National Debt & Deficit Spending
National Debt & Deficit Spending
As I travel Wyoming I have heard people discuss the National Debt and Deficit Spending as if just balancing the Budget will cure the National Debt.
Not true...
Energy Crisis
The business of the United States is business. Energy fuels that business which in turn supports the industrial and agricultural base that feeds this nation and provides food to yet another 100 nations...
Iraq, the Global War on Terror, and a Draft
In an editorial board interview in my 2006 campaign I was asked pointedly and repeatedly how this nation will provide enough servicemen and women to carry on the fight in Iraq. My inference was that this organization clearly desired that I respond that a draft was needed...
Right to Bear Arms
Early in my active duty service I qualified expert on both the M-1 Service Rifle and the .45 caliber Automatic Pistol. Throughout my career in the Submarine Force I was asked to be expert with other weapons...
Veterans Issues
During my own military career I had the unique opportunity to observe my father-in-law, Albert Bland, MSgt, USAF(Ret), in his work, and frustration with, veteran's issues. He served as the National Commander of the American Ex-POWs in the mid-80s and later headed their Med-Search Team tasked with researching medical information supporting various diseases resulting from imprisonment...
Education
Education is a great part of our ability to innovate. In order to remain competitive in the world, our education system must encourage and develop our young people. The challenge is clear. No Child Left Behind, for all its good intentions is slowing us down. It has done some good things by requiring school administrators to get out of their offices and see what is happening in the classroom.
GI Bill
It is “business-as-usual” in Washington, even when it comes to our servicemen and women. At issue is how to fund them while they are in the midst of combat and how to provide for their future on their return. During my time at the Naval Academy I purchased a book entitled “War Without Heroes” that presented a photographic montage of the Viet Nam war. As I reflect on our War Against Terrorism it is as if we are replaying that era.
Convention Speech
I could use my allotted time to address issues confronting the nation and our state during these dangerous international times and uncertain domestic economy. I could talk about my positions - which are likely to be similar to my opponents in this race.
Marriage
I believe marriage is a decision about how society organizes itself. As we currently have chosen to structure marriage it is bound up in the union of families, the passing on of things families hold sacred, and the care and welfare of women and children. I believe that marriage should be between one man and one woman. I believe that is clearly within the authority of our legislatures to make laws supporting such fundamental structures of our society.
Value of Life
I believe abortion is wrong. In my 30 years of active duty in the US Navy it was often heard that the United States, and its military, values human life far more than other nations. This valuing of human life was something that set our armed forces apart from other nations militaries.
The Future
In the spring of 2007 I attended a Yellowstone Business Partnership Conference at Jackson Lake Lodge near Moran Junction. There were many good presentations along with quite a few "green" presentations. I was surprised at the preponderance of Idaho and Montana businesses and Chambers of Commerce present. On reflection, this partly represented a clear domination of each respective state’s population relative to Yellowstone Park, the centerpiece of this organization.
Agriculture, Energy, and the Economy
With diesel on its way to $5.00 a gallon, $3.80 a gallon propane, and gasoline predicted to reach $4.00 a gallon this summer, when will prices reverse? Coal provides nearly half of our electricity, yet is by far the larger contributor of industrial CO2 to the world's atmosphere.
Illegal Immigration
There are two issues with Illegal Immigration:
1st Effective Control of our borders, and
2nd Effective documentation of non-citizen workers within our nation.
It is easy for legislators to pound the table with dire consequences for employers who "knowingly" hire illegal immigrants. This is self serving and unproductive. We must find a better way
The Mortgage Crisis
It is clear from the news that this crisis was brought about by an overextension within the mortgage industry. The drive to produce and then package loans for resale was intense. There were those that found ways to sell loans despite clear evidence that the debt service was just not there.