My prescription for our ailing country:

At the beginning of our careers, all physicians take an oath that includes the concept of Primum non nocere, which is Latin for “first, do no harm”.    

The truth is that policies and actions of the current administration and Congress ARE causing harm. Their progressive and liberal policies are causing further damage to our economy, job creation, and potentially our medical system.  In Congress we need experienced people who understand the concept of first doing no harm.   The concept of a “progressive agenda” to “transform our country” is counter to effective leadership.  This implies that the government leads the country down a path that they create. The truth is that government is the servant of the people.  To be effective in righting the course for our country, we must facilitate local, regional and state strengths.  We must champion private enterprise.  We must value local decision making for schools and municipalities.  The truth is that the government is not about the government – it is about the people.  We seem to have forgotten that.  And our leaders do not understand the concept of “First, do no harm”.

As a solo practice physician, a Certified Public Accountant with a Masters in Business Administration degree, I understand how our economy works, how our health system works, and what the right prescriptions are to return our nation to a healthy and robust economy and citizenship.

1. FIRST DO NO HARM – We must get out of the way of the private sector and local government control.  Instead, we must correctly assess the challenges and right solutions.  This means more than a knee-jerk reaction and throwing money at a problem. 
   
   
2. Encourage healthy practices and use proven treatments which include:
   • REDUCE the DEFICIT  Record breaking budget deficit mean that your children and your children’s children will be paying this debt and the interest on it for generations.  As an accountant, I know the extreme importance of a balanced budget.  To do this, we must also stop the wasteful practice of earmarks.
     
     
   • CUT SPENDING   Our federal government’s only solution to solving our country’s difficult problems seems to be throwing money at it, thereby extending the problems to the next generation, if not sooner. 
     
     
   • CREATE PRIVATE SECTOR JOBS.   Government jobs do not help the economy; they are paid for by the taxpayer, and generate little or no tax revenue.  These government jobs do not generate a product or stimulate the private sector. We must cultivate an environment in which the private sector flourishes.
      
   • LOWER TAXES.  Lowering taxes stimulates the private sector, increases consumer confidence and spending, and helps stimulate small business growth.  This all results in increased employment, and additional revenues through growth.  It has been proven over and over that when taxes are cut, revenues to the government increase.  
   • KEEP AMERICA SECURE.  We need a strong defense and a strong foreign policy. If we are at war with terrorists then we need to win that war.  We need to be comfortable with the concept of victory, and fully support our troops, especially when they in harm’s way.  
     
     
   • ENCOURAGE COMPETITION IN HEALTH CARE.  Being on the front lines of this battle, I know firsthand the highest priorities for reform.  More government intervention will only increase cost and lower quality.  There is already too much government in healthcare.  Out best and brightest are not entering medicine.  We can cut a significant percentage of the cost with sensible tort reform.  Adding competition in health insurance and in healthcare itself will also bring down cost and increase quality.  We need health care policy that makes sense.

There is another Latin phrase, which is applied to terminal illness -- when the goal is to eradicate the illness, or cancer.  It is primum succurrere - "first, hasten to help."

We are in trouble as a nation, and together we must hasten to help by sending a new team to Washington DC.   So that no further harm is done.  You know the truth about where this country is now headed.  By sending me to Washington D.C., know that you are sending someone who will work diligently with others to change the direction.  Our American system is not in need of a “fundamental transformation.”  Our country’s critical problem is our leadership and their agenda, not our government structure.  What we really need is a course correction.

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