First Principles
I believe public service begins with humility. None of us has a monopoly on good ideas, and no political party has a perfect record. A healthy community depends on people with different experiences and viewpoints working together in pursuit of the common good.
One of the things I admire most about leaders such as Ronald Reagan and Tip O'Neill is that they were able to disagree strongly without questioning each other's character. They understood that political opponents are not enemies. I believe our country and our communities would benefit from a return to that spirit of respectful disagreement.
Liberty and Responsibility
I believe in as much government as required and as little as possible. A limited and accountable government protects liberty by preserving personal responsibility, individual accountability, and freedom of choice. History shows that economic prosperity follows when individuals and families are free to earn, create, and invest without unnecessary interference, while government focuses on its essential duties. Freedom to succeed and freedom to fail go hand in hand.
Not every challenge requires a government solution. Many of life's most important decisions involve nuance, personal values, and individual circumstances. I generally trust individuals more than government to make the choices that are right for them.
In a free society, people will make different choices, hold different beliefs, and live their lives differently. I believe government should respect that diversity.
The Proper Role of Government
Government exists to perform certain essential functions that individuals cannot effectively perform on their own. Public safety, infrastructure, and the rule of law are examples of the legitimate responsibilities of government.
Beyond those responsibilities, government should not expand simply because it can. Government programs, regulations, and requirements are easily created yet hard to eliminate. Left unchecked, mission creep becomes the default mode of government.
Fiscal Responsibility
I believe fiscal responsibility begins with priorities. In a nation more than 250 years old, government generally does not have a revenue problem as much as it has a spending priorities problem. Government too often struggles to prioritize spending based on needs first and wants second.
I believe government can be both limited and effective. By focusing on core responsibilities, embracing process improvement, and eliminating unnecessary bureaucracy, government can provide better service to citizens while making more efficient use of public resources.
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