Hello Reddit! I am Joyce Griggs, a retired Army Lt. Colonel, Intelligence officer, and candidate to be the first *ever* veteran black woman elected to Congress. AMA!

Are you concerned about corporate money in politics?

Yes, very concerned. I believe there must be campaign finance reform. Corporate PACs have bought a lot of politicians. A lot of good, honest and sincere people can't win because they do not have the money. Once you take Corporate PAC money, they own you.

Are you concerned about union money in politics, which is close ti corporate money and almost exclusively goes towards supporting your own party?

No. Unions built this country but are massively outspent by those who oppose their interests. I think our economy was far more fairly balanced when they had more political power in mid-late 20th century. I hope we can build a union-backed Democratic majority.

How do you feel about the first and second amendment?

I fought for all our freedoms abroad and I stand by them today, that's why I'm running.

What it your opinion on expanding the number of seats for the supreme court and what do you think of Biden/Harris not answering that question?

I am much more concerned with Mitch McConnell changing the size of courts all across this country for a decade, for the lack of pushback from his fellow Republicans, and for the media asking Joe Biden that question more in a week than they ever asked Mitch McConnell.

Were you also the first Army Intel LC as a black woman?

Your accomplishments sound absolutely fantastic! Keep it up!

No but I will be the first black female veteran in Congress. I was also among the first women to go to Airborne school and earn my wings.

What do you think is the appropriate balance between enabling the intel community to be effective in their mission, while insuring citizens their rights?

We must make sure we protect individual Privacy rights. We need and must have the intelligence community and make sure it can do their jobs. Fourth amendment and the US constitution protects us. Must balance the intel community efforts to insure citizens rights are not violated.

Can you expand on how that balance is struck? How would you want to see something like the Patriot Act written in a way that strikes that balance?

We need to keep the 4th Amendment close at hand. The Patriot Act went around certain 4th Amendment protections against unreasonable search and seizure. Fear of a terrorist attack does not make it reasonable to search folks who have no clear connection to any evidence thereof. But we've stretched that reasoning way too far.

Would you be open to redirecting the focus from cramming together too many topics into a single bill?

I honestly feel like congress would be more effective and productive if you all focused on writing a bill correctly so that it benefited everyone and stopped trying to trade other issues and their fixable viability across the floor in said consolidated bills. I understand needing to make each other amicable, but by "gambling" with the relevance and necessity of other issues, the entirety of congress is doing us the people, the real Americans and real capitalists (not suits aligned and sworn to parties ignoring their ideologies and purpose to expand upon their own capitalist desires/ wealth) a massive disservice.

Like seriously. A federation is still doomed to fail, if the individual "nations" refuse to work together. You all honestly get paid so much, to do less year after year, and I'm hoping that having another veteran on the floor will help to streamline/ expedite procedures.

Otherwise, what are you bringing to the table, that one of America's biggest (AAR-reference) communication break downs does not already have?

EDIT: Also, congratulations on hitting a milestone for yourself and our society.

Yes, I am. Oftentimes they add too many topics to bills which should probably be a totally different bill. The bills become diluted with a lot of items irrelevant to the main bill. I'm for streamlining the bills.

Do you support the COVID lockdowns? Why or why not?

We need to listen to the science. If we had done that, and shut down properly, we'd be open and mostly virus-free right now like most of the rest of the world, like even some US states. Most of the friends I made serving abroad tell me their friends feel sorry for America.

Hi! Thank you for your service, ma'am! Now that you have retired as a veteran, I am curious: What were the most memorable moments of your career and the most valuable lessons you learned during that time? How do you plan to apply them to your future, especially as you start a career in politics? God Bless and thanks again!

My most memorable experiences were making friends in unexpected places. The world is a beautiful place, and there is love in every corner of it. I have friends to this day across Asia, Africa, even in Iraq. I think the lesson I learned is all people, across the planet, mostly want the same thing. We can use that faith in negotiating with each other and building a better future.

And may God bless you too!

Are you concerned about public employee union money in politics? How would you fix police and teacher unions that protect bad officers and bad teachers?

Not so much their money because they are so vastly outspent by interests that are opposed to them (corporate PACs). But politically, I do think police unions have amassed too much power. Republicans love them because they love police. Democrats love them because they love unions.

I think we need to take on police unions on some issues. I have a bold criminal justice plan, which includes ending qualified immunity.

Hello there! I research homelessness in a major city in the midwest. I am also a 11-year combat veteran of the US army. What will you do in your constituency to help the homeless? What is your position (if any) on Housing First? Do you know what the VA's policy on veteran homelessness is?

