By Bill Hoffman

Too much of late has been written of the need of political engagement when the political dialog at all levels is mired in partisan politics and in process. This is because how we go about something has become the end game. Many in politics don’t seem to care if we ever get a result.

Despite the claims of our present politicians, political pundits and party hacks to the contrary, we the citizens know it is almost impossible to be heard, much less present solutions because on many levels the average voter really has no voice.

I am an average voter. Yet I am running against Jim McDermott for the 7th Congressional seat because I believe in the power of ideas. I believe in discourse and I believe that we are at a crossroads. We have several omni-important issues that must be addressed and solved within the next few years. Our economy is presently inequitable and could collapse under its own weight of corruption and greed. There’s terrorism. There are a number of critical social issues. Yet there is one issue that could eclipse all others … that is the problem of global warming.

We are the generation that must solve the global warming crisis and with population growth as a given and economic growth a must, we need a real game changing solution. I believe a solution could be building a huge, non-water reliant solar power “farm” in the California or Arizona desert with the goal of providing all of our long term and much of our short-term energy needs. One massive solar farm 100 miles by 100 miles, a joint multi-billion venture between the government and private industry (oil and gas companies, utilities), where the stake holders have a long term interest, could literally allow us to mothball all our coal fired plants (by far the single biggest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the US), could free us from building new nuclear power plants and could provide all our future energy needs for the next 50 years … or more.

Combine with upgrading our power grid and following many existing green solutions for power use and conservation, it could also provide the power needed to eventually switch our economy from oil to hydrogen. Imagine the added benefits of not having to rely on foreign oil. Of course we could also build several “smaller” farms around the country. Solar power in Germany will account for 25% of all power production in that country by 2050. Eastern Washington on average gets 2.5 times more sun than Germany does. If they can do it there, we can do it here, in Washington, and better.

To help reduce traffic congestion (a huge contributor to greenhouse gases) we could offer tax incentives to both the employee and employer if the employee lives close to his/her home. Reduce congestion by removing the number of vehicles on the freeways and we also reduce the carbon footprint. An added benefit is that we don’t have to invest in as much new infrastructure and it costs a lot less in the short and long run than building and maintaining say … a new mega light rail system.

To make our economy more efficient and progressive, we can start by changing how we tax ourselves. My proposal here is to go to a modified, progressive three-tiered “flat” federal income tax where the first 35k earned is tax free for all, where from 35k to 300k the tax rate is around 10% on income earned above the 35k and those earning above 300k would pay an additional 18-22% tax above the 300k. There would be no loopholes and no deductions.

When a member of the House of Representatives, Jim McDermott, seeks to bring back the draft to create social chaos, when he seeks to legalize on-line gambling by taxing it, when he passively allows an earmark to be sought for window sills for a private club, when he works for free trade even though free trade destroys jobs in the US and hurts the poorest of the poor, not to mention when McDermott gets himself in hot water over a tape or for going to Baghdad, at best the voices of change are drowned as we focus on the minutia of grandstanding, often petty politics. At worst, people’s lives are adversely and sometimes tragically altered. This is the old way of doing things … the McDermott way. We have to get to the root of our core problems and solve them … this is the new way and it is what I represent. It is time for a change.

Bill Hoffman
Democrat
Candidate for Congress, 7th District
www.hoffmanforcongress.org
Hoffman for Congress Campaign Committee
315 5th Ave, S, Ste 140
Seattle, WA 98104
http//twitter.com/billhoffman07