The four candidates in South Bay campaigns, two for state Assembly, two for Congress, congregated at the Palos Verdes Peninsula Chamber of Commerce. Congressman Henry Waxman, the proud incumbent Democrat, squared off against Independent Bill Bloomfield. Democrat Al Muratsuchi is facing off against Republican Craig Huey for the South Bay Assembly seat.
Every candidate trotted out their talking points from their commercials and townhall meetings throughout the current campaign. I understand that these candidates have to repeat their message over and over. However, with the 24-7 news cycle, instant access to information, telephone townhalls and advertising on the Internet, when will the candidates offer more than proposals, policies, and talking points, but particular steps toward solving our country’s problems?
I do not want to hear politicians talking about the laws that they passed years ago. Fewer laws would be better. I would prefer to hear candidates discuss the difficult choices that we need to make: entitlement reform, curbing public sector unions’ power, and welfare reform that honors the individual and the national compact. I am still waiting for a candidate to candidly discuss a voucher program for public education.
Better yet, I would prefer politicians who do not presume to have the answer to every problem. When will politicians admit that the individual citizen and private enterprise have better solutions that California needs? Instead, Candidates need to stress three simple principles: protect our natural rights, secure our borders, and release all other matters to our local governments or to ourselves.