InTheArenaOnline

Why I’m Running

 

I love being an American and love being a Minnesotan. While I believe America is still great, like so many of you I am troubled with our politics.

 

Sadly, the Democratic and Republican parties are broken.

 

A truly independent US Senator from Minnesota is now an absolute necessity. In order to put America first, we need to start making America more important than a political party.

 

Being elected from a major political party inevitably means to be trapped. It means being confined within the guardrails of party policies. Being truly independent I have no obligation to any special interest group. I want nothing to do with being owned by a political base.

 

Why I am an Independent Candidate

I am not running as a Democrat, Republican or as the Independence Party candidate. I am independent of party, plain and simple. I choose this route because of my own personal makeup and because I firmly believe that due to party politics a crisis exists in the ability to govern ourselves amidst a deeply partisan atmosphere of rancor and discord. The absurd has become normalized. The foundation of a democracy and civilized culture is commitment to TRUTH and TRUST. These pillars are the real infrastructure that we need to repair. Our current negative and dysfunctional politics is not serving the people of Minnesota or the nation. The Republican and Democratic parties would like you to believe they are different from each other. Actually, they are more alike than different. They both continually remind you of your problems and then tell you who to blame for your problems. It is time to cleanse ourselves of party labels.

 

American Confidence is at an All-Time Low in U.S. Government

Our political parties and politicians don’t seem to comprehend the anger and frustration that citizens feel across our state and country. In addition, there is an equal amount of boredom, resulting in massive disengagement from caring about our country. Respect and confidence in government is at an all-time low. In the late 1960s, when many of us were growing up, 65% of Americans trusted government to do the right thing. Today, polls show the number is now less than 15%. What it really means: only 1 out of 7 Americans have a basic confidence in our government. Job approval for Congress has often wallowed in the low double digits. Polls also show that a majority of Americans have unfavorable views of both political parties. Minnesota and America have effectively been put in 3rd place behind the Democratic and Republican parties. We need to be truly concerned about the gladiator nature of politics in our country and what it says about us as a people.

 

More Bad Behavior Won’t Help

Party politics has gone beyond bad humor. There are the all-too-often childish food fights where the political parties and their leaders stop or impede progress because the other party may appear in a positive light. This reveals a spiritual vacuum that is very worrisome. Cowardly, negative ads have become the hallmark of an era that has become a black hole swallowing the dreams of respectful political discourse. Plain and simple, attack ads are for wimps. The Democratic and Republican candidates for all offices could put an end to it if they demanded it. Instead, they pay lip service to bi-partisanship and then go back to name calling and blaming each other.

 

I personally will not demean myself through the act of demeaning others. I have competed at the highest levels in both professional football and hockey and also had business and personal investments of hundreds of millions of dollars. I learned what all great competitors know, if I call someone else a bad player it will not make me a good player. I have to earn the right to be a good player. No great coach or team including Mike Zimmer and the Vikings would ever tolerate a player talking about an opponent this way. Would Bud Grant have acted this way? Would Hubert Humphrey or Dave Durenberger have acted this way?

 

What is needed in politics is what I need in my own life. I need to become bigger not smaller and pettier. I need to remember where I come from and how lucky I am to stand on the shoulders of those freedom fighters who came before me. I need to learn focus and develop mindfulness, which means I won’t be a whiner and blame others. Current politics has a twisted, tainted focus. There is not enough time spent inspiring and helping people who are hurting, left behind, invisible, victims of ill fortune, or simply striving to pay bills and just hope their kids can get to college. I will have a relentless focus on highlighting our inter-dependent mutuality and the importance of gratitude and thankfulness for all those who contribute to our beloved Minnesota and America.

 

Thankfulness is Key to Living a Purposeful Life

This thankfulness begins with the people who labor daily as teachers, cops, firefighters, farmers, miners, manufacturers, healthcare workers as well as all the others who make Minnesota and America function at the great level it does. This appreciation will be extended to business large and small for all the blessings we receive from them. This heartfelt appreciation will also be extended to the wealthy, who are so often unfairly beat up, yet who have created thousands of jobs and prosperity for Minnesota. We would not be as privileged as we are if it were not for laboring folks, small business, as well as wealthy and start up entrepreneurs who take risks. Gratitude and thankfulness are not just ethical abstractions. They are essential for human happiness and sense of purpose. We need to start expressing this thankfulness to each other. As Senator I will lead the charge for the attitude of gratitude and dignified respect for all who contribute to America.

