Friends -
Over the past few months several folks have approached me and suggested I consider running for Congress. At first I was surprised by the suggestion. I mean, as far as elected officials go, I’m still the new guy. Then as I watched this bailout mess unfold in Congress I became increasingly angry with what was going on. This corporate welfare for failed businesses and corrupt CEOs is bad policy that¹s driving our nation into an even worse economic crisis.
Last week I sat in the State Senate chamber, watching the debate of whether we should take the federal stimulus money. I thought, “this is ridiculous; we shouldn’t even be having this debate.” Washington politicians should have never passed this horrible “Stimulus Plan.” I honestly believe that these “bailouts” and “emergency spending plans” by experienced Washington politicians are hurting our economy and are driving our country toward a European socialist model where the government controls the economy. Look, I’m sure France is a great place to visit, but I don’t care much about living there.
There comes a point when a person has to stop saying “someone should do something about this” and actually step up to be that “someone.” Folks, I¹m just not willing to sit on the sidelines while Congressional politicians continue their spending spree and put us in more debt to foreign countries like China. The stakes are too high to sit around and “hope” things will get better.
After a great deal of encouragement from many of you, a lot of conversations with my wife Blair, and a good bit of prayer, I¹ve decided to run for the United States Congress.
I do not take the duty of serving you in the State Senate lightly, though. I will continue to fight for you everyday in Columbia. My top priority is still to serve you in the job you entrusted me with. I just believe that it’s my obligation at this historic time in our nation to fight to change Washington and restore the values it is so desperately lacking.
We’ve heard a lot about “change” over the past year or so. I agree that we need to change Washington; I’m just not buying the “change” they’re peddling. We have to stop the culture of corruption that is dominating Washington politics and stripping success from America’s working families. We have to stand up to the White House, Congressional leaders, and whomever else is pushing this foolishness and declare firmly “enough is enough.” We even need to stand up to other Republicans at times because let’s face it folks, Republicans deserve a good part of the blame for the pork barrel spending that has run rampant in Congress over recent years.
Big government liberal policies will not move our nation forward. They will only put us in more debt while killing job creation and true economic growth. We live in a new age of technological advances and endless opportunities where the sky really is the limit. But success won’t happen by growing government. Success will come when we empower America’s working families and businesses.
I disagree with the Washington approach of taking the easy way out by throwing money at the problem. America wasn’t founded with ease. It was founded on determination, sacrifice, and hard work. It was founded on small town common-sense – something obviously missing in Washington.
I hope you will join me in my fight to take America back and to shake up Washington. Now is the time, and I need your help.
Sincerely,
Shane Massey