Schedule An Event
I'd like to share my ideas and listen to yours. If you have a neighborhood association meeting, a PTA meeting, heck, a big family reunion where having me swing by to say a few words makes sense I'm happy to do it if it fits in my schedule. I'll even do a Facetime chat remotely. Use this form below to propose the idea.
Attend An Event
I'll publish all my planned public appearances. I'm looking forward to meeting you.
How Can You Help?
Networkers - If you are a social being and love to communicate and share, we're going to have some fun. This is a campaign where things are happening and we believe we can make a difference. Phone calls, events, social media. Let's make some news.
Builders - Maybe your a behind-the-scenes "get it done" volunteer. I'll need folks to help with my sign operation. The networkers will submit the locations and points of contact and we'll make the signs and get them set up and maintained and taken down when it's all over. Sign building will happen in Northern Harford County but distribution and set up will happen throughout the district.
Voter Registration Distributor - One of the most undervalued rights as an American is our right to vote. Whether someone just turned 18 or maybe just moved to the area, to exercise that right you must register to vote 21 days before the election. As a voter registration distributor you can engage Maryland residents and even submit registration forms on their behalf. Let's get the word out and see that everyone gets a chance to vote.
Electioneers - June 26, 2018 is Primary Election Day in Maryland and we have many early voting locations also available. We need to build small teams for each location to share the vision and enthusiasm for this campaign.
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.
HotUnderstands 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 to 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?
It is my position that the existing gun advocacy groups have utterly failed to take a leadership position in promoting solutions and are left villified in the court of public opinion. Perhaps our only way to drive solutions is to create an equally well-funded organization to promote responsible gun ownership candidates who don't want to restrict the rights of law-abiding gun owners but rather bring focus and statutes that might streamline the process to identify and restrict the "mentally defective" described in U.S.C 18 922(g)(4), This organization would also promote legislative initiatives and mainstream 2nd Amendment education. If it's illegal to yell "Bomb" in crowded public area, it seems a reasonable person could agree that consistent, explicit threats or innuendo on social media or in person with witnesses should be sufficient probable cause to initiate protected intervention and possible legal action.
On day #1, I want to sponsor a bill to extend the indemnity provided by the Volunteer Protection Act to teachers and administrators who report at-risk youth. Let's teach students to identify the signs and speak up. I encourage positive interventions and say we engage law enforcement quickly if things don't change.
The bottom line is there are almost 350 Million guns in the hands of Americans today and no foreign entity will ever think to occupy these United States but we must adapt to live with this reality.
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.
I am a business owner that sees tremendous lost productivity while many young adults remain out of the workforce. Too many young adults are going to college to finally learn what high school offered. The net result is a massive pile of student debt and these young adults are still no better off because they treat college like they did in high school. This results in years of potential productivity lost while they figure out their lives. This is kicking the can down the road to assuming personal responsibility. This is figuring out what they want to do only to get a job having nothing to do with what they just studied to become. Raise your hand if you're aggravated!
We need to deemphasize the degree and focus on the education. We need to change the system to be able to provide the economy with more capable entrants to the workforce when times are good and allow continued education to be a productive path when times are tough.
While I'm 100% for every freedom we have as Americans, I'm not for the freedom to squander away the education paid for by our tax dollars to babysit kids until they are 25. Trade school education should be promoted, certifications should be attained while in secondary schools. Bottom line, the standards should be dependent on your path, the offerings should be more robust and our kids can do it if we just ask it of them.
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' 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.
What i offer?
A Vision for a Better Future
I call it the American Reformation. We can return to some traditional values while embracing the race ahead.
A History of Good Faith Negotiating
I've spent my life building solutions and bridging gaps of understanding in business and our community.
Unparalleled Energy
God blessed me with uncommon drive and ability and I want to use it for you.
Active Communication and Transparency
I've architected systems used at the White House, Pentagon and Capital used for getting information to the American people.
Ability to Understand Complex Issues
From technically complex to emotionally charged, I've spent my life listening first, learning next and driving needed solutions.
Hope
Perhaps most import. I will care until I die about everyone on this planet. Let's realize our potential as a country.
Contact Me
Feel free to leave a message to me.
Address
1734 Jerrys Rd
Street, MD 21154
campaign@eriklane.us
Phone
408-981-1170