We Will Not Lie, Cheat, or Steal: Say No to Kleptocracy in November; and Elect Charlie Brown

“We will not lie, cheat, or steal nor tolerate those who do.” This is the US Air Force Academy honor code and a central tenet of who Charlie Brown is and stands for. As one of his campaign flyers state:

“The Honor Code—it’s the foundation of the Air Force and of an officer’s character. It is the standard of integrity by which leaders are measured.”

Charlie Brown asks to be measured by this standard. What a refreshing breath of air: A politician of character, honor and conviction. However, we don’t ask that our political leaders be paragons of virtue; we all screw up every now and then. However, we only ask them to be fair and square with us, and not screw us at our expense. John Do Little has screwed us and Charlie won't -- the choice is as simple as that.

Charlie says that it is time to get our house in order.

Charlie says that it is time to restore honor to our leadership in Washington. We need an ethical and responsible leader who will fight to make sure that our fiscal house is in order, our children get a 21st century education, and our parents an grandparents get the retirement and healthcare they have earned.

I personally don’t think that it is too much to ask that:

1. Our soldiers not be sent off into foreign lands for the benefit of private interests;
2. Our workers get paid premium wages for the hard work that they do;
3. Our lakes and rivers be clean so that people can fish in them and not glow in the dark;
4. All of our kids be afforded a good education at the government’s expense. Heck, I got one so I am willing to put my money where my mouth is;
5. Our jobs not be exported overseas to some hell-hole factory so some rich guy here can get richer and more Americans lose their jobs and/or work in jobs that are a poor substitute for the ones they lost. By the way, why can’t a kid get out of high school and earn a decent living in a good hands-on job? Not every one wants to go to “college” and I believe in the honor of any job. Why are our jobs being exported overseas? Why are corporations allowed to escape US taxes by incorporating in Bermuda—clearly a corporate paradise if I ever saw one—manufacturing in Vietnam and operating in the US and nevertheless escape taxes?
   

Look, whatever your political persuasion may be, you cannot ignore the fact America is getting screwed. While some people got tax breaks, the richest people got the most and the majority of major US corporations do not pay a single dollar in taxes. Now, I am not a fan of taxes but I don't mind paying them to benefit all of us--provided that others pay their share as well.

The bottom line is this:

We the people of California’s 4th District refuse to accept kleptocratic government. Accordingly, we will say No to Kleptocracy in November by electing Charlie Brown to represent our interests ethically and honorably.