The Manifesto for a Free America: Why I Am Running for Congress

We are living in a time of unprecedented crisis. It is not just a crisis of health or economics, but a crisis of the American soul. The values that built this nation—individual liberty, freedom of speech, and the presumption of innocence—are under siege from a political establishment that has forgotten the people and a media apparatus that thrives on division. I am running for Congress in Florida’s 27th District not because I am a politician—I am far from it—but because I am an American who refuses to watch his country slip into the abyss of authoritarianism and censorship.

The District 27 seat has been occupied by career politicians who are more interested in cocktail parties in D.C. than the struggles of the working class in Miami. They speak in polished soundbites while our businesses are shuttered by arbitrary mandates and our voices are silenced by Big Tech oligarchs. My campaign is not about "politics as usual." It is a rejection of the status quo. It is a rallying cry for the silent majority who are tired of being told what to think, what to say, and how to live.

1. The First Amendment: The Battlefield of Our Time

The most critical issue facing our republic today is the erosion of the First Amendment. Freedom of speech is not merely a legal right; it is a cultural value. Without the ability to speak freely, to dissent, and to challenge authority, a free society cannot exist. Yet, today we see a coordinated effort to deplatform, cancel, and silence anyone who dares to question the approved narrative.

Big Tech monopolies—Facebook, Twitter, Google—have appointed themselves the arbiters of truth. They act as publishers while hiding behind the protections of Section 230. This must end. These corporations have become the modern public square, and they are engaging in election interference by suppressing conservative voices. When I get to Washington, my first priority will be to break the stranglehold of Silicon Valley. We need an Internet Bill of Rights that guarantees digital free speech.

But the threat isn't just digital. We see it on college campuses where conservative speakers are rioted against. We see it in the streets where political violence is used to intimidate dissenters. I am running to defend the right of every American to speak their mind without fear of losing their job, their bank account, or their physical safety. If we lose the First Amendment, we lose America.

2. Criminal Justice Reform: Ending the War on Our Own People

It may surprise some to hear a conservative talk about criminal justice reform, but true conservatism is about limited government. There is no greater overreach of government power than the mass incarceration of its citizens for non-violent offenses. The "War on Drugs" has been a catastrophic failure. It has destroyed families, wasted trillions of taxpayer dollars, and created a cycle of poverty and recidivism that plagues our communities.

We have filled our prisons with people whose only crime was possessing a substance that the government deemed illegal. This is not justice; it is a waste of human potential. I believe in law and order, but I also believe in redemption and common sense. We need to end mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug offenses. We need to treat addiction as a health issue, not a criminal one. We need to clear the records of those who have served their time so they can get jobs and reintegrate into society.

Furthermore, we must address the over-policing of our communities. This does not mean "defunding the police"—that is a radical leftist slogan that invites anarchy. It means refocusing law enforcement on violent crime: murder, rape, robbery, and assault. The police should be protectors of the peace, not revenue collectors for the state or enforcers of victimless crimes.

3. The Economy: Unleashing the American Spirit

The events of 2020 have decimated our small businesses. Government lockdowns picked winners and losers—allowing big box stores like Walmart and Amazon to rake in record profits while forcing the mom-and-pop shops on Calle Ocho to close their doors. This was the greatest transfer of wealth in American history, from the middle class to the elite.

My economic platform is simple: Get the government out of the way. We need to slash regulations that strangle entrepreneurship. We need to lower taxes so that families can keep more of what they earn. We need to incentivize manufacturing to return to American shores. We cannot rely on communist China for our medicine, our technology, and our essential goods. Economic independence is national security.

In Florida, we know the value of hard work. Many of us, or our parents, fled socialist regimes where the government controlled everything. We know that capitalism is the greatest engine for prosperity the world has ever known. I will fight every attempt to introduce socialism into our economy, whether it's the "Green New Deal" or massive tax hikes. The American Dream is built on opportunity, not government handouts.

"They call us radicals for wanting to preserve the Constitution. They call us extremists for wanting to protect our borders. I wear their insults as a badge of honor."

4. Immigration and National Sovereignty

As a Cuban-American, I understand the desire to come to this country for a better life. My family fled tyranny to find freedom here. But there is a right way and a wrong way to enter a country. A nation without borders is not a nation. We must enforce our immigration laws and secure our borders.

We cannot have a welfare state and open borders; it is mathematically impossible. We need a merit-based immigration system that prioritizes those who want to contribute to our society, respect our laws, and embrace our values. We must stop the flow of illegal immigration that drives down wages for the American working class and strains our social services. Compassion does not mean national suicide.

5. The Second Amendment: The Guardian of All Rights

The right to keep and bear arms is not about hunting; it is about the natural right to self-defense. It is the ultimate check against tyranny. In a year where we saw riots, looting, and lawlessness in major American cities, the importance of the Second Amendment has never been clearer. When the police are defunded or ordered to stand down, you are your own first responder.

I will oppose any legislation that infringes on the rights of law-abiding gun owners. No red flag laws, no universal background checks that serve as a registry, and no bans on the types of firearms Americans can own. The words "shall not be infringed" are not a suggestion; they are a command.

Conclusion: A Time for Choosing

District 27 stands at a crossroads. We can continue down the path of establishment politics, electing representatives who say the right things but do nothing. We can accept the slow creep of socialism and the erosion of our liberties. Or, we can choose a different path.

We can choose to stand up. We can choose to be unapologetic in our love for this country. We can choose to fight for the values that made America the envy of the world. I am not a polished politician. I don't have a team of consultants writing my speeches. I am a man who loves his community and fears for his country's future. I am asking for your vote not to gain power, but to empower you.

Let's send a shockwave through the system. Let's show Washington that the people of Miami are not for sale. Let's restore liberty, defend the Constitution, and save the American Dream.

Vote Tarrio 2020.