John

There have been a lot of deportations and there will continue to be deportations until we find a way to prevent people from overstaying their visas or entering the country illegally. However some actions currently being taken are exceedingly cruel. We should not be breaking up working families where some immediate family members are US citizens. People who were brought here as children (DACA) should be allowed to stay and become naturalized citizens.

I ask my fellow Americans to consider that some western states were part of Mexico once. Mexican-American culture is very strong in these places. It is similar to those of French or Cajun roots in Louisianna, Dutch-German people in Pennsylvania or Scandinavians in Minnesota. We are a nation descended from immigrants …. from all the lands on earth we come.

With regard to our southern border, I will pay close attention to the needs of the Border Patrol and to American citizens who live and work along the border. I believe our border officers prefer a strong fence to a solid wall so they may see what is happening on the other side. A fence by itself is not sufficient without regular patrols to guard it. In some areas desert conditions provide a natural deterant.

American agriculture depends on a seasonal labor force of “green card” workers, largely from Mexico.

Tying National Security from foreign threats to economic security in this country is misleading at best.

National Security depends partly on economic security but the strongest measure of economic security at home is a large and thriving middle class. Large public works and infratructure projects almost always boost jobs only temporarily. Trickle down economics, the belief that making the wealthy richer will benefit everyone – the main idea in the recent one party tax bill – is a doubtful path to security at home.

The Security Document presents a dark and combative world view. Foreign relations and trade are not a contest but a cooperation with our allies and at least minimum diplomatic engagement with our adversaries. The warlike tendencies of rogue nations are best reduced through international effort with a path to inclusion in the world community. Extreme natural disasters and weather events that may be the result of human-influenced global climate change are National Security threats that require a world wide solution.

If you remember the western radio and TV series “Gunsmoke”, I am like Marshal Dillon on foreign policy. Matt never threatened anyone. He never tried to bait anyone into a fight. He was always ready when bad stuff started to happen. It is another way of saying “speak softly and carrry a big stick”.

Announcement this week to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem highlights the need for a practical approach to many policy issues.  We already have a good, functioning embassy in Tel-Aviv.  It does not have to be about political philosophy or partisan politics.  We don’t need to buy a new embassy.  And we sure don’t need to start a riot.

A president should not undo National Monuments which previous presidents have tried to preserve. Congress can do this in the event of a true resource crisis. But the country is not facing an energy shortage. In fact, the United States has become a net exporter of oil and gas, essentially energy independent.

The public lands are not actually owned by the Federal Government but are held in trust for the benefit of all Americans. Anyone can visit and appreciate these places to recreate and enjoy the wide open spaces. National Monuments are not only about history and artifacts, they are also often units of the National Park System.

These places need to be viewed in the context and uses of all public lands, approximtely 600 million acres, which are managed following the general principle of “multiple use”. Timber harvest, mineral , oil and gas extraction, grazing, wildlife conservation, recreation, unique landscapes, history and artifacts are all part of public lands management, but not all uses on every acre.

Placing 5-10 percent of the public lands in a preserved status is not excessive. National Monuments are not just about a collection of things but also the importance of places in our national identity.

In other news this week the Supreme Court has upheld the travel ban on seven majority muslim countries.  I’m not sure of the Court’s reasoning here but it is clear to me that terrorists can come from a lot of places other than these seven countries.  I can’t get past the hateful things that have been said and tweeted.  Our safety depends on very thorough vetting of everyone who wants to enter the United States.  We do not need to call out anyone by race, religion or national origin.

Like healthcare, tax policy effects every American. And like healthcare tax policy would be best developed through a normal bi-partisan or no labels committee process. It takes longer but the result is better for the country. The very complicated one party bills currently in congress run to nearly 500 pages and I’m trying to sort through it like many other people. Here are some landmarks for me.

The substantial cuts to Medicare and Medicaid will have real human impacts. Taken together with continued efforts to end the Affordable Care Act, with no replacement in sight, these will cause real harm. We expect people to work, one needs to be healthy to do so. For me, this issue speaks to who we are as a nation. Do we care for the health and well-being of all our people.

High taxes on business, particularly manufacturing, contribute to companies moving offshore and/or limiting investments in the United States. Cheap labor in other countries is another major cause.

As currently written, tax breaks for the middle class are a mixed bag, with some seeing modest benefits while others will see tax increases. Far and away the largest tax cuts in the legislation are for the wealthy and Corporations.

Tax incentives (reductions) have been used to encourage research and new technology like electric cars and clean renewable energy. Those incentives would be removed.

Lastly, I have great difficulty with the theory of trickle down economics or Reaganomics, the idea that if the wealthy get richer there will be more to go around, trickle down, to everyone. I’m open to proof, but I don’t believe this works. I don’t think it has ever worked.

I have not given up on reducing the deficit or tackling the national debt which burdens the future of the Country for all of us.

Las Vegas, New York, Sutherland Springs, as I picture the horror of a mass shooting at a small church in Texas, I know that thoughts and prayers are not enough. Thoughts and prayers do not stop this insanity or make it less likely. If we were not close enough to hear the bullets, see the blood or smell the gunsmoke ….. do we believe it could not happen to us? These three attacks, and most of those in the recent past are of domestic origin. The system failed, warning signs were missed. Error is human, there will always be mistakes. Can we reduce the death toll in these insane tragedies?

I own three guns. Two I inherited, one I purchased. We don’t know yet how the shooter in Sutherland Springs obtained his weapons. A clear history of mental instability, a background check should have prevented him from buying a gun. And I believe a great majority of Americans support universal background checks. I am also gravely concerned about the availability of weapons designed for warfare on the nations streets. These have been the weapon of choice in so many mass shootings.

We also need to be real in understanding that most of these mass killings have not been the work of foreign terrorists. There is no way the government can keep track of all the crazies and unbalanced individuals can radicalize quickly. If you see something, or hear something, tell the police. SAY SOMETHING!

Please give some thought today to the families of those killed, and the injured in Las Vegas, New York and Sutherland Springs. And please give some thought also to how the nation can reduce and prevent these tragedies.

My thoughts are with the families of the victims and the injured in yesterday’s terrorist attack in New York. We should all take a moment to consider their loss.

Terrorists can come from many places and we must understand that ISIS is a corrupt and violent ideology which can spread through the internet as well as international travel.  In addition to military suppression of terrorist groups in the Middle East and support for the people and legitimate governments in these countries, we must strengthen our efforts at home.

Persons who come from any region of the world where terrorists are active, must have a demonstrated family or business reason to travel to the United States and be very thoroughly checked out before coming here.

We do not need to call out anyone by race, creed or national origin.  Simply, if you come from any region of the world where terrorists are active, travel to the United States is tightly controlled and all visitors are very thoroughly vetted.

We also need to be real in understanding that not all threats are foreign. There is no way the government can keep track of all the crazies and unbalanced individuals can radicalize quickly. IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, OR HEAR SOMETHING, CONTACT THE POLICE. SAY SOMETHING.