That focus is, simply, the dignity of and respect for individuals. Everything else stems from that simple basis. Government must respect individuals when filling its role to protect citizens. Many times I’ve used the image of a referee at a game as an example. The federal government should provide a level playing field and ensure fair play between citizens, not compete with them or pick the winners.

To the extent that government shapes a process it also influences the outcome, and the federal government produces poorer solutions than the combined power of entrepreneurs and innovators working freely. No business is too big to fail – our system has healthy ways for new businesses to grow from the failures of others. In this way the government will foster long-term opportunity.

The results of a controlling government are why I am opposed to a public option for health care. I am willing to look for ways of serving people though healthy competition and greater choice for customers while reducing the burden imposed by litigation and malpractice insurance.

The national government also needs to protect citizens from foreign dangers. Today key weaknesses are our dependence on energy derived from foreign sources and illegal aliens. These are issues that must be addressed and I’ve proposed solutions on my website.

Finally, our government should serve our current needs with a view to respecting the needs of our children. This perspective shapes my view on the debt and the environment, two topics that are very different.

To the extent that we have federal entitlements that exceed our current revenues we are mortgaging our children’s future. It’s something like the reverse mortgage programs advertised on TV without the backing of a larger organization.

With respect to the environment, campers have it right: Leave it better than you found it. Any harvesting we do of natural resources must be balanced by environmental restoration, reforesting, or similar programs to maintain natural habitat.

My platform is about dignity and respect. These are principles all Americans can embrace. The goal is renewed opportunity for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. If you’re on board with these ideas I welcome your support. Join the resistance. Set America free.

Sincerely,

Doug Keller

Recently I read this message, “…the proposed freeze on one-eighth of the federal budget is not the right move. We should make smart investments in the American people, grow the economy, create jobs, and restore revenues-and then have the fiscal discipline to pay down our national debt. The president has been poorly served by the Wall Street focus of his economic team. This freeze is the last straw. It is time for them to go.”

On the surface this quote sounds pretty good, even a bit fiscally conservative. The problem is that these words come from Congressman David Wu (see his website). This same site also includes this entry, “…my role as a member of Congress is to secure federal funds that would have been spent elsewhere for urgent needs in my district.”

So, Congressman Wu, what should your constituents believe? Your actions are consistent with the pork-barrel and earmark- laden spending of the current congressional majority. Where has your voice been before the current recession when we might have been able to pay down our debt? At that time it was tax and spend, seemingly without restraint.

And, Congressman Wu, haven’t you voted for spending bills without reading them? Did you think that we’d forget your actions as we read your recent words? Congressman Wu’s credibility seems to be lacking. And that is the key point of this newsletter.

In joining this race I’ve committed myself to doing the things necessary to build credibility. You can read my detailed platform on my website, ask me questions in open forums, and examine my background. I’m doing this, in part, so the voters in this district can make an informed choice and then hold me accountable after I’m elected.

There’s a simple rule to building credibility, say what you mean and mean what you say. If that is what you want in a candidate then I welcome your support.

Join the Resistance! Set America Free.

Sincerely,

Doug Keller

Today we’re told by Dr. Frank Luntz that what Americans really want is “freedom from fear”, and again America is in a period of economic upheaval. The real question is, in what or whom do we place our faith that we will overcome the uncertainty that tempts us to fear?

A fable by Aesop tells us the following: “At one time the Horse had the plain entirely to himself. Then a Stag intruded into his domain and shared his pasture. The Horse, desiring to revenge himself on the stranger, asked a man if he were willing to help him in punishing the Stag.

“The man replied that if the Horse would receive a bit in his mouth and agree to carry him, he would contrive effective weapons against the Stag. The Horse consented and allowed the man to mount him. From that hour he found that instead of obtaining revenge on the Stag, he had enslaved himself to the service of man.”

In our time the American people are the horse, the stag is our the threat of economic ruin, and the American government is the man. To what extent are we, the American people, willing to give our government control of our lives for the promise of a protected future? Are we so lacking faith in ourselves that we’ll willingly trade freedom for a promise? That is not the America that I know.

And, here is the kicker: In this country the government draws all of its strength from American citizens. That’s right, the man and the horse in our fable are the same. Since this is true, how can the American government ever do for us anything that we cannot do for ourselves?

As an individual, perhaps I could get a “government” handout, but that is really a handout from another American citizen. When I take that handout for granted and fail to contribute, I am being rewarded in my lack of contribution and am encouraged to do more of the same. How will we ever be better off as a group with more to share amongst ourselves in a country where non-productivity is rewarded? It simply cannot work.

So, my fellow Americans – fear be damned! That’s right, we have always succeeded in the past and we’ll do so again. We don’t need more government and more rewards to the non-productive because that only leads to economic slavery and an unproductive culture.