 

It’s Time to Break the Downward Spiral

Now is the time to break free from this downward spiral of which party wins or loses. Now is the time to focus instead on collaboration, developing solutions to tough complicated problems and seizing opportunities. There is need for a new tone of respect and cooperation within our politics. Make no mistake, there should always be hard tough questions for government. But no more bashing of government from anyone. My campaign and governing will be about what works. What works is building teamwork and committing to be thoughtful and respectful of your teammates. Teamwork can only be achieved if dignity and respect are developed, at the same time there can be passionate disagreement on issues. It means, now is the time for Minnesota and America to stop underachieving in its politics because we can’t ever get on the same page with each other.

 

The Most Important Priority

People ask, “What is your most important priority?” The answer is being a strong new force and voice to confront the political parties and their appeal to the lowest common denominator. They are in a race to the bottom. This woeful reality demands change. A strong independent Senator is absolutely essential. Someone has to be elected who simply won’t tolerate and participate in party grandstanding and is not beholden to a political party. One thing we know about the future, there will be both great uncertainty and great change. Navigating the coming changes will require a special independence of thought and action. Do you really believe independent thinking and action will come from the Democratic or Republican parties? Neither do I. With all due humility, I know how to think and act independently.

 

Pledges to the Citizens of Minnesota:

• I am independent and owe nothing to any interest group and will not be accepting any money from lobbyists, PACs or special interests. This means from financial companies, oil companies, drug companies, the National Rifle Assoc., teachers unions (and I do love teachers) or any other special interest.
• This campaign and governing will be about solutions, not scaring voters with overheated rhetoric and fear-mongering. I will not run one negative ad, not one, attacking or belittling my opponents.
• I will travel throughout Minnesota and hold town meetings and other listening sessions. I am a keen listener and engaged observer. I don’t have gimmicks or cliché answers to complex problems. Tough problems require thoughtful collaborative resolve to make positive change.
• While I am independent, my team is Minnesota and I know what that means. I pledge to challenge our best and brightest to bring forth solutions.
• I will work to get public officials to remove their ideological straight-jackets. Our current party system does not liberate us to find solutions, it stifles and entrenches us.
• I pledge to stay in shape. This means spiritually, mentally, physically and to continue developing my sense of humor which will no doubt be tested. I will continue developing the human powers of reason and love. These powers of love and reason are the best tools we have to keep America great.
• I pledge to do my best to help Minnesota and America address and confront the fears we surely will face. This won’t be easy. I have a history of attempting things that are not easy. It is one of the reasons I am qualified for this job.
• On a very personal note I want to share with you what has always so inspired me and what I think speaks to this problem America now has. Who we have been and who we need to become again can be summarized in one sentence. It is the last sentence of our Declaration of Independence. It says, “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm Reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our LIVES, our FORTUNES and our SACRED HONOR.”
• I ask you, how many of us are talking and pledging to each other like that, these days? We need to be.

 

 

Issues:

 

Healthcare

There is a lot of dancing around the core health care challenges in America today. The simple truth is that health care in America costs too much and often delivers too little. About one out of every six dollars in this country is spent on health services, and the price tag continues to skyrocket. The wise Warren Buffet has described health care as the “tapeworm” that is eating away at the American economy. In spite of this enormous expenditure of money, health outcomes for Americans do not lead the world but rather often lag in important measures of quality. Think about this: U.S. health spending per person, per year now stands at more than $10,300, according to the highly-respected, non-partisan Kaiser Family Foundation.

 

Minnesota has a proud history of leadership on health policy. The state has been in the forefront of innovations that made it possible for those with pre-existing health conditions to find affordable health coverage in the 1970s. In the 1980s and 90s, thoughtful policies brought stability to the small group market, making it possible for more small businesses to provide coverage to their employers. The state created MinnesotaCare – a targeted program that made affordable coverage available to the state’s working poor. In the 2000s, the state continued its work to reduce the harm caused by tobacco, including secondhand smoke, and became one of the first states to prohibit smoking in bars and restaurants.

 

These policies have been the work of nationally recognized leaders from both parties on health policy. Former U.S. Sen. Dave Durenberger, for example, continues to be a leader in national health reform. The late Sen. Paul Wellstone was one of the leading champions of mental health care.

