(Speech From Washington State Republican Convention 2008)
Peace, Freedom, and Prosperity

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to address you all. I will quote Ronald Reagan from his first inaugural address, “In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem.”

Now, over 27 years later that quote is still entirely true. Now, more than ever, we need more Representatives at all levels to support the 100% Constitutional ideals of Ron Paul as we lead this Republic back to Peace, Freedom, and Prosperity. Whether supporting Dr. Paul as our next president, or in the U.S. House, I will support legislation and work to bring our troops home in an orderly fashion from the over 130 nations where they are currently guarding the borders of those nations, while ours remain porous. I will staunchly oppose any future pre-emptive and undeclared wars, and I favor supporting the Constitutionally authorized “Letters of Marque and Reprisal” when dealing with the threat of all non-state terrorists such as Al-Qaeda, instead of participating in nation-building or policing the world.

I believe the security of our nation begins with having secure borders. We must work to eliminate the incentives given to illegal immigrants which are paid for by taxpayers. These incentives include, but are not limited to, Social Security, Medicare, Food Stamps, Driver’s Licenses, and Tuition. The states should also impose fines on employers of illegal immigrants, and we need to end “Birthright Citizenship” now.

I also feel it is imperative that for our nation to have a prosperous future, we must implement an “America First” policy as an immediate first step to reduce the debt on our nation. As a part of this policy, I would introduce legislation to suspend all of the annual $21 Billion in foreign aid that is supporting the militaries, banking systems, and people of other nations, while our people continue to suffer from Federal fiscal irresponsibility and an economic crisis.

With over a $9T national debt, and over $40T owed to the people in Federal Entitlement programs, it is obvious that the Federal government needs to go on a serious diet.

Here are a few of the most extreme examples of government waste, as compiled by the Heritage Foundation.

• The Federal Government made at least $37 billion in overpayments in 2005. Current estimates are between $40 billion in annual overpayments.
• Federal auditors are currently examining all Federal programs. Thus far, 38% of all examined programs have failed to show any positive impact on the populations they serve. Yet lawmakers appropriated $154 billion to these programs in FY 2004.
• Members of Congress have spent hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars supplying their offices with popcorn machines, plasma televisions, DVD equipment, ionic air fresheners, camcorders, and signature machines.
• Lawmakers diverted $13 million from Hurricane Katrina relief spending to build a museum celebrating the Army Corps of Engineers – the agency partially responsible for the failed levees that flooded New Orleans.
• The federal government cannot account for $24.5 billion spent in 2003.
• The Defense Department wasted $100 million on unused flight tickets and never bothered to collect refunds even though the tickets were refundable.
• Over one recent 18-month period, Air Force and Navy personnel used government-funded credit cards to charge at least $102,400 for admission to entertainment events, $42,250 for gambling, $69,300 for cruises, and $73,950 for exotic dance clubs and prostitutes.
• Washington spends $60 billion annually on corporate welfare, versus $43 billion on homeland security.
• The Federal Government spends $27 billion annually on special interest pork projects such as grants to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame or funds to combat teenage “goth” culture in Blue Springs, Missouri.
• The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s $3.3 billion in overpayments in 2001 accounted for over 10% of the department’s total budget.
• The Advanced Technology Program spends $150 million annually subsidizing private businesses, and 40% of this goes to Fortune 500 companies.
• The Conservation Reserve program pays farmers $2 billion annually not to farm their land.
• The Department of Agriculture spends $12 billion to $30 billion annually on farm subsidies, the vast majority of which go to agribusinesses and farmers averaging $135,000 in annual income.

Abuse & corruption is rampant at all levels of government. We need like minded Paulites to run for any and all public office. If you can’t run, find someone who will, and support them, like our fore-fathers before us, who pledged to each other their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to restore our Republic.