WHY AM I A CANDIDATE? WHO AM I? WHERE DO I STAND ON THE ISSUS,? WHO AM I REALLY RUNNING AGAINST?

WHY AM I A CANDIDATE?

Our democracy is under attack from within.

It is under attack by anti-capitalism, anti-democracy institutions such as the Federalist Society, Fox, and Koch backed organizations and domestic terrorists wearing MAGA hats, waving Nazi flags, and choosing Putin over the United States.

Which is why I think it is time to:

Use the First Amendment to save democracy.

Use the Second Amendment to pass smart gun regulations.

Use facts to create an economy that is good for everyone.

WHO AM I?

I have B.S. and M.A. degrees in economics from the University of Minnesota and a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Washington. As a college and university professor, I taught macroeconomic and microeconomic theory at the principles, intermediate, advanced, and graduate level, monetary theory and policy, environmental economics, and special issues courses. In the real world, I wrote economic/investment newsletters with as many as 70,000 paid subscribers and was vice president of research for a national brokerage company.

WHERE DO I STAND ON THE ISSUES?

I want a better health care system for all Americans. (You can read the National Health Insurance plan on this site or download it free from Apple Books.)

I want term limits for Senators and Representatives. 

I want campaign finance reform. 

I want Supreme Court justices held to the highest possible standards. 

I want the rich to pay their fair share of taxes. (The Trump tax cut that did nothing to help the economy was partially responsible for Trump adding $7.8 trillion to the national debt.)

I am pro choice, which is not pro-abortion.

I want better gun regulations.

I want better regulations on financial firms.

I want to end the billions of dollars in subsidies going to fossil fuel companies as one step toward dealing with global warming.

I believe renewable energy is the key to the next great economic expansion, because it is cheaper and the side effects are not as bad for people and the economy.

I know trickle down economics is a scam.

I know the Laffer Curve, for those who remember it, is a joke.

I believe our foreign trade agreements were created using knowingly false economic ideas that are not even theories.

I believe government can help create great wealth.

I know that without government, there can be little or no wealth.

I know thoughts and prayers do not bring people back to life or prevent future killings.

I know Social Security is not an entitlement.

I believe the Republican idea that less government means more freedom is not as good as the idea that more money means more freedom; as do more safety, security, stability, and regulations that protect not only consumers, but businesses.

I support inclusion, not exclusion (except when it comes to Putin supporters).

I’m not sure about legalizing marijuana (even though I did inhale when I was in my twenties) unless we control the inevitable corporate takeover.

I want Citizens United overturned.

I believe the evangelical movement is an attack on all religions, especially Christianity. 

I do not want the Department of Education promoting evangelical schools at the expense of public education.

I do not support school vouchers that give public school money to the parents of children already enrolled in private schools.

I want to eliminate voter suppression.

I voted for Bernie in the 2016 primary.

I voted for Hillary in the 2016 general election, not because I liked her, but on the principle that democracy rests on the decision to vote for the lesser of two evils; and she was definitely the lesser of two evils. 

I voted for Biden in 2020 to protect democracy.

And I believe America and the American Dream still have a chance. (Which is why I wrote The Lemonade Stand.)

That’s it. If I haven’t offended everyone by now, that's good. And if you want to know where I stand on an issue not listed, just ask.

WHO AM I REALLY RUNNING AGAINST?

The Republican plan has not changed for years. It is to look for (or make up) problems and then claim the only way to "solve" the problem is to cut taxes for the very rich. Then, because doing so hurts ninety-nine percent of Americans, they lie about the facts. But because the majority of Americans will not accept the lies, they spend most of their time finding ways to corrupt elections and restrict voting. The Republican Voter ID "solution" to non-existent voter fraud is nothing but voter suppression. Claiming it is necessary to undo Social Security to pay for the deficit they created by giving tax breaks to the super rich is nothing but an attack on America. 

Anyway, I'm not really running against my Republican opponent. I, like virtually every Democrat running for office in 2024, am running against authoritarianism and fascism. Which means every vote you cast for a Democrat is a vote against one of the mindless pieces of the Republican authoritarian machine. Which is why nothing is more important than your vote, because if Trump is reelected in 2024 and his machine controls the House and the Senate, it is unlikely he will ever leave the White House. Which means the 2024 election could be America’s last real election. (They still have "elections" in Russia.)   

I do not know if every Republican who runs for office does so because he or she wants to hurt people, undermine the economy, and weaken America. I do know most have little choice, because the Trump mob does not allow them to put country ahead of him.

I do have a choice. 

So do you.

I am running for the House and you can vote for every Democrat in the 2024 election.