Ace Parsi

One of the realities of being a political candidate in the modern age is that everything you do is out in the open on social media. But everything people see is just the surface. That surface can hide the times when you’re going through real pain or even forming authentic connections with people. As a human being, I’m going through that right now. During the first week of April, my best friend, Silas, died of a heart attack. He was my age, and he left behind a loving spouse and two amazing...

I launched my campaign on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, because the American Civil Rights Movement has been such a deep inspiration in my life. I got involved in nonviolent action because of the example of former Congressman John Lewis. My wife and I named our daughter, Ella, after the great civil rights leader, Ella Baker. And, yes, I’m the type of nerd who went on a southern civil rights-themed roadtrip for my honeymoon. Many people have read or heard Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech....

Imagine taking a can of Pringles to the checkout counter. You ask the cashier how much you owe, and they start talking to you like you’re crazy: “I can’t tell you how much those Pringles are. You have to open them up and start eating them. It could be free. It could be a thousand dollars.” At this point, you’d probably drop the Pringles and walk away. You can do that with Pringles. You can’t do that with healthcare. Hospitals make money by charging you for procedures. Insurance companies...