Ideas, not money

  The old saying is, “necessity is the mother of invention.” So maybe that’s what this is all about- I have little money and don’t have the ability to match up with the coffers of the political party machines. I’ve invented an entire modern day New Deal just to fuel my own ego to try and make a bid for federal office without having to fundraise. Okay, this is a fair assessment and ultimately the $174,000 a year would be the most I’ve made in a single year. So maybe the motivation is monetary as well- though most representatives claim that there is a monetary sacrifice due to needing accommodations in both their home state and DC, we do have an inordinate amount of legislators that are lawyers (30% of house members, 51% of senators) and most lawyers’ idea of slumming it is ordering their drinks from the well selection at the bar. So, I would find myself in the relative lap of luxury with a congressperson’s salary. Again, it is hard to fault that logic.

I have many arguments to make against such things: The idea of love of country. The pain-staking logic and research to try and put an extensive and low-cost new plan for government while trying to force compromise and civility in an era wrought with strife and hatred. My personal desire to one day replace the national anthem with the Rick derringer magnum opus “Rock and Roll Hootchie Coo”, only to bring the star spangled banner back a year later rebranded as “national anthem classic” (that’s a joke, folks. Just making sure you’re still reading). The idea that I am doing this solely out of love and concern for my own children’s future. The history I have seen in my life where this country’s politics degraded from intelligent, well-meaning states people into a near unintelligible crowing mob of bullies. My vision of a country where we walk hand in hand together into a bright future filled with promise and love. The idea that in order to make that society we want can’t be done by flaunting all the rules we want it to live by.

So, I make this promise now, I will take no monetary donations to run this attempt at a campaign. I realize there are millions of dollars against me. I realize that more likely than not I will make more people angry with this extensive list of political objectives rather than using three-word chants that seem so prevalent in today’s elections. I promise that I will not lie while talking to my countrymen about what I am trying to do. I will go against what I might think your views to be and honestly speak my mind even when it may be politically detrimental. I promise, should I buck every and all odds in this race and somehow win, this seat I will not take a dollar from any PAC, lobbyist, or party while serving this district. I promise that any future attempt at reelection will not begin outside of six months from that election. I promise that all failures will be mine and mine alone; no individual or party will become a scapegoat for my ineffectiveness to gain a majority. And I promise you right now, come win, lose, draw, or lose (had to list it twice because… well, you know) this election if you come to me with a problem, I will do my absolute best to help. To borrow a page from the great political prophet and bridge-builder, Rob Van Winkle: I’ll stop. I’ll collaborate. And I will LISTEN (hit me up in the chat if the rest of that song is now stuck on replay in your head).

So, if you want to believe this attempt at a Congressional seat by some nobody is motivated by love of money over love of people, I will tell you this: two things don’t have to be mutually exclusive.