 

We are missing that leadership in the Senate today. Instead of big bold ideas, our senators work on the fringes of health policy, taking on a few popular causes and blaming this group or that. At the end of the day though, they refuse to do the heavy lifting that is needed to get our health costs under control.

 

What can be done?

First, the cost of health care should be transparent. Right now, it’s hard to figure out how much services cost and who pays. Rapidly-growing public programs (Medicaid, for example) hold down costs to taxpayers by under-paying doctors, dentists, hospitals and other care providers. Politicians can pretend that they are saving taxpayers money by under-paying providers, but the reality is that consumers still end up paying the cost. One Minnesota study showed that for every dollar of services provided to enrollees in a government health program, hospitals were paid 67 cents by the state. The lost revenue was shifted to hospital patients with private insurance who were charged $1.33 for every dollar of service provided. As long as the system pays providers to perform more services or gives discounts to some purchasers but not to others, costs won’t be controlled. Pricing should be fair and consumers should know how much they will be charged.

 

Second, the cost of pharmaceuticals surely needs attention. AARP estimates that pharmaceutical costs are up 208% between 2008 and 2016 and will keep rising. This powerful industry has great sway in congress. For example, the federal government is banned from negotiating prices with the pharmaceutical industry. It’s absurd that the purchaser with the greatest influence can’t use that power to drive down prices for all consumers. Congress could do other things, including speeding the approval of cheaper generic drugs and prohibit issuing new patents for medicines that may change a formula, but mostly replicate what already is available, but at a far higher cost and with no additional benefits.

 

Third, the health care system needs to take better advantage of big data. The cost of knee replacements in Minnesota hospitals ranges from $6,186 to $46,974, a recent study from the Minnesota Department of Health determined. Better tracking of health costs and outcomes can provide some answers to these huge variations. Analysis of data can tell physicians and other health providers with greater clarity and certainty what treatments are working and which ones are not delivering benefits equal to the cost. This is another area of policy where the country could take the lead from Minnesota. Homegrown organizations like The Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement (ICSI) is a national innovator in measuring and using data to evaluate the performance of health systems to improve clinical outcomes. Minnesota Community Measurement measures and publicizes data to improve the quality of health, the experience of patients and to help shine a light on health care costs. Data can help providers deliver care more quickly, making more accurate diagnoses that lead to earlier and more effective treatment. Monitoring patients leaving hospitals – tracking whether they are receiving the necessary follow-up treatments, for example – can significantly reduce hospital readmissions, a very costly event. These and other uses of data have been shown to dramatically reduce costs and improve quality without interfering with the patient-doctor relationship.

 

Fourth, we need to make smarter investments in health improvement. The state’s Department of Health determined that health spending for those with at least one chronic disease – diabetes, asthma or congestive heart failure, for example – is eight times the amount for those without one of these conditions. We know that most chronic illnesses are a direct result of poor nutrition, lack of physical activity and tobacco use. Investing in wellness and prevention programs not only improves the health of Minnesotans, it is a key to reducing costs.

Fifth, the U.S. needs to invest more public research dollars to understand what treatments are most effective. This approach isn’t popular with medical device manufacturers or pharmaceutical companies. They prefer consumers trust the data they produce to demonstrate the effectiveness of their products and treatments. What’s even worse, is that the cost of this one-sided data is passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices. What’s really needed is a public investment in comparative effectiveness research. To put it simply, where will we get the biggest bang for our health care buck?

 

Certainly, there are additional steps that can and should be taken. But these five – some of which are supported by Republicans, others by Democrats – if done well and in concert with one another, would be a significant step forward in controlling health costs. Once we do that, then we can make the necessary investments in making sure every person in Minnesota and the country has access to high-quality, affordable health care.

 

Education

George Lucas had a very wise mentor named Joseph Campbell who said, “If you really want to help this world, what you have to teach is how to live in it.” “Help this world?” “Teach how to live in it?”  Big subjects, aren’t they? If you think about it carefully, learning how to live purposefully in this world is indeed the skill a child, as well as an adult, needs. This “how to live in it” quandary has been the subject matter for religions, philosophers and societies since our beginning. While “living in the world” is a favorite topic of mine, I will narrow my focus. This perceptive challenge issued by Campbell (if you really want to help this world) needs to be the cornerstone of what we teach.

