The Issues We Face in America

Did you know that Hartford, Connecticut, was recently recognized as the least affordable city in America? How is that possible in one of the wealthiest states in the Union? For over a decade, Connecticut was the wealthiest state in the union, with the worst economic inequality in America—all under our current Democrat leadership. I believe that good character and hard work should guarantee the security of a home and family. That is the promise of the American Dream. But now, the middle class is struggling. Young people cannot afford to start families. The increasing wealth gap creates fear and instability that threatens to undo the principles that made America the world's economic miracle. It is time to level the playing field. We must support local economies, small businesses, and American industry. And we must prepare the next generation to be flexible and skilled, ready to take the reins from their parents and move America forward. Check out the "Pact for Prosperity" for more information.

Fun fact: Insurance company profits are capped nationwide. In order to circumvent those caps in profit, insurance companies purchase physician practices and they take the profits out of your patient visits instead. Health care should not cost as much as it currently does. A few laser-targeted laws could substantially reduce costs nationwide.

Another fun fact: One out of four health care dollars goes to diabetes and diabetes related care. That is over 400 billion dollars. People who profit from this do not want to prevent diabetes and obesity, because they make a massive profit from your disease. I believe that Americans should not suffer from so much chronic illness. I want to support you on a prevention journey.

As a physician, I know healthcare. I am dedicated to a healthier America that is not bankrupted by the healthcare process. Real value is health.

Did you know that Connecticut has "the second best education in the nation" for wealthy students, while having a history of being the worst of 50 for achievement gaps among poor and minority students? That is shameful, and it is an indictment against the current leadership. Parents have every right to determine what their children are learning, whether it be through public schools or home education. The current leadership seems more interested in making sure children get confused about their gender and exposed to pornography than they are interested in students learning reading and math. That is completely unacceptable. We need strong students being trained to succeed. Instead, we have students who are being told that they are permanently oppressed, that they can never succeed, or that standards ought to be lower for certain students. I believe and know for an absolute fact that all students can and must be taught how to read. I believe it is a civil right and a human right. Parents should know exactly what is being taught, and it should be reading, writing, and math. Real science should be used to determine the best teaching and learning strategies. Disruptive and non-English speaking students should be placed in separate learning environments when possible because it isn't fair to students whose education suffers.

We know what causes mental illness, mood disorders, PTSD, and addictions. We can certainly prevent a large percent of these problems from ever developing. But "prevention" requires up-front investment that results in less "profit" down the line for anyone whose business model included medications, incarceration, or rehab. This makes prevention a tough sell. But what if I told you we could save 2 million dollars for each individual who doesn't end up addicted? The real truth is that the up-front expense for prevention doesn't just save lives—it saves a lot of taxpayer money. But more importantly, it saves a world of heartache for victims and their families. So the ethical choice is also the smart choice.

There is no doubt that America is drowning in trillions of dollars' worth of debt, and paying unhealthy amounts of interest to people who do not even like Americans. Meanwhile, ordinary Americans are being taxed within an inch of their lives, working harder and harder for less and less. Property taxes make housing unaffordable for everyone.

Did you know that unfettered government spending (even on "good" things like welfare) causes a massive transfer of wealth from poor to rich? Are you surprised that the powers that be don't want you to understand that? I'm not. We must spend less.

We also must change our tax structure to stop punishing wage earners for working more and more hours for less and less return. More tax on financial industry and less tax on earned income will help to offset this harsh imbalance. Property taxes must be capped. The self-employment tax (FICA at 15%) must be eliminated if fairness is to be restored.

I believe that we need to tend first to our own nation. Just like the message that we hear prior to an airplane taking off, we must attend to our own oxygen before assisting others. I believe that the purpose of an elected representative is to represent the people we have sworn to serve, not to represent foreign interests. I believe in secure borders. I do not believe in "regime change" abroad or proxy wars. I believe in a strong defense force, and would prefer not to deploy it. I support nations that are free and democratic. I believe that the US should become an example for the world once again. Freedom, unity, and innovation should come to mind when people think of America. Totalitarianism, "Social Credit," and sectarianism will not compare favorably to these American ideals. It should be clear from the above statements that I am not a globalist.