Why I'm Running for Congress

I announced in December that I am running as a Republican for Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional
District. I chose to run for Congress because I believe the United States is at a critical crossroad in our history, and more of the same in Washington will not serve our nation or our 8th District well now or for future generations.  I hope to be a different voice representing the constituents of Bucks County, but I have no illusions regarding the challenges of succeeding as a political outsider.

I was born and raised in Bucks County, and I grew up believing that with hard work and determination, anybody can become successful in America.  This belief was instilled in me by my parents, whose own lives were examples to me of how people with humble beginnings can succeed in America by taking advantage of the opportunities this country offers.

My grandfather was coal miner in Scranton, Pennsylvania.  My father grew up poor during the Great Depression, and worked his way through college using the GI Bill after serving in the US Army in World War II.  I admired both of my parents for their determination to create better lives for themselves and their children.  For many middle class Americans today however, this dream of a better life seems out of reach.

I am both a realist and an optimist, and I firmly believe there are specific steps we can start implementing now that can have both a short term and long term impact on the success of the American middle class, especially here in our 8th District.  I also believe Congress can take a critical leadership role in the success of this plan.

Step 1.
Develop a National Industrial Strategy with the goal of making the Unites States the world’s leading manufacturing nation in the 21st century (read more in my blog post)

Step 2.
Develop specific plans to increase US exports to levels of other leading industrial nations over the next 10 years (read more in my blog post)

Step 3.
Take immediate steps to increase the quality of our educational and vocational training standards so American jobs openings can be filled by American trained workers.

Step 4.
Make higher education affordable for middle class American families so their sons and daughters can achieve their potential and realize their American dream.

Step 5.
Understand the critical need to maintain a strong national defense in order to achieve our long term strategic national goals, and provide the necessary funding.

I have been helping US manufacturers grow their businesses globally for over 20 years, so I understand what is needed to make the “Made in the USA” label increasingly visible on products sold to buyers around the world. More US exports create more US jobs.

I also spent over 10 years in the classroom as a high school teacher, and I currently teach as an adjunct instructor on the college level, so I also understand what is necessary to move our educational system to a level where our graduates can effectively compete in the global economy of the 21st century.

Finally, studying and teaching US and world history for over 10 years has taught me that the world is a much safer place when the United States projects strength and not weakness.  We cannot achieve our other economic goals without the stabilizing influence on the world that results from a strong US defense.

I believe the American dream that so many of my parents’ generation believed in is still possible in America.   The steps I listed above are bipartisan, and should be ones that Congress can work on together to achieve.  Good paying middle class jobs, a world class and affordable educational system, and a strong national defense are what I will work for if elected to Congress.  




Thomas4Congress@gmail.com
photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/96644353@N02/8880731807">Stars and stripes</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(license)</a>