 

The conventional concern most people have with education is academic achievement as proven through standard testing. However, we’re now seeing the best path to success is by helping kids develop the most important type of intelligence: emotional intelligence. Having emotional intelligence is the primary requirement for living a purposeful life in a world that is not easy. The challenges and exposures a child faces today require new skill sets. With each passing day they face new difficult choices. We adults know that nothing worthwhile is easy and never has been. Finding my true and best self does not happen by going through the door of consumption and “ecstasy,” but rather through the door of dedication, commitment, effort, sacrifice, discipline and giving to something other than myself. These are the life lessons needed to learn. Having emotional intelligence is the best tool we can equip young people with to survive in the new economy, as well as all the other tough challenges they will face.

 

Today everyone, including politicians, says they support education. Who is against education? No one. However, I don’t think it is enough to simply say, “I’m for education.” The real question today is “which education?” My answer is the one that helps students gain emotional intelligence. Some of you may be thinking this type of learning is not the function of schools. I am not suggesting schools can replace what families do. The unfortunate reality is that for so many children they are not in a family where they receive nurturing emotional intelligence. Quite the contrary – far too many receive emotional abuse. Developing the skill of emotional intelligence is so important, schools cannot ignore teaching it if we want to make headway on academic achievement. I’m sorry, but to ignore it is to ignore the evidence. If you want better results in the classroom start by dealing with a kid’s emotions.

 

Their Job is Not Easy

The approximately 850,000 students in Minnesota schools have test scores which like themselves are diverse. Tragically, zip codes have become predictors of academic success. I often hear, “Schools are failing.” No, schools are just real estate. The implication is teachers are failing. As in any industry, some people perform better than others. But bashing teachers and stereotyping they are failing is simply not accurate or justified. Most teachers in Minnesota are competent and devoted to their students. Many teachers spend their own money on students. They have no control over the students who show up in their classroom. In some cases, kids don’t even know their name in English. Their job is not easy. Teachers did not cause the problems of society. These problems get revealed through a great number of students. Despite that, we can improve outcomes. We citizens need to respect and trust teachers who in turn must embrace change. Teachers, what you need to keep asking yourself is, “Do I love kids?” Some days that is not easy to do. Nonetheless, if there are too many days when you don’t love the kids you need to change vocations. Some jobs can get by without people loving their work. Teaching is something else. Children are the future and you have chosen nothing less than a sacred venture. We need to start calling it sacred, respecting it as such and treat education accordingly.

 

Student-Centric Model

My dad was a very competent educator in St. Paul his entire working life. He had a student in the 8th grade who subsequently sent him a Christmas card for fifty years continuously. How do you top that? I have always been interested in education in Minnesota, including funding my own public school foundation in St. Paul. For the past two years I have had assistants helping me dig very deep into the many facets of Minnesota public education, including our colleges and universities. I have had the privilege of in-depth discussions with many of our best educators. This includes Education Evolving, The Search Institute, Minnesota Board of Regents member, former and current legislators, Chamber of Commerce and Business people, teachers, principals and administrators. I have come away from these encounters very grateful and hopeful. As you will hear me so often say, we need to begin the discussion with gratitude for the many talented people we have in Minnesota education. What these smart folks are telling us is that struggling kids need a “relationship” experience with some adult at school. They need to know someone cares about them. Also, since so often what they experience at home or on the street is tough, the best way to combat hard life experiences is with tough emotional intelligence. This new emphasis on curriculum change can be called by many words. Don’t get hung up on the word to describe it, but understand how important this new emphasis is. Words to describe this new curriculum could be mindfulness, focus (focus is a muscle that must be developed), mental practice, concentration, etc. We need to make a shift to emphasize this student-centric model within education. If we want better test scores we need to make students practice mindfulness and being emotionally intelligent (think of it as homework). This will translate to better test scores and job skills.

 

Appropriately, people paying close attention to Minnesota’s economy are very concerned about the quality of our workforce. We know the quality of our workforce is the most important thing to our economy, end of story. All employers want employees with life skills that include showing up to work regularly and ability to focus on work. School should help children view their lives with confidence and excitement. From there the choice of college, the trades, the arts or whatever career they choose will develop more naturally. If a kid is connected and wants to learn you can’t stop them. If they are disconnected and disengaged nothing will make them want to learn. The studies are clear, once a child wants/enjoys learning, test scores climb dramatically. Paradoxically, we need to teach children how to enjoy and then they will learn.

