The following was written by me on behalf of a candidate for Congress who sadly failed in his bid to represent his party. 

The Founders viewed service in Congress much like service on a jury: Both were the duties of citizens. They entrusted both duties to the intelligence and common sense of ordinary people. Uncommon education and experience were never considered prerequisites for either members of Congress or members of juries.

Some jobs can be mastered in a few days. Some take weeks and months. Others take years. Congress and juries alike function well with whatever knowledge their members bring with them despite the gravity of the decisions with which both are entrusted. Jurors make life and death decisions as well as decisions affecting the freedom and property of individuals, much like members of Congress make for the nation at large.

The following was written by me on behalf of a candidate for Congress who sadly failed in his bid to represent his party. 

It seems to be common wisdom, a cliché actually, that all politicians lie. Do you believe it?

Some argue that politicians lie because it's expected of them. It's as though they believe that, to paraphrase Colonel Jessups, played by Jack Nickolson in the movie A Few Good Men, We the People can't handle the truth.

I hope that isn't true. As a career military officer, I was trained to tell the truth, to admit my mistakes, own up to them, take corrective action, and “continue the march”. Lies and cover-ups have a nasty way of biting you at the most inopportune times when you go in harm's way. It's way too late in my life to take up lying now.

The following is re-posted from the Online Townhall Meeting hosted by Greg Raths, conservative Republican candidate to represent California's 45th Congressional District.

America's success did not come at the hands of its government. It grew to become the most successful nation in the world in all of history because of its lack of government. Those who argue with this premise are arguing with history. Once you understand this, you will realize that America's success cannot be restored until government is restored to its proper and limited role. Let's begin by examining the premise. We'll save the discussion of government's proper role for another time.

Although the first Europeans who arrived in the new world came to plunder it, America was founded by those who came later, the entrepreneurs. Does that sound strange? It's true. For example, Virginia was founded by entrepreneurs, the Virginia Company. Massachusetts Bay and Plymouth were also founded by profit-seeking corporations. Pennsylvania and Maryland were founded by proprietors, again entrepreneurs. The only thing restricting their efforts were the sovereigns who chartered their businesses. However, time and distance freed them from micromanagement and allowed them to grow and prosper while businesses back home struggled under stultifying government.

The following was written by me on behalf of a candidate for Congress who sadly failed in his bid to represent his party. 

You know it's true: You and I aren't equally wealthy. We don't have the same income. We never have and never will. You probably earn more than me, or less. That's called “income inequality”. I'm not losing any sleep over it, are you? Not to put too fine a point on it, but there are people in America who earn more than you and I combined. You could probably combine the incomes of everyone in your community and still not equal their income. Does this upset you or do you wish you were that person? It seems to have upset the Democrats, or has it? Although they produce a myriad of propaganda pieces decrying income inequality, most of it has grown during their administration of government and implementation of progressive programs to redistribute wealth.

The fact is that the ability to succeed beyond our wildest imaginings has always stood as an incentive for Americans to strive to better themselves. People have come to America from all over the world to achieve the same dream. Unless you are an American Native, your ancestors were among them. The success of their casinos tells me that some of their incomes also are a lot more equal than mine.

The following was written by me on behalf of a candidate for Congress who sadly failed in his bid to represent his party. 

The primary ballots are in the mail and Mimi Walters fires her only salvo at her Republican opponent, me, Greg Raths. After months of vetting my record, my life, my family, my service, and my public statements, all that Mimi and her henchmen can come up with is a tepid complaint about my service as a United States Marine.

Mimi's mailer, illustrated above, doesn't say anything about my service as a Marine. In it she implies that I was a member of President Clinton's staff...

“While Greg Raths was working in the Clinton White House as Assistant Chief of Staff for 'military matters'...”

The truth is that I was on active duty as a United States Marine, posted to the White House as Assistant Chief of Staff in the Military Office.

The following was written by me on behalf of a candidate for Congress who sadly failed in his bid to represent his party. 

Common Core is the piece de resistance of the progressive programs foisted on American students by the United States Department of Education. The elements that have been revealed to the public seem so outlandishly absurd that one might assume that the government is daring We the People to rebel and that any lack of response will be seen as encouragement for them to belabor us with even more repressive and costly programs.

The US Department of Education (DOE), also referred to as the Department of Educational Development (ED – probably to avoid confusion with the Department of Energy, also DOE), was established in 1979 when President Jimmy Carter signed the Department of Education Organization Act. Republicans opposed the legislation on constitutional grounds. However, Democrats prevailed using the Commerce Clause as progressives frequently do to reinterpret the Constitution to their own purposes. It's no surprise that establishment of the DOE was vigorously supported by the National Education Association (the teachers union).

The following was written by me on behalf of a candidate for Congress who sadly failed in his bid to represent his party. 

I love America and Americans. I spent the better part of my life fighting to defend them. Now I want to free them to pursue their dreams, whatever those dreams may be. The only thing I can see standing in the way is the government. After several decades of cancerous growth spurred by well-intentioned programs and projects, our dreams have grown dimmer, but Americans have never lost the ability to dream. I've heard many of them as I've visited friends and neighbors all over California's 45th Congressional District.

Of course, other people in the world dream, but have you ever heard of the French Dream? How about the Russian Dream or the Arab Dream? The African Dream? The Chinese Dream? Of course not. However, you know there are many people in all those places who dream of coming to America and sharing ours. Fortunately for America, they've come and contributed mightily.

The following was written by me on behalf of a candidate for Congress who sadly failed in his bid to represent his party. 

There's a popular show airing on television these days: The Shark Tank. It's all about capitalism and is very popular, especially among the 18 to 25 year old demographic. Contestants appear before a panel of successful entrepreneurs seeking funding for their new products. Another show occurs in Washington everyday. Contestants appear before panels of successful politicians and bureaucrats also seeking funding. Let's call it The Guppy Show. The differences between these two performances are instructive.

All parties involve people. Birthday parties. Political parties. People get together for a common purpose. Problems arise when we let them run amok. We adults are supposed to be the chaperons, aren't we? Then why do we let our elected officials run amok in our state houses and in Washington? Isn't it about time we took back control?

Candidates are selected in the early months of the election year during primary elections. Most people avoid the primaries and allow party machines to make these choices for them. That's why we end up having to choose between dumb and dumber, evil and less evil. Isn't it time we made our own choices? Isn't it time to take back our nation?

Please "Like" Greg Raths on Facebook. You support helps, even if you don't live in his Congressional District. Remember, every decision made in Congress affects all of us.