"The McCreary County Record" Survey Response

I was recently pleased to be asked to respond to a candidate survey sent out by "The McCreary County Record" newspaper. Due to space limitations by the paper, my responses were summarized, but I've elaborated on some of them here:

Background:

My wife's name is Cindy, we have 3 children and live in Laurel County. My degree was in Education, with High School Teacher certification. I served as a military officer for a total of 21 years in the Army and Coast Guard, and have also worked in civilian jobs throughout the U.S. and overseas. I now work as an EMS Helicopter Pilot in southeast Kentucky.

What are your priorities for the 5th Congressional District? For McCreary County?

Throughout our region, we need to secure the type of industrial development which creates secure, stable, long-term employment. In Congress I will work to bring coal gasification plants with CO2 sequestration to Kentucky. I will introduce legislation to develop and implement alternative energy sources and biofuels. I will work to develop agricultural, forestry, and game and fish resources in southeast Kentucky and bring new products to market, creating jobs. And I will stand strong to protect the environment and secure funds for remediation of environmental damage.

What are your views on the health care debate?

I support single payer health care because the American people need better and more secure access to health care.
Single payer health care will make American-produced goods and services more competitive in world markets.
Single payer health care is a system which works well for the people in many other democratic countries around the world.
There is no shortage of people who want you to believe that for some strange reason single payer health care won't or can't work in America as it works in many other countries.
Don't be fooled: The only reason to keep private insurers as middlemen in American health care is to ensure that corporations continue to make record profits at the expense of the American people, aided and abetted by the politicians in Washington who've sold out the interests of our people in exchange for "campaign "contributions" from health care insurers, big pharmaceutical companies, and medical equipment manufacturers.

What are your views on education? Our national economy? The War on Terror?

America needs education reform to produce skilled workers and professional people in less time, at far less cost.

Our #1 domestic priority must be to bring jobs back to America. Secure, well-paying jobs mean prosperity for all, not just a few.

Endless, politically mismanaged wars destroy our military and bankrupt us. We should immediately bring our troops home from Iraq and Afghanistan, take proper care of veterans, and remove America from Middle East involvement by ending dependence on Middle East oil.

Please see more about where I stand on the issues at: http://holbertforcongress.com/issues.html