 

I understand it is not likely any candidate for the US Senate is talking about education like this. I will not insult you by giving you the same “We need to prepare for the future,” “No child left behind,” “Every kid deserves the best education” rhetoric. You have heard all the clichés about education, yet frankly nothing can guarantee every student will be a high achiever. What I can guarantee is, if we don’t change our focus the results won’t change either. Like Einstein said, how do you expect things to change if you do things the same way? As your US Senator my involvement in Minnesota education will be where my heart is, very much at home. I have a genuine and innate interest in Minnesota education. I serve myself best when I am serving the best interests of a child. If we want to lead the nation in something, let’s lead the nation in being the best lifelong learners. Staying hungry to learn is the best plan to keep Minnesota great.

 

Jobs & The Economy

I think it’s important to share with you I have been an employer in one form or another for decades. Having to meet payroll every two weeks is a whole different ball game, anyone who has been there knows it. It doesn’t mean someone who meets a payroll is superior, smarter, or anything of the like. It doesn’t mean I’m a know-it-all or genius on all things economic.

 

Actually, it is humbling. What it does is bring you face-to-face with all the complexities and uncertainties that go with owning a business. There is a price to be paid to lead and take risks. I am also an active investor in many companies other than my own. These companies are located both in Minnesota and nationally.

 

Jobs, the economy, and trade are big complicated issues. As with other complex subjects there are no one size fits all, something is always right something is always wrong answers. Any course of action always spins off a new set of problems and opportunities. Let’s begin by describing where we are:

 

America could be described as having two economies, not one. The split falls roughly along the lines of those in the upper 40% and those in the lower 60%. In some sense the wealth gap we have could be thought of as the biggest issue of our time. What always stuns me is the top 1% percent of US households hold nearly twice the wealth of the bottom 90%. That is mind-boggling. So many in the lower 60% in our economy have not seen wage growth or improvement in their overall economic condition relative to the upper 40%. It is also very sobering to think that one half of Americans would have trouble coming up with 400 bucks in an emergency. What low and middle wage earners have seen rise is fewer job opportunities, health care beyond what they can afford, and death from opioids, suicides, etc. This America of two economies is dangerous, distressing, and saddening yet does not need to be inevitable.

 

Compounding our problems going forward is the harsh reality that the nature of work is changing. There will be more displaced workers from artificial intelligence, robots, and the ‘automation of automation’ that continues to grow dramatically. ‘Nanotechnology’ will be bringing extraordinary benefits to our lives in both products and medicine, but it will also change our workforce. This forecast of change for our economy is not fear-mongering talk. It continues to change our workforce daily and it’s not going backwards. It is cruel and deceptive to tell people we can go back to the old technologies and energies. It simply ain’t gonna happen.

 

What can we do to meet these challenges and create opportunities in our economy?
Embrace reality, don’t run from it. Anger won’t solve our problems nor will shooting ourselves in the foot.

 

Values Matter

We need to reestablish respect for thoughtful learning, critical thinking, mindfulness, and meritocracy of ideas (in other words striving to find the best ideas). Our best business leaders and our best educators both agree on these protocols of mental focus and training. Lifelong learning must become an emphasized American value. These values must transcend individual consumption and narcissistic expression.

 

Reestablish the importance of cooperation. It’s what got us to the moon, literally. Cooperation in our politics sets a tone for the rest of society. Compromise is where we used to be, and it is what we must return to. We need to review the principals that bind us together and establish protocol to move past disagreements.

 

On a policy related initiative, many of the smart “money guys” say we need to expand the development of microfinance and financial inclusion to help assist business development and improve the lives of those in the 60%. Our financial and aid programs can and should demonstrate how they will pay for themselves.

 

The key to economic growth will always be tied to the health and attitude of us as a people. Our future will be correlated to the strength of what some economists call our “animal spirits,” or in other words our confidence and commitment to invest and build. Supporting and fostering confidence in small business and entrepreneurs matters. Without the risk takers, there won’t be growth. Think about them and say thank you. We need to thank each other, all the way up and down the economic ladder.

 

The real definition of reality? We need each other.