Congressman David Wu has made a career promising us more and voting for counterproductive subsidies, so long as we accept his control. However, the only things he can give in return for our votes are his empty promises and soothing words, but not a penny or bite that he doesn’t take from another American, and a productive one at that.

So, are you with me on this? Do you want to refuse the bit and instead run free – free to succeed immeasurably beyond the fears induced by naysayers? If so, I welcome your support.

Join the Resistance! Set America Free.

Sincerely,

Doug Keller

Are you wondering why I am so optimistic about being an American? After all, we’re up to our eyeballs in debt and sinking further, our elected leaders often seem deaf to their constituents, the value of the dollar is declining, and unemployment is above 10%.

Every one of these is a challenge that Americans must overcome if we’re to thrive in the future. If I lacked faith in Americans or lacked an understanding of the Constitution I might despair. But Americans have always come through when needed and I believe we will again.

Last week was monumental as the balance of power in the Senate tipped just enough to completely alter the ability of the majority party to implement their agenda over the objections of the minority. Also, last week the Supreme Court eliminated considerable restrictions on free speech as they pertained to political campaigns. These shifts could not have happened if our form of government was broken.

Meanwhile, in Oregon we watched the success of measures 66 & 67 at the ballot box, measures that I opposed. The best information I could find from reputable economists said that these will reduce the ability of businesses to operate, threatening to increase unemployment. In response, groups like the Tea Party have been galvanized into action to identify and remove from office those leaders most committed to these harmful policies. And the Tea Party is doing this through legal and peaceful means.

This process is healthy despite the momentary setback. In the same way, my campaign is robust though we continue to face challenges and uncertainty. I’m receiving an increasing number of invitations to speak to groups. The audience participation was excellent during my live TVCTV this past Wednesday. And, at nearly every step I meet Americans that love and support this country and want to restore common sense to government.

We have the chance to alter this district by electing a conservative to represent it at the national level. We have the chance of further tipping the balance of power in the House of Representatives. These are my objectives and I hope you’re in this contest with me. Tell your friends and encourage them as well. This is a great time to see the power of the American Constitution as a force that protects our freedoms.

Join the Resistance! Set America Free.

Sincerely,

Doug Keller

First off, let me extend my congratulations to Scott Brown. He stepped into the ring when victory seemed impossible. Regardless, he campaigned hard and ultimately won, achieving more than was originally thought possible.

So, let us take a few moments and consider the lessons that come from this event. One lesson is the resilience of our form of government. With the replacement of 1 Senator – just 1% of the Senate, the power of balance shifted sharply from the existing majority.

And yet this shift occurred without bloodshed and rioting as happens in so many other countries. We are truly blessed to live in a country that has the governmental structures and history necessary for peaceful transfer of power. This is part of American exceptionalism and it is worth defending.

A second lesson is the value of effort spent even when the outcome is uncertain and success is doubtful. I can tell you for certain that Scott Brown wouldn’t have become a Senator had he chosen not to run. While our country was structured to protect an individual’s right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, we aren’t guaranteed success.

This opportunity, the chance to choose our own destiny, is a major part of what makes us free. And, it too, is worth defending. Let’s not choose the path of mediocrity, trading our freedom for the promise of better life that must be lived within limits set by others.

A third lesson from this election is the importance of participation. With only a 5% margin of victory and 50% of the voters choosing not to participate, there were enough uncast votes to easily give the victory to Martha Coakley. She didn’t have to lose.

To the extent that we don’t show up for elections and cast our votes we accept for ourselves the decisions of others. And, we honor those who founded and have defended our right to vote every time we exercise that right.

I am running a campaign to become your Representative even though there is no guarantee that I’ll be elected. I firmly believe America is exceptional and I believe in protecting the freedom of all citizens. Please join with me as we seek to preserve for ourselves and our children this great country.

Join the Resistance! Set America Free.

Sincerely,

Doug Keller

There are other things which can be done to excess and our country is headed down the path of binge-spending. In May President Obama said “We are out of money”, and yet, our government is spending more. It seems that our leaders want to push healthcare more than they want to find a way to live within our country’s means. We’ve racked up a national debt that is nearly equal to our annual gross domestic product (GDP).

You can think of it this way… If you go to the store and find yourself a bit short on funds to get what you’d like, you probably have to rethink your plan, pass up a few nice-to-haves, and focus on your needs. Only after saving can you get the things you previously wanted but were unable to afford.

That’s not what many of our leaders are doing. They’re shopping in the “healthcare aisle” for a program and right now they don’t even have a plan to pay back what they’ve already overspent. They’re not even working on such a plan.

So, what’s the position of our current representative, Congressman David Wu? His website says “Part of my role as a member of Congress is to secure federal funds that would have been spent elsewhere for urgent needs in my district.” That is the only role or responsibility that he lists on his home page. His attitude is just like the heavy drinker reaching for another shot because “Somebody’s going to drink it. It might as well be me.”

