1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

Your responses show good intentions, but you consistently fall short of addressing the root causes behind the issues. Let’s break down why your platform lacks the bold, systemic change we need. 1. Sudan and U.S. Foreign Aid – Missing the Bigger Picture You talk about the value of U.S. foreign aid but ignore how it often serves U.S. geopolitical interests, not just humanitarian ones. The aid programs you praise come with strings attached and often perpetuate dependency instead of addressing the imperialist agendas that destabilize regions like Sudan. 2. Gun Violence – Superficial Solutions You support gun control, but your proposals only address symptoms, not the deeper issue of the gun industry’s control over policy through lobbying. While expanding background checks and banning assault weapons are positive steps, you don’t tackle the root problem: the profit-driven nature of the gun industry. 3. LGBTQ+ Rights – Incrementalism Won’t Solve It You’ve stood up for LGBTQ+ rights, but legislative efforts like banning conversion therapy and supporting the Equality Act don’t confront the systemic oppression still harming these communities. Without directly challenging the far-right attacks and holding those groups accountable, these half-measures will only go so far. 4. Spending Caps and Federal Funding – Playing It Too Safe You acknowledge the difficulties of balancing the budget but don’t address the structural inequalities causing fiscal shortfalls. Instead of just accepting cuts, why aren’t you pushing for progressive taxation and cracking down on corporate welfare? You’re focused on managing a broken system instead of fixing it. 5. Veterans – Ignoring the Militarism Problem You champion veterans’ care, but you never question the militaristic system that creates these issues in the first place. Until you address the corporate-driven wars that leave veterans in need, no amount of VA funding will solve the deeper problem. 6. Farm Bill – Backing Big Agribusiness While you claim to support small farmers, your stance on the Farm Bill continues to allow agribusiness giants to dominate. The programs you back don’t address the monopolistic control of these corporations, which is what’s really hurting small farms. 7. Summer EBT – Treating the Symptom Your role in making the Summer EBT program permanent is commendable, but it’s a band-aid solution to food insecurity. What’s needed are policies that confront economic inequality and corporate greed, not just more safety nets. The Bottom Line: Safe Reforms, No Real Change Your policies offer incremental fixes, but they fail to challenge the corporate power, wealth inequality, and militarism that are driving these problems. Until you take bold, systemic action, your platform will continue to fall short of creating meaningful change.