 

Defense & Military

Abe Lincoln said government should do for people what they cannot do for themselves. Certainly, national defense and security qualify for that. Safety and security of people are the first responsibilities of government. It is my view that America must continue to be the strongest military force on the planet. I am not prepared to trust another power to be in that position.

 

Maintaining this superiority is more difficult today than at any time in the past. Today, it’s more than nation states who seek to do us harm. The reality today is the “power of one” has so much potential for large-scale damage. One group or one person can cause unspeakable horror. The risk of cyber attack is real. We live in a world where we cannot afford to risk our military being inadequate. Our military must be the strongest.

 

Our military cannot remain the best if we have a weak economy. Experts agree on that. A vibrant economy is the most essential thing in maintaining a strong military. It is also important to remember our military is not the only measurement of our strength. Our “soft power” is also crucial to our strength and security. Soft power is our ability to influence world affairs as a result of respect we have earned in the eyes of the world. President John F. Kennedy said, “I look forward to a great future for America – a future in which our country will match its military strength with our moral restraint, its wealth with our wisdom, its power with our purpose.”

 

In order for our military to remain the best, congress also needs to do its part and have the courage not to spend money that is wasteful and unnecessary for its core missions. The Pentagon has said more than 20% of our military bases will not be needed by next year. Military bases are kept open to support local economies, but we need to help those communities some other way.

 

Finally – and perhaps most importantly – our civilian leaders need to have a clear and compelling national purpose when they order military action. It is unconscionable to put our service men and women and the integrity of the United States at risk for missions that begin without a clear goal and can result in further destabilization of other regions of the world.

 

 

Environment

Plain and simple, I consider the importance of having correct environmental policies to be on par with the importance of our military. Both go in the category of we cannot take chances. Without being strong in both areas our daily life and economic future will be threatened. I am by no means a scientist, but from what I understand, the overwhelming body of evidence from scientists is that man’s activity is influencing our climate. Regrettably, there has been a lot of politics played with this issue. Historically, nations that lead the way on major fuel and energy sources were better positioned for the future. No one knows this better than Minnesotans. Unfortunately, it is a misrepresentation of reality to tell people we can go back to the old technologies and energies. It is not going to happen. I would never suggest, and I don’t know who could, that coal and gasoline can go away overnight. Despite that, we need to plan and develop the new technologies and not fight it, but embrace it, to make the transition. The rest of the world is rapidly making those transitions and my fear is we are falling behind. This problem/opportunity is something we must lead rather than wishing we could retreat to yesterday. Not only can we do it, we must do it. We owe it to ourselves and our children. Let’s get at it.

 

As strong as I am on not taking risks with the environment it does not mean we can’t do thoughtful development and industrial work at the same time we protect our environment. As an example, we can and must find a way to continue mining in Minnesota. Minnesota needs it and America needs it. Our scientists and regulatory people need to find the way to make it happen. At times there is a burdening regulatory process from mining, the financial sector, and infrastructure development which can be ridiculous. It should not take 12 years to get a permit to build a bridge. In our protection process we must have protocols in place from the EPA, State, and other agencies. Their process of evaluation, while perhaps not always perfect, should be respectfully considered. We need to be safe in this area but not be irrational.

 

Immigration

We can’t lead from fear, especially on an issue like immigration. Yet that’s exactly what is happening. Immigration policies have been framed as an either-or choice to drive a wedge between Americans and to raise concern about the future. Republican leadership wants voters to believe that immigration is an economic and cultural burden on the country. Given this view, it’s no wonder that today’s GOP starts the discussion of immigration with stronger border security and deportation without regard to what is in the best interests of the county, of our communities and of the people involved.

 

For their part, Democratic leadership seems to base their policies on nostalgia for a time when those coming to this country could find an unskilled but well-paying job. Immigrants could share a community and take years – sometimes generations – to assimilate into mainstream culture in previous times. More rapid assimilation is necessary now but is not always easy. This does not mean we should say no to all immigrants.

 

Our borders? Of course we need secure borders. This is critical for stopping illegal immigration and for many other reasons, including protection from terrorists.

 

Most Minnesotans reject the either-or approach. This issue is a prime example in reaching agreement on policy where we cannot let “perfect” become the enemy of “good.” Let’s make some reasonable steps to reduce fear on all sides and reaffirm a cornerstone of the American creed which emphasizes the unity of the human family. We can do this at the same time we improve our security. America’s security is never up for negotiation.

