Joshua Moran

Joshua Moran (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Tennessee's 5th Congressional District. He did not appear on the ballot for the Democratic primary on August 6, 2020.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a 25 year old Nashville native who went to Beech High School and graduated from the University of Tennessee in 2017 with a degree in Business Analytics. My dad lifted my family out of poverty by buying and selling hospitals for a healthcare company and now I am quitting my comfortable job in order to do the right thing. I was a Business Analyst for a healthcare company, but I would rather analyze and fix our broken society.I believe in Medicare for All and think hospitals are a public necessity like fire departments. I cannot watch people die without help any longer and still consider myself a good person. Billionaires should not be profiting from understaffed nurses and suffering people. Monthly payments, deductibles, medical debt, and surprise bills are just more ways for our society to funnel money into the pockets of the wealthy.Additionally, climate change poses an existential threat to all of humanity. We need to consider things like a ban on single use plastic, strict limits on corporate emissions and pollution, and investments and incentives for green energy.Our current representative's first campaign was funded by billionaires, coal companies, and New York investment firms. He co-sponsored the Stop Online Piracy Act, a bill that would allow the govt. to censor and control the internet for private corporations. He voted against Hurricane Sandy relief and bringing our troops home from Iraq. Nashville deserves better than this.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Income inequality gets worse every day and the rich shamelessly exploit our society at every opportunity. People are dying while others are buying lamborghinis and mansions.Climate change poses an existential threat to humanity and we need to be a national leader in fighting it.Our current representative was elected by the rich and does not support our best interests.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Income inequality, climate change, for profit prisons and healthcare, and the federal deficit. Many of society's issues are a direct result of the rich exploiting us and vast amounts of wealth sitting in bank accounts or being spent to fund private military contractors. We need a societal shift away from greed towards ethics and community. Foreign nations are oppressing and abusing their people as well and we need to become an independent nation that can support its own green energy, food, and housing needs so that we can increase our sanctions against them and show that we actually care.

We are the richest nation in the history of the world yet we have people living and dying in the streets like a 3rd world country.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Bernie Sanders showed me that you can run an ethics based movement without the help of billionaires and win.

Thích Quảng Đức lit himself on fire to protest Buddhist persecution.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Parasite is a recent movie that shows how the poor are forced to fight against each other to beg for resources from the rich. War and Peace shows how the aristocracy manipulates people and sends them to their deaths without care. 1984 shows what will happen if we do not stand up and defend our democracy. Princess Mononoke demonstrates our war against nature and each other along with the consequences.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Ethics, humanity, kindness, strength.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Ethics, kindness, and logical reasoning. I think logical thinkers know that the only thing that will matter in the end is how much you positively impacted society, not how much money you made.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

To serve only the interests of the average person in your district and not corporate entities or billionaires that may or may not live there.

What legacy would you like to leave?

When our society could have gone either way, I fought for the average person and helped to save the environment for future generations.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I remember 9/11 as a first grader and watching the broadcast in my mom's classroom next to mine after school. I did not understand at the time that we had funded and created these terrorists.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I worked at Regal Cinemas for around 3 years as floor staff. While I enjoyed the people and friendships I made there, it was my first introduction to the minimum wage and exploitation of workers.

What is your favorite book? Why?

War and Peace. It was a long and difficult book that taught me about massive societal movements and how the aristocracy manipulates the masses and send them to their deaths.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

"Ghetto Gospel" by 2Pac

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Finding an ethical way to survive in our society without hurting other people.

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

It is the voice of the people and allows every district to have a say in our society.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

Experience is always helpful but it depends on whether that experience includes making bills that deceive people with their true intentions and taking bribes from lobbyists.

What do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Climate change and income inequality. Left unregulated, these two problems will eventually result in a concrete jungle and billionaire controlled dystopia.

If you are not a current representative, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

Energy and Commerce, Education and Labor, and Budget. I would like to be a part of every committee to ensure ethics and the common person is the focus.

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

Yes.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

I think they are important for a role like the President. You don't want a bad person in charge for very long who can eventually corrupt elections or oppress a minority. I think term limits are fine the way they are for representatives because you have a smaller pool of good candidates to replace them and they are re-elected every two years.

If you are not currently a member of your party’s leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives, would you be interested in joining the leadership? If so, in what role?

I would be happy in any leadership role that allows me to better serve you.

Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Aside from Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has progressive and modern policies that align strongly with my beliefs.

Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

I expect to hear a lot about the everyday struggle when I begin campaigning.

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