves heard, run for office, make real changes.

I also believe that, as democratic members of the Democratic Party, we need to address issues that are of concern to America's working families.

Complete control of all branches of government by any party is a risky proposition. There have long been plans, in the extremist edges of conservative think tanks, of new and inventive ways to privatize or weaken the columns of our social safety net. Tom Price, in particular, has been a proponent of reducing Social Security benefits, using block grants and/or voucherization of Medicaid and Medicare. With one party control these proposals could become reality!

It takes many centuries to grow a tree and a few minutes to chop it down. Once these programs are dismantled, they will be gone!

We can, as Americans, disagree on many things. But I do believe that there are some things that hold us together, such as our sense of common decency, fairness and justice. The need to recognize hard work and discourage destructive behavior, the need to work together. I believe strongly that most people want reasonable and positive change for our nation, legislated in a way that is not hateful or cruel.

Please support my attempt to make a difference.​

Richard

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