 

Some suggested approaches:

• Strong border security that incorporates state-of-the-art technology, not a wall – unless a wall is the best technology.
• Reasonable visa programs that welcome a future generation of college students, scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs and others who are able to be part of growing the US economy. This makes the tide rise which lifts all boats. We cannot think of this as “them versus us.” The voices in America that speak loudest about this issue are the business people who know we need these reasonable policies to help our economy.
• Both parties were close to agreement on a plan to let Dreamers stay in the US which would have reduced so many families living in fear. Also, it would have assured these Dreamers, most of whom are law abiding community members, would keep contributing to our economy.  However, the deal fell apart when the two parties could not control their “egos” and the two parties could not come to an agreement. If there were more independent senators the issue would have been solved. Independent senators would not approach the problem worried about whether one party or the other gains.

 

Agriculture

Agriculture in Minnesota remains a cornerstone of our economy, providing hundreds of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars of revenue each year, which benefits all of Minnesota including our urban areas. A vibrant ag economy isn’t just about farm families having a decent income. It’s also about making rural Minnesota vital and ensuring the future health of our small towns and communities.

 

In real time, farming and rural Minnesota face potential harm by ill-advised trade threats and potential retreat from the global market.

About half of all soybean acreage in Minnesota is planted for export. Minnesota pork producers exported nearly three-quarters of a billion dollars last year, with China being the second largest market. Thoughtless threats and bad policies could result in money lost not just from the farmers’ bottom line, but from Main Street Minnesota. What are some of the important things to keep in mind about keeping ag healthy for Minnesota?

 

We need fair trade policies that recognize the role of every country doing what it does best. One of the things the US does very well is produce high-quality food to feed a growing world population.

 

We need a Farm Bill that promotes environmentally-responsible production, access to affordable credit and reasonable support to ensure an adequate and affordable supply of food. Critics sometimes forget that American consumers pay only about 10 percent of their income for food – that’s less than almost any other country. A major reason for this bounty is the Farm Bill’s investment in promoting and protecting the supply chain of food from farm to processor to our homes.

 

About 80 percent of the cost of the Farm Bill is in nutrition programs. It’s clear that Democrats and Republicans will not find common ground on the role of government in helping people at times in their lives when they are vulnerable. A core of independent thinkers and senators will make the difference, not giving in to demonizing the poor while also respecting the taxes paid by hard-working families.

 

Social Security

Social Security often is called the “third rail of American politics.” On some subways and railroads, the third rail carries the electricity that powers the system. Touching the third rail often is fatal. That’s the thinking with Social Security – politicians who offer any reform proposal risk political death. There is some truth to this caution: Every credible Social Security reform imposes a cost to someone. Any politician who promises a free lunch on Social Security reform simply isn’t being honest.

 

To NOT take action now to strengthen Social Security is very risky. Policies and inaction over the past generation have saddled our children and grandchildren with mountains of debt, unmet infrastructure needs and billions of dollars in unfunded obligations for the future. Allowing America’s basic retirement income program to erode on top of all the other costs being kicked down the road is nothing short of political malpractice.

 

First, some facts about Social Security (provided by the Social Security Administration).

 

• Retirement income is just one part of the Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance (OASDI) program. This government program is a vital safety net for retirees, the survivors of deceased workers and workers who become disabled.
  • Retired workers and their dependents receive about 72 percent of the total benefits paid through OASDI.
  • Disabled workers and their dependents account for 16 percent of the total benefits paid.
  • Survivors of deceased workers receive about 13 percent of total benefits paid.
    (Note: The total benefits add up to more than 100 percent due to rounding.)

• Social Security is NOT going bankrupt, at least in the way we usually think of bankruptcy. It will continue to pay benefits to retired workers even if no changes are made. However, experts are virtually unanimous in agreeing that the reserve funds of OASDI will run out between 2033 and 2035. That means benefits to retirees will be funded exclusively by the taxes paid by workers and their employers. Today, there are about 2.8 workers for every retiree. By 2035, that ratio will drop to 2.2 workers for every retiree. While the work force is growing more slowly than it has in the past, the older population is booming. The number of Americans 65 and older is projected to grow from approximately 49 million today to over 79 million in 2035.
• If there are no tax changes or other reforms, retirees after 2035 can expect to receive only about 75 percent of the scheduled benefits.
• The average monthly retirement benefit at the end of 2017 was $1,404. That is about one-third of the income for the typical elderly person. However, for large segments – 23 percent of married couples and about 43 percent of unmarried persons – Social Security is 90 percent or more of their income.

