On the Issues
For the last seven years, as an elected representative in Dunedin I’ve been a leader in an effort to build a great community, and very few will argue that we have done well in that respect. Now it is time for new leaders in Congress to do some serious nation building — nation building not in Iraq or elsewhere around the globe, but right here in the United States and that effort must include addressing:
- the struggling economy
- escalating health care cost and the 47 million Americans without health insurance coverage
- protecting the environment
- ending the war in Iraq.
The Economy
America is Nine Trillion Dollars in debt, with thanks to an administration that doesn’t give a hoot about your money. But you do, every time you buy bread, fill your tank, write a check to the electric company or worry if you’ll still have a job. Isn’t it time we held someone accountable?
It is appalling for our government to give bailouts to Wall Street but fail to help those on Main Street. With thousands of Americans losing their homes to foreclosure and with out of control energy prices, the federal government has an obligation to stimulate the economy.
Health Care
The decades of meaningless rhetoric must stop. The next congress must work with a new president in a bi-partisan effort to insure high quality and affordable health care and coverage to all. For what folks in your congressional district pay to finance the Iraq War each year, we could afford health care for 100,357 Pinellas citizens. Your choice: A doctor’s care or quagmire in Iraq?
Environment
Our leaders failed when they chose war over freeing America from the shackles that imprison us in dependence on oil. The Bush administration chose greed over good stewardship of our planet as it has repeatedly ignored laws protecting our forests, wildlife, waters and air. What legacy do you want to leave your children?
Under my leadership as Mayor, Dunedin was awarded the prestigious "Green Local Government" designation, becoming only the third city in the state of Florida to earn that award. I will bring that kind of leadership to Washington.
The War in Iraq
Every minute that passes in Iraq costs American taxpayers an additional $1 -million. Thousands of American families have lost treasured loved ones, or seen their loved ones return home maimed or incapacitated while serving in Iraq. The entire Middle East is in political and humanitarian turmoil because of the Bush Administration’s insistence on military action in Iraq without competent planning.. Ask yourself: Was it necessary? Am I safer?
We must immediately put a responsible end to the dubious and costly war in Iraq. And when we do, some of the wasted $10-12 billion a month we are spending in Iraq can then be invested back home in America to fix our economy, fix health care, and create new green technology, industries, and jobs.
But none of those problems will be addressed if we keep sending the same politicians back to Washington year after year. Congressman Young will never be beaten if Democrats keep running the same type of challengers against him.
Washington could learn something about effective governance and competent leadership from the mayor of a well-governed small town. I am the only candidate with experience working together with people, regardless of party affiliation, to solve real problems.
Clearly it is time for a change. Time for a new breed of leader in Washington . . . and it time for us to finally beat Bill Young in November.