A Fiscal Conservative

It's a sensible person with a fiscal stance that says enough is enough with deficit spending. Some of you may remember back in the 90's there was a fairly well publicized group of congressmen called the "Blue Dog Democrats". They were primarily from rural districts in the South but they've served as an important voting block on issues relating to fiscal spending. Well they still exist as a group of 18 members and I look to quickly join their ranks.

Understands Gun Rights vs. Civic Responsibility

We start with an understanding that the 2nd Amendment is what we are born into and it will take a 2/3 majority of our Representatives and Senators and then States ratificationto agree to change that. Further, the right for an "individual" to bear arms was affirmed by the Supreme Court in the 2008 District of Columbia vs. Heller decision...but is there more we can do?

For those not aware, Maryland already has the strictest gun rights in America and the Firearm Safety Act of 2013 was passed after the Newtown, CT tragedy. After years of constitutional challenges, the law was validated by the highest Federal courts in the nation. What makes me satisfied with this decision is that the Federal government supports a state's right to legislate on the issue and with that makes the need for a Federal legislative action that might impede on 2nd Amendment rights unnecessary.

Recognizes the Need for Education Reform

We are parents who see our teachers are handcuffed in a system that suffocates their passion to teach.

We are observers who see a lack of respect by students, coddled by administrations who are handicapped by risk-averse lawyers.

We are in need of legal reform to allow corrective action that works.

Knows Healthcare Costs are Out of Control

Maybe by this point you see I'm a bit of a 'tough love' candidate and perhaps this is an area where a 'conservative Democrat' or 'moderate' differs significantly from my liberal counterparts.

Our society has lost sight of the personal responsibility of taking care of oneself. Our schools teach the importance of proper diet and exercise. Once we leave, marketing for convenience and excess swallows our attention and molds our unhealthy behaviors. Any government program we support should have expectations of the recipient. Annual checkups, evidence of corrective behaviors or preventative actions seem like reasonable expectations. Our healthcare decline is the result of years of passive neglect to oneself. America must change its behavior and we can't legistate that. I do believe we can reduce the benefits provided for those with a documented pattern of self neglect.

Heathcare is provided as an insurance, not as a service. An insurance is run in a way to mitigate risk and ensure profitability. The risk of lawsuits combined with the risk of providing ever more complex and expensive services and medicines makes absurdly high prices necessary for the math to work out. I get it. What I can't accept is the complacency of those insurance providers and their service providers to say no to exhorbitant price changes from their providers. Like speed limits on the roads, most common services and drugs should have "may not exceed" price tags. Why is it I see a headline of a urine test costing over $17,000, really!

Finally, I just watched a video of another candidate who talked about the Army spending millions of dollars on training to prepare him for active duty. Another bill I would like to sponsor in my first term is a Medical Service Bill that offers any well qualified student who wants to be a doctor or other needed healthcare professional a full ride to become one in exchange for a similar commitment of service. We can work with the healthcare industry to pay for this program since they ultimately profit from our taxpayer investment. I can only imagine the number of talented, compassionate students that would take America up on that deal. More doctors = More services available = Lower costs = Better care.

Recognizes the Impact of our Legacy

Finally, a Conservative Democrat is a son who protects the legacy of his parents generation, a father who can honestly say to his children that hard work, perseverance and integrity are still valued in American society and a man who wants to see his future great-grandchildren still enjoy the beauty of this great Earth.