Jake Towne's 912 Candidacy Statement - 912Candidates.org

 

“We should reject big government and look inside ourselves for all the things that built this country into what it was.” - Glenn Beck

The following is my candidacy statement to go along with the signed contract and endorsement from 912Candidates.org.

9 Principles

1. America is Good.

Conceived in liberty, America is a noble and unique experiment created by some of the most revolutionary and brilliant minds of the 18th century who made the bold leap from rule by an elite few (oligarchy) to a constitutional republic with checks and balances. Whereas most wars lead to losses in liberty, our founding fathers began, for the first time on earth, a government based on individual liberties and the rule of law. My view is that the government of a free country, properly speaking, rests not in its elected officials but in its laws. The supreme law of the land is the Constitution. Amazing in its simplicity and clarity, the Constitution has a built-in amendment process to suit the living generation.

2. I believe that individuals are naturally endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights which include the right to life, liberty, and property.

I believe in the sanctity of the human mind, and the natural, individual right to exercise religious freedom. As a congressman, I would vigorously defend the U.S. Constitution which states "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government." I pledge to never use the force of government to infringe upon the people's rights to worship their Creator or God as they wish.

Furthermore, if I had been alive in 1776, I would have without hesitation have signed the Declaration of Independence which states: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

3. I must always try to be a more honest person than I was yesterday.

Honesty is about being truthful all the time. To become more honest is to always continue to seek the truth, speak the truth, and to always hold an open mind. When faced with fallacies and misdirection, as is often found in today's DC and political arena, the truth becomes both a shield and a sword. As a public official, delivering the truth to constituents is owed.

4. The family is sacred. Parents are the authority in their childrens' lives, not the government.

I grew up with five siblings, and hope to find a wife and have five of my own children someday. I understand that the family nucleus is sacrosanct from the forceful touch of government. The government has no role in instructing you and your spouse on how to raise your children. How to feed, clothe, care for their health, and educate children is the responsibility of the parents. We must all understand that our children are our greatest source of wealth. Influenced by our past, they are our hope and legacy for the future.

The family nucleus has been under attack for many years with two working parents now necessary to get by instead of one. This is a direct result of the government's hidden inflation tax and the FED's long seige on the integrity of the dollar. We must also remember that although they are dependent on their parents, babies, children, and teenagers are individuals with rights as well.

5. If you break the law you pay the penalty. Justice is blind and no one is above it.

No one – not even politicians wearing fine hats and fancy titles – is above the law. Law is the collective organization of the individual to the defense of liberty. The supreme law of America is the Constitution of the United States. The United States Constitution was written under the principle of "positive grant." This means the federal government is authorized to exercise only the powers which are specifically given to it by the Constitution, and nothing more. The only legitimate use of force is in defense of individual rights — life, liberty, and justly acquired property — against aggression.

6. I have a right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, but there is no guarantee of equal results.

Each individual is unique with her or his own preferences, so by definition each person is not equal. However, each individual is fundamentally equal under the law with all other individuals. The rule of law's framework of liberty ensures the greatest opportunity for individuals to explore their strengths and surmount obstacles. Socialism comes in two flavors. The first – government ownership of the means of production – is easier to spot. The second is far more subtle. The rule of law and socialism have nothing in common but one word: equality. But notice the difference: while the rule of law seeks equality in liberty under the law, socialism seeks equality in servitude and restraints upon liberty.

7. I work hard for what I have and I will share it with whom I want to. Government cannot force me to be charitable.

Government exists to protect liberty, not to redistribute wealth, nor to grant special privileges, nor to interfere with the lives of individuals and their actions. Your property and the fruits of your labor are your own, and government coercion to forcibly remove you of your property is theft.

8. It is not un-American for me to disagree with authority or to share my personal opinion.

Someone once said, “A man never tells you anything until you contradict him.” Freedom of speech must be protected at all costs. Dissent must not only be tolerated but welcomed in a free and open society. The novel idea I will bring to my constituents is “Our Open Office.” This form of open government will deliver transparency and accountability in a new and simple way never seen before in history. All citizens will have a voice of input on the bills I vote on, receive in writing monthly updates with a description of all votes cast and why, and which bills were co-sponsored and introduced and why. All citizens can publicly submit proposals for bills.

9. The government works for the people. The people do not answer to the government; the government answers to the people.

A sentence from Pennsylvania's Constitution says it best: “That all power is originally inherent in, and consequently derived from, the people; therefore all officers of government are their trustees and servants, and at all times accountable to them.” Our founders clearly realized that all power stems from the people, from us, and all officers of government are not masters, but servants. As a Representative, I will be not only a public servant for Pennsylvania's 15th congressional district, but also their employee.

 

12 Values

1. Honesty

Honesty is about being truthful to the citizens of my district at all times, even if the truth is stark. When faced with fallacies and misdirection, as is often found in today's DC and political arena, the truth becomes both a shield and a sword. As a public official, delivering the truth to constituents is owed.

2. Reverence

I deeply revere the right to life, liberty, and property for each individual. Individuals have the right to live their own lives in whatever manner they choose, so long as they do not forcibly interfere with the equal rights of others.

