Why Universal Rights Are Essential

Dear Friends and Supporters,

Today, I want to address a fundamental truth about American democracy and the urgent need for change—a truth that explains recent assaults on both our voting rights and our social safety net. The destruction of the Voting Rights Act and the rollback of programs under Project 2025 are symptoms of the same underlying problem: America lacks universal political and economic rights.

For decades, Americans have relied on social safety net programs—Medicare, Social Security, unemployment insurance, food assistance, and more. These programs were designed to support everyone, but in recent years, we’ve witnessed relentless attacks aimed at weakening or eliminating them. Similarly, the Voting Rights Act, once a powerful guarantee of political participation for all, has been gutted by court decisions and legislative efforts. Why is this happening now?

The answer lies in the fact that our rights—both economic and political—are not truly universal. According to the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, every person is entitled to basic political freedoms and economic security. When rights are universal, everybody receives them, and everybody has a stake in their protection. But in America, too often, these rights are treated as privileges or partisan bargaining chips, rather than as the foundation of a just society. This leaves whole groups vulnerable—whether it’s voters in marginalized communities or working families struggling to make ends meet.

Project 2025, with its sweeping proposals to dismantle the social safety net, is just the latest example. It’s easier to attack programs that only benefit some people, or that can be portrayed as wasteful or unnecessary. When safety nets aren’t universal, they’re easier to cut. And the same logic applies to voting rights: when only some have access, it’s easier for those in power to restrict, manipulate, or undermine the process.

That’s why my campaign is built on a simple but profound principle: universalism. The United States played a significant role in creating the United Nations and negotiating the United Nations Charter, as well as launching the Marshall Plan, which set the stage for the European Union. We must now apply that same vision here at home. This is why I am the only candidate speaking about a Green Marshall Plan—a bold initiative that will fund a universal basic income of $1,300 a month for all, supported by a value-added tax. The United States is the only country in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) that does not have a VAT; adopting one will make us competitive with every other OECD country. Nevada, as a mineral-rich state with gold, silver, and lithium, can lead the country and the world in building the lithium loop and a sustainable future. I intend to negotiate this plan in Congress and work with anyone to address 50 years of economic inequality and the coming revolution of artificial intelligence and automation. I am the only candidate running as an independent democratic candidate on a universal set of economic policies from cradle to grave. This includes universal basic income, healthcare for all, robust education and job training, and guaranteed protections for voting rights.

As the son of once-undocumented parents who were able to ultimately become U.S. citizens, homeowners, small business owners, and retirees from the Culinary Union as a result of the 1986 Immigration Bill under Ronald Reagan, I understand firsthand the power of real reform. I also know, as someone who has gone through the criminal justice system because of Wall Street’s role in the economic crash that cost me my job and led to my involvement with the justice system, the importance of political rights—such as being able to vote and banning the box on employment applications.

Universalism also means fighting for comprehensive immigration reform—one even better than the 1986 bill—one that recognizes the dignity and contributions of immigrants and ensures fair pathways to citizenship. In addition, I am committed to restoring both the political and economic rights of formerly incarcerated individuals, including full voting rights restoration and banning the box on employment applications, so everyone has a real chance to participate and prosper.

Universal rights mean that every American, regardless of background, age, or circumstance, has access to the same political and economic protections. When everyone benefits, everyone is invested in defending those benefits. Universal rights unite us, strengthen our democracy, and make our economy more resilient.

I believe it is essential—now more than ever—to protect both the economic and political rights of ALL Americans. The attacks we’re seeing on the Voting Rights Act and the social safety net are warnings. They show us what happens when rights are fragile, conditional, or subject to political whims. We must move toward a society where rights are guaranteed, not gambled.

This is not just a policy choice; it’s a moral imperative. Universal rights build solidarity. They create communities where everyone belongs, and everyone participates. And they make it much harder for forces of division and exclusion to succeed.

As your independent democratic candidate, I promise to fight for universal economic and political rights, to defend the safety nets that protect us, and to restore the guarantees that make democracy meaningful. Together, we can build a society where nobody falls through the cracks, and everyone’s voice is heard.

Thank you for supporting this vision. Let’s protect what matters—by making rights universal, for all.

In solidarity,

Gamy Enriquez, MPA

Independent Democratic Candidate