The VA says it's committed to ending homelessness but it's a toothless commitment. Every homeless brother and sister out there is a tragedy. We should not have one homeless veteran. I'd like to see a national housing plan that focuses on children and veterans first.

Thank you for doing this. Congratulations on winning the runoff in August. And thank you for your service.

I recently moved to Savannah from Oklahoma and will be a first time voter for the state of Georgia. So far, I have seen Buddy Carter do nothing as a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee even though Savannah is the east coasts third largest and busiest port. What would be your priorities on a committee such as this? To be clear, you aren't needing to win my vote, you already have it. But I am wondering how would you want to balance the demand from the port with green initiatives that economically impact Savannah.

I believe that we should balance our environmental issues with the demands from the port. Yes, the port brings a lot to our economy but we must also protect our environment and the people.

This Committee has the broadest jurisdiction of any authorizing committee in Congress. It legislates on a wide variety of issues, to include climate change, environmental protection, clean water and others. I would balance the demand from the port by studying the green initiatives that would have the most and immediate benefit to our community. I would balance the pros and cons of green initiatives and also get input from my constituents.

What makes you think Georgia is going to turn blue? And thanks for doing this!

Georgia is diverse with people from all over the US residing here. We also have 4 military bases in my district and a lot of them are retiring in Georgia. These individuals have lived around the world and are bringing fresh and new ideas to our area. They have interacted with people of different backgrounds and are open to change. Georgia has been stuck in an oppressive environment for years and people are ready for change. I believe people are tired of politics as usual and desire politics that work for them, not billionaires.

What is your stance on the intention to repeal marriage equality?

Marriage equality is the law of the land and I oppose any effort to overturn it.

What is your stance on Economic Reparations for the Black descendants of American Slavery?

I believe in reparations. Black people worked three centuries on this continent without a paycheck.

Concerning automation in the different industries. What are your thoughts on UBI as everyday jobs are being lost to robotic technologies? Call centers, truck drivers, warehouse workers, fast food, etc. They are all disappearing. How would you imagine these people surviving?

Very scary indeed to see technology moving in on blue collar work that built this country. At the moment, there is enough work to be done for folks to be employed when we get our economy moving. I believe in a living wage for all people. But I am open to exploring ways to make sure all people can live in dignity in the future, and that includes UBI.

Are you still motivated?

I am Marine type, but really need to know people who will be in office WITH THE PEOPLE and not nearing the end of their life to fill a bucket list.

Strategically want people who have more TIME to experience the results of their decisions instead of like these two people we have that are mainstreaming President.

Watch me speak to see how fired up I am!

https://www.facebook.com/JoyceGriggs2020/videos/482487662708402

How much damage has been done to our intelligence commoner the last 4 years and more importantly can we recover?

I believe we need to remove partisan interests from the Intelligence community. Donald Trump has attempted to use the intelligence community to advance his own political interests. That should not happen.

Some of the damage is existential. Some countries may be hesitant to trust us again for a while. But their worries will no longer have merit. I worked with these men and women for many years. Some are Republican, some are Democrats. They always put their country first. They are resilient.

As a veteran and member of the intelligence community, can you discuss how climate change is a national security threat multiplier and which nation- state(s) pose(s) the biggest threat over the next century?

Edit: What should the state's role be in preparing/protecting vulnerable communities from climate impacts? What responsibility should the fossil fuel industry have in addressing this threat?

We need to take care of our most vulnerable when it comes to climate change, and that will matter right here in Georgia, where many areas where poor people live will see increasing floods. We must transition quickly to renewable energy, but even if we do, the consequences of the last century will be severe.

National security threat multiplier - Ethiopia is seeking to build a massive dam that will power half their country, but risks cutting off some water supply to Sudan and Egypt. This is not the first potential conflict to emerge from climate change limiting resources and it will most certainly not be the last. Acknowledging our role in mitigating these conflicts will be part of how we solve climate change.

The fossil fuel companies know they are going to be held responsible for what they've done, and that's why they keep trying to fund political campaigns. I don't want their money. I want them to clean up the messes they've made and start telling us the truth.

What is your stand on taco bell, are they tacos or tostadas?

they are garbage

How are you today? Good luck and congratulations!

Doing wonderfully with the power of prayer! How are you?

Would you support the abolition of the electoral college? Also thanks for doing this! You are an american hero!

Yes, and of course, and thank you.

What did you think of Donald Trump calling dead service members losers and suckers?

Terrible, but sadly predictable. He only thinks about what's in it for himself. Same thing with coronavirus - how can I use this to be reelected?

There are four military bases in this district. They all heard that loud and clear. On November 3rd, we make Donald Trump the biggest loser in American history.