大象APP

It seems to me that most recent political ads tried to convince voters their candidate was a better 鈥渇ighter鈥� than their opponents. But I don鈥檛 think that鈥檚 what our country needs right now. Congress needs more representatives willing to legislate with the bigger picture in mind and compromise with responsible members of either party. And to do that, legislators must have the courage to call out the crazy in their own party, as well as the opposition, and be committed to telling the truth even when it鈥檚 not popular or politically expedient.

Here鈥檚 what I鈥檇 like to hear from a presidential candidate in 2028. It鈥檚 not too early to start dreaming.

鈥淚n the last four years, our government has been destroyed from within by an organized, radical group of ideologues and opportunists. I don鈥檛 think this is what the American public wants. Here鈥檚 how I propose to turn this ship around.

鈥淔irst of all, we must realize our federal government is like an ocean liner, not a speedboat. We鈥檙e currently heading in the wrong direction, but we can鈥檛 turn this ship around overnight. Any candidate who says they can is delusional or outright lying. Any candidate who is so focused on one issue that they can鈥檛 see the big picture or won鈥檛 compromise because they think it endangers their re-election will make turning the ship around much harder to do. Many worthwhile causes will have to take a back seat until we restore our government to a functional level.

鈥淪o, I propose we use the 2024-25 federal budget, what I consider the last somewhat responsible budget passed with bipartisan input, as a baseline, and restore funding to those levels over the next two years. I will ask Congress to pass a budget restoring 65% of the cuts in the first year, and 100% of the cuts in the second year. I will present this budget during my first week in office and demand Congress pass it immediately. This budget will be easy to develop and explain, because it鈥檚 already been done. I will then hire competent administrators with expertise in their given subject area and support them in this difficult turnaround. This budget will also repeal the recent tax cuts and start the process of reducing our deficit.

鈥淚 believe this will inject certainty into the economy, allow businesses to plan capital investment in a way that fosters innovation, and cause the stock market to soar. Quickly passing this budget will eliminate much of the political posturing that makes Congress unwieldy and unaccountable. It will also allow Congressional committees to do more meaningful work on issues where there is a bipartisan consensus 鈥� issues such as the role of AI in our future.

鈥淥f course, additional funds may be necessary to address unanticipated events, both domestic and foreign, but these additional appropriations can be made as supplemental spending bills that can be more honestly evaluated within the framework of the existing budget and not used as a political cudgel to divide and distract.

鈥淎nd here鈥檚 where I need the help of the American voter. I need you to elect senators and representatives who pledge to vote for this budget. It鈥檚 a simple proposition. Ask them directly and accept only a yes or no for an answer.

鈥淓veryone will be disappointed by some aspect of this budget. Misinformation and disinformation will reach new heights. Every special interest group will try to convince its supporters they could get their way if they only held out and fought harder, but it鈥檚 that attitude that has made our government unmanageable by raising unrealistic expectations among voters and creating complete dysfunction among our representatives.

鈥淚t is up to the moderate sensible middle to demand we turn this ship around, and I believe the best way to do this, if you believe in democracy, is to vote for this plan. Are you with me?鈥�

Do we have any candidates with the vision and courage to tell this truth? Are there enough voters who would support such a candidate? Would you?