What about the alternative, Congressman Wu? That is, avoiding the next drink or passing on the next project. How about putting off the next thing like healthcare reform until we know how we’re going to pay for the things we already have, like Medicare and Social Security, both of which are insolvent?

So, how would a person fully overcome binge-drinking? You have to fundamentally transform your life. That often means building new habits and staying away from the people that enabled your old lifestyle. These steps are always difficult but the outcome is worth the effort.

Getting clear of our binge-spending requires the same type of transformation. We have to change our country’s habits so that we buy only the things we can afford. And, we need to get rid of our “friends” – the leaders that are telling us that unbridled deficit spending is okay. Common sense tells us that our current behaviors cannot last and will ultimately hurt us. The sooner we start our recovery steps, the less painful it will be.

Please join the resistance to irresponsible government spending that will impoverish us all.

Join the Resistance! Set America Free.

Sincerely,

Doug Keller

First, approximately half a trillion dollars will be cut from Medicare to fund the overhaul of healthcare. Meanwhile, fact-checking by AARP finds that no benefits will be cut. Yes, the list of benefits will remain unchanged. But to receive your benefit you must find a healthcare provider that will provide the service at the rate paid by the government. Declining reimbursement for service will undoubtedly reduce the number of providers. So, even if the government doesn’t ration healthcare directly, it will feel like rationing when you’re standing in a long line to receive medical treatment.

Second, as noted by 60Plus, a non-profit advocacy group: “Senior citizens have a great interest in this issue [renewable energy standards] as so many are living on a fixed income and energy costs are regressive; the less one earns the higher percentage of his or her income is spent on energy.” As a result, senior citizens will be bear a proportionally larger burden of rising energy costs from actions like renewable energy standards, cap & trade and the EPA’s actions to regulate CO2.

Third, inflation acts as a tax and individuals on fixed incomes are affected the most. The federal government’s enormous deficit spending and extensive bailouts are drastically devaluing the dollar. Inflation is beginning to climb, which is rare in a recession. So, in the same way that the rising cost of energy is particularly hard on senior citizens living on fixed incomes with no ability to earn more, the rising cost of goods and services will also hurt this group the most.

So, what do you think? Is it right that our current leadership is taking actions that harm our senior citizens while pretending to be concerned for their welfare? Absolutely not.

What would I do to help our senior citizens? Rather than fashioning another bailout or handout for seniors and those on fixed incomes I would protect their interests by balancing our federal budget which would preserve for them the value of their income and their savings. And, rather than cutting Medicare to extend healthcare benefits to others, I would preserve benefits for those that need them the most.

Join the Resistance! Set America Free.

Sincerely,

Doug Keller

It’s a comforting idea that citizens will work together for the good of all Americans. But who decides what is in our best interest, the government? If you happen to like the current government’s decisions and don’t mind paying the portion of costs assigned to you, your interests might be served.

But, when decisions go against you or you’re paying more than you perceive as your fair share, you probably get frustrated – even upset. Are you willing to trade the possibility of getting your way in the short term for near certainty that you will not get your way at some time?

Perhaps you think that the government can take on the responsibility of creating jobs and wealth. Again, this is a comforting idea because the government seems so big and powerful. To put this idea in perspective consider this: The government is no bigger than all of us put together. How can it take care of us as a group if we can’t take care of ourselves? We need to realize that ultimately we are responsible for our own lives.

It may seem an unfriendly idea that individuals must bear the largest portion of responsibility for their own lives. It’s easy to focus on risks associated with such an idea – an individual might not succeed. What happens then? In a healthy economy some individuals will succeed fantastically, creating wealth and jobs that must be shared.

That “must be shared” thing isn’t a government action, but an inherent benefit of our economy. If you’re a successful person, how can you enjoy your success without buying items or paying someone to work? Simply, we’re all in this together. We don’t need the government to redistribute wealth.

So, let’s demand that our government take the actions necessary to create a healthy economy. Generally that means getting out of the way of businesses except as necessary to prevent businesses from abusing their power.

Any other idea, no matter how comforting, will ultimately fall short. And, any politician that promises more than we can do for ourselves cannot be telling the truth. Perhaps that’s why congress’ approval has been below 50% for all but 3 of the past 35 years. Our instincts tell us we’re being lied to and that our interests aren’t being served.

The alternative to our current situation is as simple as it is difficult. I ask you to work with me to restore common sense to government.

Join the Resistance! Set America Free.

Sincerely,

Doug Keller

All of these are reasonable questions. And, it’s reasonable to ask what legitimate role the federal government has in providing health care. The controlling party in our federal government, with the outspoken support of Congressman David Wu, seems committed to enacting vast changes as one big package that can’t be understood. What’s the hurry? Why can’t we implement a few good ideas after careful consideration? Why can’t we look for modest policy changes that lower cost with little or no government involvement?