 

It’s urgent that action be taken as soon as possible. The longer the delay, the bigger the changes that will be needed to assure that workers receive the full benefits to which they are entitled. Thoughtful policymakers and organizations like AARP, the Heritage Foundation, the National Academy of Social Insurance and others have offered thoughtful solutions. Here are some I believe are worth exploring:

 

Raise the full retirement age. In 1940, a 65-year-old could expect to live only about 14 more years. Today, the typical 65-year-old looks forward to 20 additional years. The full retirement age for Social Security benefits will gradually rise to 67 years for those born in 1960 or later. People can claim benefits as soon as age 62; delaying taking benefits (up to age 70) increases the monthly pay-out. Given improvements in the health of older people and their longer lifespans, it’s not unreasonable to increase the age at which maximum benefits can be taken to 72, while still allowing reduced benefits to be taken as early as age 62.

 

The Social Security payroll tax applies to annual earnings up to $128,400 in 2018. Both the employee and the employer pay taxes on these wages. This cap is set annually based on the government’s estimate of inflation-adjusted wage growth and now covers about 83 percent of total earnings in the nation. Raising the cap to cover a higher percentage of total earnings would contribute significantly to solving Social Security’s shortfall, with the cost falling on higher-wage workers and their employers.

 

Another solution is to enroll all state and local government workers in Social Security. Currently, about one-fourth of state and local government workers are covered by retirement plans provided by state or local governments and are not participants in Social Security. Requiring that all newly hired state and local government workers enroll in Social Security would not break agreements between current workers and state and local governments while adding a significant pool of new workers to the Social Security system.

 

Other worthwhile proposals would only affect high-income retirees. For example, eliminating annual cost-of-living adjustments for those with very high retirement incomes would save a substantial amount of money without imposing a significant financial burden on the well-off. Another plan would limit the size of spousal benefits for higher-income retirees. In some cases, non-working spouses of high-earning retirees receive a higher monthly benefit than some low-income people who worked and contributed to the program throughout their lives.

 

In addition to changing benefits for some top-end income earners, it also makes sense to boost the security of low-wage earners. For example, creating a new minimum benefit for those who have worked an entire career in low-wage jobs would be a significant boost to these retirees. Another plan would provide an increase in benefits for low or modest-wage earners after 20 years or more of retirement, offsetting some of the lower cost-of-living adjustments they receive.

 

Other proposals include privatizing Social Security. The two biggest arguments against privatizing Social Security, in my opinion, are these:

 

• Social Security is part of a safety net that provides insurance for workers who become disabled and the survivors of workers who die during their working years. Undermining part of it threatens the entire program.
• Social Security benefits are designed to supplement retirement incomes. Private savings and stock market investments are important components of a balanced retirement portfolio. But they also are volatile. People can’t always control when they retire. A person retiring in 2001, for example, would have seen his or her stock market portfolio decline by about one-third (as measured by the S&P) during the first eight years of retirement. Even though the market climbed about 235 percent in the following eight years, that 30-percent-plus loss is a big hole for a low-wage saver to climb out of.

 

Public policy needs to promote a balanced and comprehensive approach to retirement. Let’s take action NOW to shore up Social Security and make sure everyone receives the benefits to which they are entitled. And, we need to boost private savings and increase the ability of workers to save for their own retirement. According to the Social Security Administration, 46 percent of the workforce in private industry has no private pension coverage; 39 percent of workers report that they and/or their spouse have not personally saved any money for retirement.

 

Incentives to promote private savings can and should be accomplished through thoughtful and innovative tax reform while we also strengthen Social Security.

 

Term Limits

I support term limits. Currently there are no term limits in the senate, but I would be open to restricting it to one term which would be 6 years. I think the responsibility of leadership, particularly senior leaders, is to foster and develop new leadership. The concept that one person stays in office for decades and they should be reelected because they have “experience” has never been as important to me as developing new leadership. Serving year after year does not guarantee effective leadership. Career politicians are not a good idea.

 

 

This content originally appeared on https://jerry2018.com/