Thursday, September 27, 2012

The Stump Speech You Will Never Hear


I don’t have all the answers. Sometimes, I feel like I don’t have any of them. However, I am willing to be educated on the facts and able to make sound decisions based upon them. I know that, in order to produce decisions based on facts, I must listen to both sides of the issues at hand. A liberal approach is not always the best solution, and neither is a conservative one. My upbringing, beliefs, and values have not, in every instance produced correct choices, both personally and professionally, and I recognize that. I am willing to admit it when I have a point of view not in the best interest of those I represent. Yet, there is no imaginable way for my conscience to allow me to attempt anything other than what is right, just, and true for those who depend upon me.

I did inhale. I have cheated, stolen, and lied. Those days are past me now, and I am a better man today, having atoned for my faults. I believe in God. I also believe you have the right not to believe in God. My God may differ from yours, and that’s alright too. I will not force my religion upon you nor will I allow others to force any religion upon someone else. Saying prayers does not constitute forcing one’s beliefs upon others. No power can prevent one from communicating to their God through prayer and therefore, no restriction on prayer has any amount of relevancy. Christianity is not the only practiced religion, and neither is any other one specific religion protected under our Constitution.

Abortion is not synonymous with birth control. The 2nd Amendment does not state that you may own enough weapons to arm an Infantry Battalion. Freedom of speech actually does protect your right to run into a crowded theater yelling fire and causing a panic. (Even Chief Justice Holmes admitted his error on that last one in his later writings and rulings.) The world today is much different from the one that existed when our Constitution was written. If we interpreted its contents literally, many of our rights enjoyed today would be stripped away. Many rights would also be revoked if left up to the people to decide on popular vote. It is therefore essential for our freedoms to persevere, that we maintain the system of government that has held us together for all these years. It is not a perfect system, but it is the best one we know. There will always be a constant battle between the branches, but the equilibrium must never be compromised by those of any one political affiliation or division of government. That balance will always be in the forefront of my thoughts when making decisions affecting rights and liberties.

Have I pissed you off yet? Then vote for the other guy and hope you get the person he has characterized himself to be. I won’t stand here and promise you that I will fix all that is wrong when I know that will not be true.

I am liberal on some issues. I feel you should be allowed to marry the person that you love, even when that person is of the same gender. I think that the Government should care for the needy. I am conservative also. More bureaucracy and more spending do not provide answers; solutions provide answers. National defense is and always will be the primary responsibility for those in our Nation’s Capital. The free market economy should police itself of corruption. In reality, the free market economy does not do that very well in many instances. Some regulation is necessary while over-regulating can be detrimental for the common good; there is a place in between we must strive for.

My approach to governing: always attempt to do right. In order to do what is right, I would surround myself with those having a great capacity for common sense, not merely educated experts, but proficient people with a thorough thought process. My goal in seeking office is not for some lofty personal gain, to pursue great power over others, nor to reap material rewards. I wish simply to do good and for my Country to be great, as it has and shall always remain.

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