Based on the philosophy that the current government "is not working for ordinary Americans," philosophy professor Richard Curtis is planning to challenge U.S. Sen. Patty Murray in the November election. Running as an independent, Curtis says he is backed by a "historic" coalition of people who identify with the Green, Socialist, Libertarian, and Democratic parties.
Curtis calls Murray, a Democrat who entered the office in 1992, an "abysmal failure" for not fighting for a single-payer health insurance option and not opposing funding of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Ending these wars and an immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops would be his top priority, says Curtis. A single-payer health care system, marriage equality, and a "new New Deal" to create jobs are also key parts of Curtis's platform.
But just as much as his own perspective on such national issues, Curtis emphasizes that he is running in order to force a referendum on the two-party system. Formerly involved with the Democrats, Curtis now feels the party is ineffective, and says the "American people need to stand up to the government." In running as a third party candidate he says the goal is to either force members of the two dominant parties out of office or to make them more responsive to the needs of their constituents.
--Julia Cechvala