Isn’t it time to get California out of pain? Creating Jobs, Saving the Environment, and Rebuilding Education must be our number one goals. Not only do we need to act now, but we need to pay for what we do. I'm a first-time politician who is Independent with strong Democratic social leanings. My candidacy for California State Assembly in the 10th District of Sonoma – Marin began with a growing sense of frustration and anger at the professional politicians inability to take any meaningful action on our severe problems. Also, as a doctor for over 25 years getting people out of pain has always been my greatest joy. If you're lucky, in a doctor's career you may be able to help 10 or even up to 20,000 people. However, as an assembly member with one decent vision or stopping one awful bill, you can change the lives of 30 million Californians for the better.
For me solutions to our mounting problems are more important than where they come from. The professional politicians got us into this mess in the first place. Do you really think the same professional politicians will get us out of it? Isn't that the definition of dysfunctional thinking?
My goal is to fix our problems, not push them off to the next election or two, acting now and paying for what we do. Our area is the heart and vision of California. Marin and Sonoma’s local governments have an 83% approval rate. We need to take the hard work and vision of our area and apply them to the gridlock of Sacramento.
Job Creation: Solution- Multinational banks that helped cause the mess that we are in are sitting on $2 trillion dollars. If someone deposits money into these multinational banks, within six months at least 25% of the deposits must go out to small business loans.
Saving the Environment: Solution – Ban Palm Oil. Palm oil is an unnecessary additive. It is the number one reason for destruction of rainforests around the world. Solution – Support Save the Bay’s goal of reducing plastic bags. Solution – Increase solar installation in new construction.
Health Care: Medication prices in California are some of the highest in the world. Solution – Have Californian pharmacists certify Canadian pharmaceutical websites to verify the safety of the medications sent. If you are a senior on a fixed budget, it would be possible to save between 50-90% off your medications.
Education: California is 47th in student funding to local schools. Our children and grandchildren will be the leaders of the future, but who will they be leading? Will they lead the unemployed, and the uneducated or will they lead those that can step up to the challenges ahead of us. Solution – Cap interest rates at 20% and charge a 25% fee on all credit card finance charges and have the money go to local schools.
