Congressional Speech - Essay Example

Congressional Campaign Speech First of all I wish to thank you all for turning out today, and for the warm welcome you have given me. Itis wonderful to be here among family and friends once more. I think it is fitting that this be the venue in which I end the speculation and formally announce my candidacy for representative of this congressional district. I want to be your congressman, representing the values and ideals of the people of this district. I want to carry your agenda to the nation.

I want to make changes in the way America conducts its affairs, in accordance with the wishes of the people who make up this great land. For too long we have witnessed the erosion of the power of the people. We, the people, are America. It is time we stand again and make our voices heard. Public education and its financing is paramount to our future and to our place in the world. I believe it is our role on the world's stage to play the lead in innovation and change for the good of mankind. America is falling behind in science and the arts.

We lag behind in those areas in which we once dominated. We have been witness to the slow erosion of student scores as well as to the funding of our educational system. House Speaker Tip O'Neill once observed that 'all politics is local'. We all understand that education, too, is a local issue. We understand that our state, our cities and our neighborhoods have the ultimate responsibility for funding and the making of decisions. We would not have it any other way. But the federal government has a significant role in the process as well.

The federal government funds local schooling in the neighborhood of ten percent of its budget (ed.gov 2006). While it is not the role of our government to wag the dog of public education, we have the right to expect the issuance of standardized guidelines within which we can all operate our school districts, refining as we see fit, taking into account that which is best for our children. We have a right to expect the very highest standards that are possible.. I believe there is more to be done.

Our federal budget, which is to say our money, the tax dollars we send to Washington, doled out $71.5 billion in funds for education. While that sounds like an enormous amount of money, it represents only 2.9 % of the budget (2006). George Bush's war in Iraq is costing that much every two and a half months. We have the right to expect more. Our schools are in disrepair in many areas. It is time we turned our attention back to them. I want our priorities set straight. I want to deliver a message to the power brokers in the White House, the Senate and the House of Representatives that the concept of business as usual is finished.

I will see that the voice of the people is heard in the halls of power. As an Independent Congressman, unaligned with either party, I can do the most good, for I will not be beholden to the political interests of either party and can vote my conscience and the will of the people of this district. I believe the Iraq war was ill advised and I believe that with the overthrow of Saddam Hussein and the end of his terrorist apparatus we have achieved our objective. It is not our place to impose Christianity nor Democracy on the world.

The time has come to call our heroes home, to put our good words into good deeds on their behalf, to give them what we have long claimed as a portion of the American way of life. I will propose a benefits package of both medical and educational entitlements for our returning veterans. They will not be housed in vermin ridden dilapidated hospitals. I promise you that no member of Congress was ever treated in such a way and what is good enough for a congressman is good enough for an American veteran.

Together we can make a difference. Together we can stem the tide and stop the erosion of our American values. They are not exclusive to Republicans; Democrats do not claim sole title to liberality or compassion. Again I thank you for coming out today. I humbly ask that you send me to Washington to express your will. I ask for your support and I ask your vote. References U.S. Dept. of Education 2006 Overview: The Federal Role in Education Retrieved 3-26-2007 from: http://www.ed.gov/about/overview/fed/role.htmlsrc=ln