I’m not running for Congress because I want the power or the prestige. I’m running for Congress because I don’t like what is happening to politics in America.

Phil Roe and I have very different views of government — and of the role of a U.S. Representative. Phil Roe and I have very different views of America — and what the people need and want from their government. Phil Roe and I have very different views on the duties and obligations of a member of Congress. These are significant differences.

On the “Issues” page of this web-site, I discus the differences in our views on many of the nations’ most pressing problems. On the “Taxes and Tax Reform” page of this web-site, I discuss our differences over taxation and tax policy. On this page, I discuss our differences in political philosophy; our differences regarding obligations of an elected representative and the differences in our qualifications to address the most serious problems facing the country.

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I’ve never met Phil Roe. I’ve been told he was a good and caring physician and a competent mayor. I’ve also been told that he is an honorable man, and I have no reason to doubt that. As a person, I’m sure I would enjoy sharing a beverage with Phil.

But that’s not the Phil Roe I’m running against. I’m running against “Phil, the Politician”, and that Phil Roe is an entirely different person.

Public opinion polls consistently show that members of Congress — especially those at the extremes of the political spectrum — are perceived as being out of touch with the majority of the people — especially on social issues.

Public opinion polls also show that members of Congress, as a body, consistently receive the among the lowest approval ratings of any elected representatives. And politicians in general are generally perceived as liars and opportunists who will say anything the voters want to hear.

For the good of the country, elected representatives, individually and collectively, must, by our actions, eliminate these perceptions

NOTE: I do not believe in “”negative” campaigns and do not intend to say anything about Phil Roe that is not true. If any reader believes that I have mischaracterized Phil Roe’s positions, please let me know..

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“Phil, the Politician” is not truthful about the issues: I’ve heard Phil talk about the issues. But all I’ve really heard is Phil repeating the Republican “party-line,” which, at least on the issues I care about and know the most about, is totally incorrect. The Republican fabrications may play well with some voters, and the Republicans hope that, if repeated often enough, the voters will believe them. But that doesn’t change the fact that they are not true.

There are only two possible ways to interpret Phil’s public statement. Either, Phil knows they are false, and doesn’t care, or Phil doesn’t care about the truth, and is willing to say anything the Republican leaders tell him to say.

I believe that a Congressman must learn the facts before he speaks and tells the voters the truth.

“Phil, The Politician”, seems content say whatever the Republican leaders tell him to say, even if it means saying something that isn’t true.

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“Phil, the Politician” has not been honest about the source on campaign money: Phil says that he does not accept campaign contributions from Political Action Committees (PACs) or “special interests.” However, filings with the Federal Election Commission show that Phil received contributions from dozens of PACs and special interest groups.

I believe that a candidate has a duty to be honest with the voters about who is financing his campaign.

“Phil, the Politician” doesn’t seem to want the voters to know that his campaign in supported by special interests.

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“Phil, the Politician” puts the Republican Party ahead of the national interest: The Republicans’ solutions to our national problems are not right, and the Democrat solutions and not always wrong. But you couldn’t tell that from Phil’s voting record. Phil has voted with the Republican on virtually every legislative proposal.

I believe that a Congressman should independently study the issues and vote based on what is he thinks is best for the nation.

“Phil. the Politician”, seems to believe that it is more important to support the Republican Party than to do what is best for the nation.

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“Phil, the Politician” favors the interest of the wealthy: Responsible governing requires that government raise the revenues needed to finance all necessary government services. Phil and I, and all sane Americans, believe that The Internal Revenue Code needs to be amended.

I believe that the Internal Revenue Code needs to allocate the burden of taxation in a fair and equitable manner while assuring that excessive taxes do not cause any American family to suffer.

“Phil, the Politician” favors a “flat tax” or the so-called “Fair Tax” (which is actually a national sales tax) — both of which increase the tax burden on the average American while reducing the taxes paid by wealthiest Americans.

“Phil, the Politician” also opposes any change in the Internal Revenue Code that would increase the share of the tax burden paid by whose families would not suffer as a result of such a shift in the tax burden.

Section 61 of the Internal Revenue Code defines income as “all income from whatever source derived.” Other provisions of the Internal Revenue Code make certain classes on income — most notable as capital gains — that is received by the wealthy) subject to lower tax rates than those that apply to other income.

I believe that all income “from whatever source derived” should be taxed at the same rate.

“Phil, the Politician” favors eliminating all taxes on capital gains — a change in the Internal Revenue Code that would only benefit the very wealthy.

The most significant aspect of American society that has made in the envy of people throughout the world is that the benefits of the economy are shared by a broad middle class.

I believe that the tax code, and economic policy in general, should focus on ensuring that all Americans sharing the benefits of America’s economic greatness.

“Phil. the Politician” seems to believe America’s economic greatness can only be enhanced by policies that enable the rich to get richer — at the expense of the rest of Americans.

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“Phil, the Politician” has signed “The Pledge.” Phil, along with 236 of the Republicans in the House of Representatives, has signed a pledge to Grover Norquist that he will not raise taxes.

line-height: 110%;And who is Grover Norquist? Grover Norquist is president of Americans for Tax reform, a lobbying organization, we has not been elected to public — but he has significant political power and the ability to promote voter opposition to any politician who does not strictly adhere to his determination of what his pledge requires.

I believe that a Congressman’s only oath should be his (or her) oath of office to uphold the Constitution.

I believe that a Congressman must be willing to raise taxes when necessary.

“Phil, the Politician” has pledged that he will not raise taxes — regardless of the needs of the country.

