Submitted to the Sierra Club

If interest groups ask each candidate to be an expert in every problem area that our Nation faces, the public will be disappointed and the expertise verbalized by any Congressional candidate will be vague and politically timid rather than heartfelt and useful. In my case I believe it is best for the public to evaluate me by studying my life experiences, life priorities and daily approach to problem solving. An understanding of the process that a candidate uses to solve problems should provide insight into matters of fairness, lack of bias, philosophy, etc. Those insights are more valuable than false expertise, twisted and bent to make each interest group momentarily pleased.

I believe that we must work toward unity and understanding of the ways in which national problems affect each of our communities. We are interconnected. In addition I believe we need to balance the burdens and the benefits in our society. This means sharing burdens and benefits. I also believe that our goal must be to create a society that is renown, in centuries to come, for its progress, its civility, its charity and its humility. I care about our future reputation as a nation and I am committed to helping build a spirit of cooperation throughout our body politic and our international community to achieve a destiny that is admirable rather than despised. To fail in this goal is to invite the eventual, and not so distant, end to our Republic.

Finally I believe that the goal of Congress is to reduce the size of problems not debate forever in pursuit of the “perfect” solution that one’s campaign contributors desire. For this reason I am committed to resolving problems and reminding all interest groups that compromise is not always a show of weakness but oftentimes an example of wisdom.
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