Before one can plan a solution one must understand a problem. Here are some generally recognized reasons for our currently large and growing national healthcare expense.

a) Health care plans must include coverage mandated by the government. Consumers can’t opt out of these items to get lower prices.
b) Health care insurance is exempt from antitrust laws which stifles market competition and enables price fixing.
c) Much health care is provided free of charge to the uninsured and the cost must be divided among paying customers.
d) The actions of trial lawyers have made many of them rich but have also driven up medical costs for all and even driven some medical services to extinction, with some areas devoid of OB/GYNs.
e) Doctors are unnecessarily gate-keepers to medical care in many cases and the AMA seeks to maintain this role for its members.
f) The consumers of healthcare usually pay only a small percentage of the cost, so there is essentially no incentive to look for a better price.
g) The newest drugs for which no generics yet exist are pushed by drug companies when lower cost remedies of equal value are available.

Before considering a solution, here are some other interesting notes.
– The cost of health care in Massachusetts has risen with the implementation of state-wide healthcare and the Boston Globe identifies it as a failure.
– Optional care such as LASIK has rising quality, rapidly adopts new technology, and costs continue to decline.
– Health care is a limited resource. Capitalism and market forces are the best way to exploit such a resource because all persons involved in the market are motivated to make the most of what they have.

Within this context, here are some ideas to address the high cost of health care. These can be adopted singly or in groups without creating massive bureaucracies.

a) Allow people to select the coverage levels they desire.
b) Eliminate the anti-trust exemption for health care insurance.
c) Address the illegal immigrant problem and ensure that legal immigrants pay their fair share for coverage and services received.
d) Enact tort reform.
e) Limit the areas of healthcare controlled by doctors to those requiring a doctor’s level of expertise to ensure patient safety.
f) Ensure all citizens have access to high deductible plans that provide coverage for catastrophic events.
g) Require drug companies to publish comparison information about the efficacy and side effects of their drugs against available generics and non-drug remedies.

Is there room to improve our national health care services? Absolutely. Do I want Americans to have the best possible health care? Again, absolutely. So, let’s recognize that government doesn’t have all the answers, doesn’t have the budget to pay for health care reform as proposed, and has a track record of creating entitlements that balloon over time. Rather than subject our generally successful system to radical overhaul, I ask you to support modest adjustments that will help control the costs and retain for Americans the freedom to choose their own levels of care.

Thank you very much for your support.

Sincerely,

Doug Keller

One key factor is the tax code. Every time a company is forced to pay a tax on profits it is unable to invest that money in future growth and development. U.S. companies that produce profits overseas and leave that money overseas can avoid paying tax on that money.

As noted in the Wall Street Journal, the U.S. has the highest corporate tax in the world. Adding in the health care surtax and expiring Bush tax cuts will push to total rate above 40%. Further, the complexity of the code also frustrates companies. All of these factors work together to motivate U.S. companies to move their production and profits overseas and to leave them there.

During the 2008 primary season, then presidential candidate Obama, while still acting as a fiscal moderate, proposed a 1% tax credit to companies that maintain or increase the ratio of employees in the U.S. as compared to other countries. After the election, President Obama abandoned his sham fiscal moderation and sought to increase tax revenue by closing loopholes that allow deferral of taxes produced overseas. Ultimately this idea failed in the face of corporate lobbying. Congressman David Wu is on record as voting in favor of closing the loophole as well.

So, what actions can end the incentive to move American jobs overseas? As a principle, economist Dr. Eric Fruits states “much of the economic evidence indicates that broad-based tax relief is superior to targeted tax relief.” Edward Prescott, who received the Nobel Prize in economics, concludes, “tax revenues should be high enough to generate sufficient revenues, but not so high that they choke off growth and, perversely, decrease tax revenues.”

So, fiscally savvy Americans on both sides of the aisle agree about why U.S. corporations move jobs overseas. Fiscal liberals want to end the practice by closing loopholes and increasing taxes while fiscal conservatives want to lower corporate taxes altogether. The evidence shows that the second solution is the more effective in creating conditions for corporate and job growth. So, we should set aside party politics and do that which will help our country.

As a final note, this isn’t about enriching corporations by making them pay less tax. Rather, this is strictly about giving companies good reasons to create and retain good jobs within the United States as a direct solution to our current problems. And this is one solution that hasn’t been mentioned as part of the current administration’s jobs summit.

If you don’t like the current leadership, next year you have a chance to replace many of the people that vote on the bills that are ultimately signed by the President. Congressman David Wu has demonstrated his support for the policies of the administration, including a desire to increase corporate taxes. It’s time to replace David Wu and I’m running to bring solutions that serve the interests of working Americans.

Thank you very much for your support.

Sincerely,

Doug Keller