When we act with civility towards each other, we help create an atmosphere where people feel welcome to express their views, even when those views differ. This is how a peaceful society is sustained, but as we have witnessed over the past few years, views can become hardened, especially when expressed in a social media environment that rewards and affirms extremes. When we fail to uphold the values of a peaceful society, we can be thankful that our law enforcement officers willingly place themselves in harm’s way to protect and serve their communities. I am grateful for the endorsement of the St. Louis County Police Association and the Missouri State Council of Fire Fighters, and I will treat our first responders with the respect that their sacrifices demand.
One of the biggest challenges facing our state is stagnation in population and business growth. If Missouri is to thrive and prosper like Republican-led states such as Texas and Florida, we need to capitalize on our strengths, including our low cost of living, quality of life, and, thanks to our top-notch conservation department, access to natural resources. Building on these assets, I will support legislation to create a business-friendly environment for forward-thinking industries, and collaborate with state universities to keep home-grown talent in Missouri.
The ability to distinguish needs from wants is at the heart of sound financial legislating, and I will commit to reducing government waste that leads to inflated budgets. Government has a never-ending appetite for our tax dollars – the more we feed it, the more it wants. Whether it’s income tax, real estate tax, personal property tax, sales tax, or social security tax, the average citizen is receiving less and paying more. As a Republican majority we should be lowering or eliminating taxes where possible while also keeping a balanced budget. The road to a strong economy starts with low taxes and a sincere respect for your hard-earned tax dollars.
As the past has shown, the draconian measures adopted through public health policies had a drastic, cumulative effect on education, the economy, and mental health. Henry David Thoreau wisely observed “that government is best which governs least.” Perhaps his wisdom could be modified for current conditions to say “that government is best which intrudes the least.” We should always remember that the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are incompatible with authoritarian measures, no matter how well-intentioned. We should be free to take responsibility for our own health choices, and we should also be free to express our opinions without fear of censorship. We saw this freedom increasingly threatened as the government gave tacit approval to the suppression of free speech, and in some cases, supported those who wished to silence the voices of their fellow Americans. A healthy constitutional republic depends on freedom of thought, and a free press that serves as a check on government power. There has been an erosion in respect for freedom of thought, and for our right to exercise the pursuit of happiness without fear of reprisal. I am committed to reversing this trend.
I cannot separate my worldview from moral and family values. What is at the heart of our republic? The values that inform our founding documents all have their roots in some type of moral/ethical system or religious belief, and as we have seen how well these documents have served U.S citizens throughout our short history, we should be proud of this heritage. Caring for one’s neighbor, treating each other with respect, appreciating the uniqueness of each individual, these are all moral teachings that have been interwoven in our national fabric. I will proudly lead in the legislature from my core beliefs, which are a product of my upbringing. My personal worldview will be tempered by my colleagues in the legislature, all of whom bring with them their own core belief systems.
Our country’s founders understood that providing top quality public education for all underpins a healthy and vibrant civic life, and enables the continued viability of social and economic structures. To sustain these structures, we need to ensure that our public education system delivers education that is focused more on fundamental academics, and less on trendy ideologies that concentrate on student formation and social learning. Our state’s teachers will play a pivotal role in ensuring that students of all abilities achieve an educational foundation upon which to build productive lives as adults. Making these investments now will yield prosperity and growth for our state in the future.