3. Hope

While this value has been turned into a cheap buzzword in past presidential campaigns, we must all hope and have faith in each other that if we remain true to our principles and live them out in the presence of adversity and force from our government. With the help of the people, as a Congressman I will help lead the redefining of our 'res publica,' OUR Republic, or translated from the Latin, our public affairs. Together we can start a revolution based on liberty and love, and begin an era of real change, real hope, and real transparency and openness.

4. Thrift

As a Congressman, thrift is a crucial value, and one to be admired. I must endeavor to use the funds entrusted to the government (or, in the case of the federal income tax, stolen by the government) as frugally as possible in accordance with the Constitution and the will of the people in my district. Congress is entrusted with guarding the purse strings of our nation, and I must recognize times and causes when this public money is simply not ours to give.

5. Humility

As Congressman, I serve to represent the people in my district. I am their employee and servant, not a master or aloof politician. Through “Our Open Office” plan, I will give each resident a public voice and easy method to communicate with their government, and deliver the transparency and accountability that can only be delivered as a humble servant.

6. Charity

On the individual level, there is nothing wrong with voluntary charity – quite the opposite, it should be commended! However, as your Congressman I hold the view that government exists to protect liberty, not to redistribute wealth, nor to grant special privileges, nor to interfere with the lives of individuals and their actions. Our country has obviously wavered far from this view, which was the view of our founders. While the idea of using government to help others may appeal to our altruistic side, the truth is that the State commits organized robbery and theft from those with wealth and - quite inefficiently - redistributes this wealth to those who have less as well as favoring the special interest lobbies. As we all know, this was the key failing of the Marxist USSR, and have resulted in the destruction of wealth in the Soviet bloc and among all other socialist societies.

However, I do believe Congress must try its best to uphold the contracts of past Congresses since they affect the lives and health of so many, especially the elderly who are retired or live on fixed incomes. However, no new promises of government charity should be made, and we must aggressively work to free future generations of this burden. Our country's leaders and representatives should share the vision that the purpose of the current Welfare State should be to eliminate the need for its own existence. Although this will take years, citizens should elect officials that start with the end in mind, and have solid plans on how to get there, not those who insist on perpetuating the status quo.

7. Sincerity

The citizens in my district should realize I am truly their sincere servant, and their needs are placed before my own. I will work tirelessly for them until I leave public service, and set an example by helping them by my own hand. Frequent face-to-face town halls and “Our Open Office” will ensure that I stay in honest and sincere touch with the concerns of residents in the area.

8. Moderation

As a representative of the people in my district, I must shift my perspective to see the reasons behind the arguments of two parties with opposing viewpoints, and apply reason and moderation to the extremes in public conversation. This is the hallmark of the statesman I aspire to become on behalf of the people.

9. Hard Work

From my past experience as a chemical engineer, I am very self-confident in my ability to work hard. For the past three years, I have been based in Shanghai, China, where my key responsibilities were to help build and start-up a couple manufacturing cells, troubleshoot problems of all types, and most importantly help convince customers to qualify and purchase product from the new facility. As any true professional understands, your success is always intertwined with that of your colleagues. I've often had the pleasure of learning a lot from those much smarter than I. Although young in years at age 30, my life experiences have gifted me with loads of experience beyond most peers my age. Learning from plenty of my own mistakes (or what the wise term "experience") is a harsher way to educate oneself, and much of my success came from a tireless work ethic to accomplish the goal.

As Congressman, I plan to apply this same work ethic, and pledge to try to outwork all other representatives on Capitol Hill on behalf of the constituents in my district. I will take the trust of the public seriously, but I will also trust IN the public to inform me if I go astray.

10. Courage

Someone once said of America: "The Republic was not established by cowards; and cowards will not preserve it." I will not let the Republic fall to today's inept politicians – most of whom are moral cowards and men and women of no principle whatsoever, and are wealth destroyers to boot - who defile her without a bitter fight. Liberty will once again teeter on a knife's edge in the months and years to come. Whether we fall to socialism, poverty, and endless debt for our children is now up to US. The choice is OURS.

11. Personal Responsibility

With great power comes great responsibility. A Congressman can vote to declare war, disburse funds from the public purse, regulate foreign trade, and decide monetary policy. These are all powers that carry grave responsibility. As a representative, I will be trusted by the public to vote on their behalf. This trust must never be betrayed, and I must be held personally accountable for my actions.

As a candidate and while in public office, by my own personal choice, I affirm I will not drink alcohol, smoke, or use drugs unless necessary for medical reasons. I believe that as a representative of the people, I should have a clear mind at all times. Citizens should not have to worry about their Congressman being influenced into backdoor DC deals by vices that change their state of mind. To elaborate, I will not drink any alcoholic beverage, smoke cigarettes, cigars, or marijuana, and certainly not use any drugs like cocaine, heroin, etc.

12. Gratitude

I've always thought that the three most important phrases in life to say are: “I'm sorry” “I love you” and “Thank you.” While sometimes these are also the toughest to voice, showing gratitude for the help of others is often the easiest to say, but also the easiest to forget. My father taught me the lesson to say “thank you” while I was a young child, and I strive to never forget it. Showing appreciation to others is a wonderful thing and as Oscar Wilde once said, “The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention.”
 

Jake Towne

2010 Candidate for U.S. Congress, PA-15

TowneForCongress.com

Published September 10, 2009 at 912Candidates.org