State of the Union Response

During the campaign of 2008, we were looking for a leader. Tonight, in the State of the Union we witnessed a real leader in action. President Obama, standing front and center, called out to Congress and the American people to rise above petty politics and recognize the struggles of so many of our citizens. He did this with courage and without deference to anyone. He did this because it was the right and necessary thing to do. I am proud of our President!

Since entering the race for the United States House of Representatives from the 4th Congressional District, I have been speaking out about so many things contained in the President’s State of the Union. We must change as a nation. We can and we must do better.

We must restore our economy. This is only possible if we reel in the runaway behavior of Wall Street and corporate America. While maintaining the integrity of big corporations and big money, we must implement regulations and oversight on the conduct of these institutions and protect the American consumer from abuse, scams, and loose business practices. These regulations must also impact bonuses that lead to greed and abuse. The American people must reign over these mega-institutions, not the other way around.

Job creation must be a top priority. We must put Americans back to work. This does not happen from a trickle-down economic approach. We have all seen far too well how nothing seems to trickle. This time the job creation must occur through small businesses, small farms, and small local banks. A government works program aimed at the restoration of our infrastructure and national parks/monuments should also be instituted to put people back to work and strengthen our nation. Putting people back to work is the single most powerful way to restore health to the economy.

We must end tax breaks for big business and people who have an income of $250,000. Furthermore, we must end tax breaks for corporations that take jobs overseas. These companies should be forced to pay huge fines and face stiff import fees for enhancing their bottom line at the expense of American workers. We need to create and keep jobs in the United States of America.

The United States must be aggressive in pursuit of a world-class education for each and every one of our students. We should all want for every child the same education that we would want for our own. Education is without a doubt the gateway to a better life. Education is the greatest defense of a democratic and free society. The idea of revitalizing our community colleges resonates with opportunity for all students. The idea of increased funds for students with a maximum of ten percent payback from a student’s income following graduation is a good one. I would take it a step further and say that all students in this country should have a right to two years of free post-secondary education before incurring any debt.

The President’s position on the environment is clear. The facts are the facts, and our national and global environment is at risk. We cannot afford to play fast and loose with our environment. We have gone far too long with doing far too little. We need a national commitment to clean energy. We also need to repeal cap and trade so that the law only involves a cap. The trade aspect of that legislation only creates a game that puts lots of money in the pockets of those financial companies (which includes Goldman-Sachs) brokering the trade. There needs to be a cap, and companies must meet the standard, or pay a fine.

The President’s message extolled the greatness of the United States. Throughout the 20th Century we were the leader of the world. President Obama is not about to see our position in the world fall into second place. He called for us to seek new markets to create new jobs and remain on the cutting edge of progress. He called for a doubling of exports over the next five years and the creation of two million new jobs. I would call for a whole new approach to trade agreements in which the position of the American worker is paramount in the consideration of all trade deals.

I was proud of the President for standing his ground on Health Care. This required real moral and political courage. The President understands that forty-five million people in this country are without health care. He understands that people live in fear of their medical bills resulting in financial ruin. He understands that insurance companies engage in unethical and abusive practices at the detriment of their clients. He also knows that the Insurance Company Lobby has spent billions of dollars to spread falsehoods and discredit any attempt at Health Care Reform. I appreciate his stance on this issue. However, this issue will not be resolved until there is comprehensive and universal health care for all Americans as a human right.

When addressing the federal deficit, the President noted that this remains a growing problem. However, by creating jobs and eliminating unnecessary tax breaks for big corporations and the rich, we can begin to bring down the deficit. The President also promised a freeze on discretionary spending which makes up a large part of the federal budget.

President Obama appealed to the best nature of those in Congress to restore the trust of the American people in their government. He said that the American people deserve a good government, a responsive government. He called for limits on lobbyists to the point of full disclosure of their activity within the executive and legislative branches of government. He called for Campaign Finance Reform to overturn the absolutely horrible ruling by the Supreme Court which unleashes the forces of powerful corporations – including those that are foreign-based – on federal campaigns. He called for earmark reform which would require that all earmarks (pork) within legislation be posted online before the legislation was considered by either house of Congress. The American people deserve better.

The self-serving political games being played in Congress must stop. Saying “no” is not leadership. The people of this country are cynical about the government. The people of this nation are losing faith because politicians are playing it safe, avoiding the truth, and pointing fingers. I was riveted throughout the President’s State of the Union. His moral and political courage reached out and said “We can and must do better!”

~ Bill

Celebrating the Life and Meaning of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

For those of us who reached adulthood during the 1960s, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. remains a vivid and inspiring memory of leadership and change. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke of a dream, and taught us how to have a dream of our own. He represented through his words and actions the highest ideals of the human character. He spoke of equality and justice for all. He acted with conviction and unselfish sacrifice in an effort to make a difference for the disenfranchised in our society.

