Page 22 - December_2015_Life_in_Naples_Magazine

WE NEED
CIAVILNDDISRCOEUARSLE,
SOLUTIONS,
AS WE HEAD INTO THE 2016 ELECTIONS
Pby Congressman Curt Clawson
olitical campaigns are heating up across America, at a time when a majority
of Americans are concerned about the direction of our great nation. Many
are frustrated or even outraged by the lack of civil discourse in the process
of electing those who will serve in public office. We all want real solutions
offered for the problems we face.
As I travel and meet with so many Southwest Floridians, I find all of you would
love to see an end to the “bomb throwing” and constant personal attacks in political
campaigns, and of course in the media. You’d rather see some civility and serious
conversation about how we might best address today’s challenges.
I know firsthand how counterproductive negative politics can be. And I
understand that many of you believe your voices are not heard above all the shouting
and partisan rhetoric.
In recent elections, many Americans have been going to the polls and voting for
outsiders over career politicians. I myself came to Congress this way. Recently, we’ve
seen political outsiders rise to the top of the polls in the Republican 2016 presidential have broken borders, and millions of illegal foreign
contest. “We the people” are saying that Washington, D.C. is broken. Grass roots
Americans are demanding an end to business as usual – and asking for their elected
officials to do more to pave the way for opportunity and good-paying jobs.
It’s clearly time for those serving, or wanting to serve, to heed these calls. We need
government policies that help private sector companies invest and create jobs at home.
And then we need the government to get out of their way. This is a personal mission
for me. I ran for Congress on a plan for economic growth – and I will continue
to focus on this as your representative. From my experiences in the private sector, I
understand what needs to be done.
Our sluggish economy cannot provide the opportunity and good-paying jobs
needed by the many millions unemployed or struggling to pay their bills.That’s largely
because we have the highest business taxes in the world, and too many unnecessary
regulations that hurt American competitiveness, while raising consumer prices. We
have more than 10 million Americans looking for work; millions more who are
under-employed or who have given up looking for work. In total, a record 90 million
are out of the workplace.
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Meanwhile, we’re considering unwise trade bills
that would cost more good-paying American jobs
– lost to unfair foreign trade practices. The worst
of these practices is currency manipulation, which
artificially lowers prices on foreign-produced
goods, while artificially raising prices on U.S.-
exported goods. Our trade deficits, and related job
losses, reflect this. This is not free trade – this is
unfair trade.
I will not support any trade agreements that
hurt American competitiveness. We’ve got to stop
making deals that close our factories and send our
workers to the unemployment lines – or to lower-
paying jobs that don’t make use of their world-
class skills.
Despite so many Americans out of work, we
workers. And, every year, we add another 1,000,000
legal immigrants plus 700,000 visitors on foreign
work visas – all competing for the limited jobs
available here in the U.S.
Far too many Americans are on some form
of government assistance. Other hard-working
Americans do the best they can for their families.
But the bills keep piling up, their wages stagnate,
and they just don’t see a path to get ahead.
And in Washington, D.C. – the federal
government passes budgets and spending plans
that add to the national debt every year – while
punting on much needed entitlement reform.
Some politicians promise even more “freebies” – in
Life in Naples | December 2015