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“Phil, the Politician” is a captive of extremist voters: Phil is a self-proclaimed “Tea Partier” and loyal member of the Tea Party Caucus in the House of Representatives. That’s fine — it’s his right to associate with whomever he chooses. However:

I believe that a good Congressman listens to the voices of ALL the voters

“Phil, the Politician” seems to be unwilling to cast any vote that might offend to Tea Party extremists.

Personally, I’m a supporter of the Tea Party movement. I believe that all citizens should participate in government — and the Tea Party has certainly done that. But I do NOT believe that any Congressman should be so afraid of offending any voting block — whether or the extreme left or the extreme right — that he is unable, or unwilling, to vote in the best interests of ALL the people.

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Phil, the Politician” only listens to the voices of SOME voters: Actions taken by Congress affect all Americans — not just the voters of a single district. While a U.S. Representative is the voice of his district, he must ultimately act in the interest if all Americans. Poll after poll has made it clear that the American people disagree with Phil on issues ranging from taxing the wealthy to abortion and gay marriage.

I believe that a Congressman’s ultimate responsibility to the country as a whole.

“Phil, the Politician” seems to believe that his only duty is to most extreme conservative voters in his district

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“Phil, the Politician” cannot, or will not, “Cross the Aisle.” Not every good idea comes from another Republican. And even a good Republican idea can be improved with contributions from “the other side of the aisle.”

Phil spends his time working with the Republican Study Group and other members of the Tea Party Caucus, and he only associates with others whose views he shares. But as the old saying goes, if two people agree on everything, one of them is superfluous.

I believe that a Congressman must be open to all ideas and actively seek an understanding of all views on important issues.

“Phil, the Politician” only seems to be interested in discussing issues with people who already agree with him.

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“Phil, the Politician” wants to impose his religious beliefs in all Americans: Wherever Phil goes, he carries a copy of the Constitution and the Bible — and proudly displays then at every opportunity. Although Phil consistently asserts that America was founded as a Christian nation, action by the U.S. Senate shortly after the Constitution was ratified expressly states that “the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion.”

I believe that we should not attempt to impose principles and values established by any religious document on all citizens.

“Phil, the Politician” advocates a constitutional amendment imposing doctrine from the Christian Bible on all citizens.

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“Phil, the Politician” has no experience addressing the complex issues: The problems that face the country are complex. Phil was unquestionably a competent physician, but more than a career delivering babies is needed to understand complex national issues. A simple political philosophy — “less government, lower taxes” — is not enough to address all of our national problems. Even personal study and listening to congressional testimony is not enough. Only years of experience prepares someone to understand, and solve, our national problems. .

On the nation’s most pressing needs, Phil has no identifiable experience that has prepared him to understand the problems, and what action is needed to address them.

Tax Reform:

For decades, politicians and the American people have known that the Internal Revenue Code needs to be reformed. That need has never been greater than it is today. Revising the Code requires far more that changing tax rates. The Internal Revenue Code has long (and properly) been a tool for promoting economic and social policy as well as raising revenues, and revising the Code requires an understanding of its complex and interrelated components and their effect on social and economic policy goals.

Alan has a post-doctoral degree in tax law and has spent more than a decade studying and writing about tax policy, the role of taxes in promoting economic and social policy, the effect of tax policies on the economy. As a practicing tax attorney, he has a direct understanding of implications of the tax Code for businesses and individuals and how changes will affect them.

Phil has no identified experience in tax policy or the implications — for individuals, businesses an the economy — of changes in the Code for individuals and businesses.

Jobs Creation:

No one disputed the proposition that jobs creation represents our most pressing national need. Developing policies that promote economic expansion and jobs creation must be the top priority of Congress.

Alan has extensive experience in economic development planning (and jobs training) and has worked with businesses and educational institutions at both the secondary and post-secondary level to develop job training programs that provide businesses with the qualified workers necessary to enable them to expand.

Phil has no identified experience on job creation or related programs of job training.

Education:

Improving our economy requires that we improve our educational system to ensure that business has access to qualified workers. Without an educational system that prepares students for the jobs of the future we cannot compete in the world economy.

Alan has a doctorate in educational planning and administration from Harvard University. He has been a consultant to dozens of school systems, the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Department of Defense and the National Institute of Education. He has directed national studies of the effectiveness of federal programs to improve education and has testified before Congress on vocational education policies. He has also advised states on educational finance and co-authored books on educational economics.

Phil has no identified experience in education issues.

No one disputed the proposition that jobs creation represents our most pressing national need. Developing policies that promote economic expansion and jobs creation must be the top priority of Congress.

Health Care Reform:

“Obamacare” not about health care. It is about access to health care and payment for health care. Therefore, repairing the flaws in Obamacare does not require a knowledge of medicine. It requires a knowledge of health care finance,cost management and insurance. Revising Obamacare requires an understanding of how health case is paid for and how health insurance is provided.

Alan has experience the health insurance industry as a manager of employee benefit plans. As an attorney, he specialized in the design and administration of employee benefit plans, including group health insurance plans. He has written legal reference books on employee benefit plans and is regarded as a national authority on such plans. Alan has also conducted studies for the Health Care Finance Administration.

Phil was a practicing physician for 31 years, but he has no identifiable experience in health care finance policy or in issues relating to health care insurance.

On the most important issues to be addressed by Congress, qualifications count, and Alan has them.

I LOOK FORWARD TO DEBATING PHIL

I DON’T IMAGINE PHIL FEELS THE SAME WAY