Martin Luther King, Jr. saw many inequities and injustices in our society. He agonized over the plight of minorities, the poor, and the disadvantaged. His firm voice and willingness to act gave hope and courage to millions of people. He preached love and civil disobedience as the gateway to change. As a result, he led a movement that tore down walls of oppression and opened up doors of opportunity.

Since the days of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we have grown as a nation of liberty and justice. Because of Martin Luther King, Jr., discrimination was dealt a might blow, and the social fabric of our nation changed forever. However, the journey is far from complete.

While honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a national holiday, our greatest tribute is found in our determination to continue the journey toward a nation of liberty and justice for ALL. In 2010, there remain miles to go in this journey. Too many of our fellow citizens do not share in the promise of the American dream. Social and economic injustice are far too common, and too little is being done. We can and we must do better.

If we are going to honor the life and meaning of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we must commit ourselves to the difficult work of pursuing social and economic justice for all. Dr. King spoke eloquently of a dream, it is a dream we should all embrace.

~ Bill

Haiti Earthquake Message

Our hearts and prayers go out to the people of Haiti following the devastating earthquake. Their situation is dire, and they are in need of help. It is once again time for the unselfish and humanitarian nature of the American people and the United States government to step forward and do what is necessary to help the people of Haiti. May the people of this country find comfort and relief in the helping hand of a caring neighbor.

Let all nations reach out a helping hand to Haiti so we can all share in the human bond of compassion. By acting together to help those in need, we discover within ourselves the common threads of humanity.

~ Bill

Positions and Viewpoints: The Economy

The most pressing issue facing the United States today is the economic crisis in which we find ourselves embroiled in conjunction with massive deficits pressing in and limiting our economic options. In combating rising unemployment, government spending and tax decreases are usually the applied remedy. In this case, the problem is that such actions would contribute to a massive and ever-increasing public debt that threatens to erode the foundations of prosperity in the United States. What then are we to do about this incredible challenge? The answer, to be put bluntly, is short-term deficit spending on infrastructural goals and public works programs coupled with a long-term commitment to reducing public debt.

Americans are hurting. While we wait for this great recession to fade as a result of an economic turnaround, the impact of this economic crisis impacts common Americans every day. Home foreclosures and crushing personal debt limit the spending power of hard working men and women. Unemployment caused by this recession is inhibiting those affected from consumption, and the mere threat of continued unemployment is hampering the spending decisions of even those that do remain employed. The remedy to this situation was initiated with the passage and implementation of the stimulus bill at the beginning of 2009. However effective a job it has done at rescuing the American economy as a whole, its effects have been less than impressive on improving employment. The latest economic report highlighted unemployment at over 10%, the largest figure in nearly 20 years. True economic recovery and stability can come only when Americans are gainfully employed and secure in their jobs. With this expectation in doubt, it is the role of the government to use its overwhelming ability to inject cash into the economy to further stimulate watershed industries, such as renewable energy, regional planning projects, and smart-grid technology. The government must also invest in brick-and-mortar economic activities, such as repairing roads, bridges, damns, and other decaying infrastructure that has become unreliable over the past half-century of use and lack of repair. Furthermore, the federal government could put Americans to work repairing and improving our treasured national monuments and national parks. These programs will create jobs, while also providing the United States a stable foundation of infrastructure which is so important to our national vitality. By putting people to work, we are investing in people and their families while generating increased tax revenue critical to debt reduction.

The price tag of this venture will be significant. An increase in the public debt erodes confidence in the government of the United States to pay its bills, which in turn devalues the dollar. While a deflationary fiscal policy can help to alleviate this issue, and is something the Federal Reserve is in prime position to do considering the status of interest rates are near-zero, a long-term commitment to debt reduction is both economically and politically astute. Once the economy is properly stimulated and stable growth begins to occur, the government must show fiscal restraint with the newfound revenues from this economic growth. It cannot be treated as found money and used to fund new entitlements or pet projects. Such a disciplined maneuver would address public concerns about the debt, which are substantial, and begin to reduce the foreign debt of the country, which is a real source of economic concern. Its political results would be worthwhile; it would begin to restore the Democratic Party to recognition as the party of fiscal discipline — a well-earned recognition during the heavy-spending Bush years, it would appeal to the pragmatism of the American people, and it would set the United States on a path toward monetary solvency all while continuing to contribute to a robust and functional economy.

It is imperative that the government spend what it must now to alleviate the suffering of the American people, and then tighten our collective belt during boom years to help pay down the debt and reduce the possibility of future economic bubbles rising to destabilize the economy. This path is sensible, it is pragmatic, it is suitably clear to the average American, and it appeals to the best within ourselves and our nation.

As we build a strong economy, we must consider other actions critical to sustaining an economy of prosperity for all Americans. The following are a few things that need to be done:

• Our current tax code unfairly places the burden on working men and women while allowing big corporations and wealthy individuals special tax breaks. We could generate a whole new source of revenue for our country by requiring those with the most to pay their fair share by ending tax breaks and closing loop holes.

