I would like to share with you some background about who I am and what I believe in. To me, a person's principles and beliefs are absolutely the most critical aspect of their character. This is especially true for those who seek to represent others in public office.

I believe that during much of this past century, our federal government, and the political philosophy which guided it, deviated greatly from the timeless principles that built this country and have sustained it throughout its existence. After winning two World Wars and a Cold War, surviving the Great Depression, building an interstate highway system, subsidizing the education of millions of Americans, and launching campaigns against hunger and homelessness, the national philosophy about the proper role of our federal government has changed. What was once a system of limited government has insidiously evolved into one with virtually no limits at all. From the New Deal through the Great Society and beyond, wherever a "national priority" arose; such as housing, education, or energy, we addressed the problem by centralizing solutions into new federal bureaucracies which are designed steer and micro manage these priorities in our society.

Well, after spending trillions of dollars on these centralized solutions, we have found that many of the problems we sought to solve with Washington money and Washington policy have actually worsened. Educational scores have declined. Violent crime has risen over time. Out-of-wedlock births and the social pathologies that accompany them have become commonplace. Class envy economics have placed the American dream out of reach for millions of lower income families. Cold social programs from the Federal Department of Health and Human Services have displaced civility and charity. In short, in this effort to build a great society -- we built a government that took away much of our greatness -- a greatness that was achieved through individual endeavor.

And now we are faced with a $7 trillion federal debt, a crushing tax burden, a regulatory leviathan, and a command and control education regime that stifles local innovation. In short, I believe these results are the product of a 20th century paradigm shift in which the government intrusion replaced the individual action as the basis of our governing philosophy.

I believe that the genius of America lies within each of us and our families, our neighborhoods, and our faith; not the central planners and social in Washington.

I am, however, optimistic about our future. I believe the American people are realizing that the welfare state has failed. Now, our challenge is to replace it with a government rooted in the principles that founded this great nation. By recognizing the fact that a government closest to the people governs best and that the nucleus of our economy and our society is the individual -- not the government -- we will be able to reach our true potential.

Freedom

Specifically, I believe we must pursue three very important goals. The first is Freedom. I believe we must restore the concept of freedom by re-limiting the federal government's reach in our society. I want the federal government to do less with less, and I want to see our families do more with more. We must take power and money from Washington and return it back to the states, local governments, and, above all, the people. Wisconsin is proof of the viability of this idea. Our state welfare reforms, which provide the means for individuals to pull themselves from the cycle of poverty on their own initiative, rank amongst the most successful in the nation.

Growth

The second is Growth. I believe we must pursue a bold agenda of growth by casting aside the shackles of class envy and promoting economic growth and opportunity through lower taxes and by ultimately replacing the tax code. Globally, we must stay ahead of the competition -- and that means an end to punishing risk takers and entrepreneurs. Morally, we must help our families get the financial freedom to work more for themselves and less for their government.

Renewal

The third principle which I will pursue is Renewal. Many believe the social fabric of this nation is tattered beyond recognition. Parents feel as though they must fight the prevailing images and values of American popular culture to raise their children as upright and responsible citizens. In many aspects of our society, morality has become relative, ethical behavior is now a mere technicality, and God has been pushed from the public realm with a fervor previously inconceivable. We live in a nation in which it is permissible to burn the flag on public ground, but our courts of law have ruled it impermissible to pledge allegiance to that same flag in a public school. In short, we must replace moral squalor with both public decency and private civility. I believe we can begin this process of renewal by relieving the tax burden on our families and by supporting, through subsidy and deregulation, our wealth of faith based charities. We can help restore good citizenship be freeing up individuals to become good citizens.

I believe these goals are rooted in the founding principles of American society that go hand in hand. Guided by such principles, we can unite around a common cause to replace the welfare state with an opportunity society that allows all Americans the chance to reach their God given potential.