Political Support is Conditional

Recently I was approached by mail for a monetary contribution or contribution of time, in support of some local candidates for office. That support is conditional:

Commissioners

I would like to see a strenuous and passionate articulation of their desire to work towards the full "privatization" of all municipal services with the exception of Police and Fire protection.

Propose teaming up with neighboring Townships to initiate a statewide movement to alleviate unfunded mandates handed down from Harrisburg. Included would be an conversion of all Public Employee Pension funds which are now an estimated $43 Billion "in the hole" from the current system of "defined benefit" to "defined contribution" style accounts. This is especially urgent in view of the recent downgrade of PA's Bond Rating to "AA" by Fitch Ratings Agency.  Cooperation from neighboring townships should also be solicited to "push back" against costly and extreme over-regulation by the EPA through the PA-DEP as they relate to trash disposal and waste water management.

Advocacy for and lobbying of local PA Representatives and Senators via partnerships with neighboring Townships to secure relief from the burdensome and wasteful expenditures of taxpayer monies caused by existing "prevailing wage" laws, and moving towards "right-to-work" legislation to make PA more competitive, business friendly, and thus, lower the cost of living, while increasing the tax base. A good place to start is by using your local power and that of neighboring townships to push for passage of HB 1257 (Repeal Prevailing Wage Act).  Support for HB 1154 is also in order. This bill would repeal the existing legal favoritism geared towards organized labor in Title 18 of the PA Criminal code with respect to the offenses of harassment, stalking, and threat to use weapons of mass destruction in a labor dispute. All persons and groups should be afforded "equal protection under the law."

I would also like to see statements of support and cooperation with other like minded Township candidates across the region to support SB 999, The PA Liberty Preservation Act; and, HB 357 & companion SB 505, unequivocally supporting Section 21, Article 1, of the Constitution of Pennsylvania.

Third, I would like to see vigorous support for HB 1206, Prohibiting certain actions under Agenda 21, Securing the Right of Private Property under both the 5th Amendment of the US Constitution and Article 1, Section 10, of the PA Constitution.

Lastly, I would like to see unequivocal opposition to any kinds of "live-stop" type policing programs, "driver checkpoints," and "red-light camera's." In my view, these types of operations are prima facie unconstitutional in nature, waste limited resources, are counterproductive, and turn police into tax collectors rather than defenders of the "rule of law." These policies serve to only further alienate police from their neighbors and their communities. They instill a justifiable fear of the police in the "law abiding," while encouraging greater violence from scofflaws  already committed to lawlessness.

School Board

I would like to know specifically where the candidates stand on the imposition of "Common Core Standards" and whether they will take a public position in support of HB 1552 and its companion Bill in the Senate (SB 943).

I would like to hear candidates publicly state that they will partner with other PSBA members to lobby Harrisburg for full repeal of Act 195 of 1970, and the passage of HB 76 and SB 76 so that homeowners may actually own their homes and the property on which they sit rather than just  rent  both from the local taxing authorities long after the mortgages have been paid.

I would like to see support for a complete conversion of all Public Teacher "Defined Benefit" plans to "Defined Contribution" plans. In the absence of immediate reforms, the School Employees Retirement System itself estimates that the costs to the State and School Districts will triple in four years. This rate of cost increase is unsustainable by taxation. The citizens will vote with their feet, and the whole system will collapse. This will be injurious not only to the taxpayers but also to the pensioners receiving cents on their expected dollars in retirement benefits.

In conclusion, it is time to shun timidity, it is time to stand for smaller less intrusive government. It is time to be passionate about protecting freedom rather than systematically circumscribing it. The days of "go along to get along" with the powerful special interests are over. These problems must be confronted now! Yes, you may irritate the progressives in the community, but perhaps you will motivate those who have given up on party differences without distinctions to actually vote for people who share their vision of constitutional  representative government.

I, for one, am going to vote based on how many unconstitutional laws, taxes, and ordinances a candidate promises to repeal, rather than new laws and regulations enacted to solve imagined ills on "feel-good" emotional foundations that though well-intentioned result in consequences that restrict free-market principles. Other than public safety, governments' primary role is to protect the citizenry from "force" and "fraud."  Government was never intended to be a "social service agency." These services are best and most efficiently rendered in the community via volunteerism through churches, scout troops, and other privately funded non-profit groups.

As soon as I see public pronouncements from the candidates which include the above captioned positions, the local slate will have my support.