• One of the great principles of our free society involves social and economic mobility. We must put in place a system that levels the playing field for competition and gives small businesses a chance to compete with big business. We must also make it possible for our young people to return to the land if that is their desire. Programs must be put in place that opens doors for small farmers to compete and succeed.

• We must stop American Corporations from exporting jobs to other countries. When a plant is shut down, putting hundreds of Americans out of work in order to open the same plant in some other country, that company must face penalties and taxes commensurate with the anticipated savings. We must never allow putting Americans out of work to be a corporate benefit.

As we make hard decisions about the economy, we must keep our eye on the federal deficit. The deficit has topped $12 trillion dollars --- the equivalent of a $40,000 debt for every American citizen. A significant amount of our tax dollar goes to paying interest on this deficit. This incurred deficit will be a burden for many generations to come. It is not enough to generate budget surpluses from year to year, we must engage a plan to pay down the debt and restore fiscal health to our country.

We can have a healthy economy and a robust society. We can implement all of the programs necessary to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity. It is all within our grasp. WE CAN AND WE MUST DO BETTER!

~ Bill

Positions and Viewpoints: Net Neutrality

To understand net neutrality, it is important to know the history of the Internet. Therefore, I am offering a brief historical review to set the stage for dealing with this important issue.

The entire concept of the Internet evolved out of the government’s need to create a secure communication system for military purposes. This work began as early as 1957, and resulted in the first physical network in 1969. By 1973, Vinton Cerf from Stanford and Bob Kahn from the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) had developed the TCP/IP protocol, which led them to refer to this network as the Internet.

In 1983, the Internet Activities Board (IAB) was created. This same year, the University of Wisconsin created Domain Name System (DNS). By 1985, the National Science Foundation began deploying new T1 lines. With the completion of the T1 backbone in 1988, Internet traffic began to increase to the point that ongoing upgrades were necessary. In 1992, a T3 backbone was completed, the Internet Society was chartered, and the Corporation for Research and Educational Networking released the World-Wide Web (www).

With 1994 came the use of the Internet as a medium for commerce, and in 1995, the National Science Foundation contracted with four companies to serve as providers of access to the backbone. In 1999, wireless technology (Wi-Fi) arrived as a built-in feature for portable computers and handheld devices. In 2005, the Netbooks became popular as portable computing devices. The recent emergence of multi-touch technology adds a whole new dimension to connectivity.

A new technology recommendation called IPv6 is slated to replace the current IPv4 which allows for fewer than 4.3 billion directly connected internet devices. With IPv6, the Internet could sustain as many as 13 billion directly-connected Internet devices. With a world population of over 6.5 billion, the IPv6 should do for a while.

The entire purpose for this walk through time is to illustrate the Internet as public property. This incredible medium of communication resulted from and has been sustained by publically-funded initiatives. The Internet has evolved into an indispensible component of our social, commercial, civic, and national life. Over the past several years, the Internet has been proven to be an instrument of innovation and creativity, and one which has brought the people of our nation and the world together in so many positive ways.

Net neutrality seeks to keep the Internet open. FCC Chairman Genachowski supports net neutrality and is working to maintain an open Internet for economic growth and democratic participation. An open Internet will maximize investment and innovation in an environment of competition where entrepreneurs realize universal benefit. Anything less than net neutrality will result in a power struggle for control of content via regulated access.

The challenge for net neutrality is the same challenge that has been going on since 1969, which is the challenge of providing an ever expanding pipe through which an ever expanding range of communication may occur.

At the moment, there is an unwritten rule regulating the Internet which says “give broadband users whatever service, applications, and devices, as long as they don’t harm the network." However, this unwritten rule needs to be formalized along with two additional rules: 1) No discrimination against services or applications by slowing them down; and 2) Broadband providers must reveal how they manage the network when it is congested. Both of these rules are aimed at curbing broadband control of Internet traffic. These rules are critical to regulating broadband power in the areas of competition and choice.

Once again, this is an issue of good government. From the perspective of the public interest, the Internet must be regulated by the Federal Communication Commission and not the industry. Under net neutrality, the Internet remains open to voice over Internet protocol, video conferencing, gaming, sharing, and all uses as covered by the established rules.

Internet Service Providers (ISPs) claim that net neutrality rules proposed by the FCC violate their First and Fifth Amendment rights. This is a total stretch on the part of the ISPs. In fact, the opposite is actually true. The threat of the ISPs to regulate traffic over the Internet is in essence a form of blocking and controlling speech. As for the Fifth Amendment, the property argument holds no weight in lieu of the developmental history of the Internet. The Internet and regulation thereof should now and always be a matter of public policy.

Net neutrality is pro-speech, pro-innovation, and good foreign policy. As the moral leader of the world, the United States must stand firm in the defense of Internet freedom. The Internet offers a gateway to all people of the world. It offers the people of other countries to see how a democratic and free country deals with issues of access. Anything less than net neutrality would provide the wrong example. Therefore, net neutrality is our obligation if we are going to be ambassadors for democracy around the world in the 21st Century.

~Bill