U.S. House of Representatives: Harley Meyer

Name:  Harley Meyer

Age:  50

Hometown:  Yuma, AZ

Office running for:  U.S. House of Representatives (U.S. Congress)

In district:  7th Congressional District

Political experience:  None

Family: Wife and two children

Party:  None (non-partisan) Independent

Please describe your platform:

Making sure that our U.S. economy recovers is at the heart of the campaign. Making sure our economy recovers provides a tax basis to help begin to solve many of our most pressing problems. Some of these are the state’s budget shortfall, illegal immigration, federal budget deficit, shrinking middle class, educational system that is a mess and in Arizona classroom sizes are reaching nearly the levels of “developing countries.” Many persons are not aware that the cause of our economic crisis is also causing illegal immigration.

At the heart of the economic crisis and why it persists is the lack of business competition that has allowed a business model where companies will have a relatively large market share, have net profits that range from 40 percent to 60 percent on the low end and 400 percent plus net profits (textiles/garment) on the high end. This business model is unsustainable in the global economy especially when persons are paid any where from $40/month to $80/week. These people cannot buy other person’s goods or services.

This business model and the fact that the U.S. imports a great deal of goods from other countries are the main reasons the economic stimulus did not work in the US because the stimulus money received does not circulate in the U.S. economy, but instead leaves the country. To have a healthy economy money needs to exchange hands inside the country sufficiently enough to sustain a normal business climate and as a means of managing tax revenues. The more times money exchanges hands in the economy, the more tax revenue is generated – which can mean a lower tax rate. Circulating fewer times would mean needing a higher tax rate.

Under the current economic conditions, tax cuts will not help the economy, raising taxes will not help the economy nor will more economic stimulus. The only thing that will help is business competition in those areas where companies have large profit margins and large market share. This competition is Capitalism as Adam Smith saw it. The current business model of cheap labor and a few groups of people becoming extremely rich with the middle class shrinking is Imperialism. Understand the difference. Presently in the history of economics Imperialism has turned on Capitalism.

Increased business competition between Mexico and the U.S. alone will create more than $32.1 billion in economic stimulus for the U.S. and nearly $2 billion in economic stimulus for Arizona. And at a time when we have a huge state budget shortfall, we need help with business competition so we can begin to solve these problems.

This means jobs that are badly needed, higher tax revenue to pay for education, public safety and much more at the state level and at the federal level it means money for Social Security, Medicare, to pay down the debt and more. This same strategy of improved business competition between the U.S. and Mexico will also be some of the first steps towards getting manufacturing back in the U.S. and begin to establish a much better national economy.

Moving beyond these most pressing needs there are many things that need to be accomplished. To name a few, improvements in education, reducing tax rates, cleaning up government waste, improving the democratic process, healthcare reform, addressing border security, the sagging housing market/foreclosure problem, getting out of Afghanistan, dealing with terrorism threats and the list goes on.

If elected, what is your first priority?

The economy

Who do you think is your biggest challenger and why?

The voter – they have a tendency not to look closely at a candidate. Many will not vote, some will vote the party line because they are told to do so. As far as the other candidates I am not too concerned. It is my responsibility as well as others to help make sure that we get the message out about what we need to do to get the economy going again. It is not about me, but it is about our country and what our country needs right now. Once this message gets out, the rest will take care of itself.

What do you think sets you apart from your opponent(s)?

None of these candidates can deliver on getting the economy going. I am fluent in Spanish which takes away the advantage the Incumbent has had over the last several election cycles. I’m an Independent which means I can truly represent the people that live in the district as well as make better decisions in matters that affect the nation as a whole. I am slightly right of center. The other candidates are much further to the right or to the left.

What would you do to achieve more transparency in government, and should government officials be in charge of managing those efforts?

Government has many facets to it and transparency needs to be addressed differently for different parts of government. The most basic areas that need to be more transparent are the law making process, government expenditures, elected officials constituents – including lobbyist, the role of civil servants and assessment of government program to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse in the program.

I believe that a broader group of individuals need to provide transparency in government. This includes, but is not limited to, the government, news media, outside watch groups and policies internal to protect “whistle blowers” on the inside of government.

Public notices are regarded as one important way for the public to find out what is really happening in government. Newspapers currently not only print public notices but also operate a free, consolidated, online, searchable database. Some people advocate that public notices should be available only on government websites. Do you agree that the Legislature should change the current law to mandate that public notices be available only on government websites?

The current means of public notices and the proposal of public notices on government web sites miss the point. Public notices need to be regularly brought before the general public as part of the general public’s normal routine. Making people aware of a public notice is the objective, but if social norms change where people no longer have the time to read the public notice section of the newspaper, then we need to find out a different delivery system or change the current delivery system of public notices.

There is also this matter of whether a public notices is given consideration for the larger public good and those public notices – like a business incorporation – that are not given  consideration for the larger public interest.

What do you think is the biggest challenge right now facing Yumans, and Arizonans?

The economy followed by illegal immigration, border security, state budget shortfall of $1 billion dollars and education. The economy breaks down as follows: Lack of employment; Lost tax revenue – means cutting education, public safety and many other types of government related employment. The list goes.

What would you do, if elected, to help change that?

We can immediately begin to communicate across the border in Mexico to improve business competition between the U.S. and Mexico. This will help Yuma in a couple of ways. First and foremost the increased tax revenue for the state will help stabilize the educational system in Yuma. The increased stimulus from marginal price differentials will help some businesses directly. The overall increased economic stimulus will help. From there we can re-access the problem to see what else can be done to improve the employment situation in Yuma.

What is one of your strengths? Weaknesses (something you’d like to improve upon)?

Strength:  Living 5 years in Mexico exposed me to the world in a way I would have never known if I had just stayed in the U.S. Weakness:  Having work intrude upon my family time.

What is one thing that you want voters to know?

This is the first time that the 7th Congressional District (CD7) has had an Independent running for US Congress so the dynamics will be different. Most persons in CD 7 do not know how many Independents there are. The last registered voters report by the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office was Aug. 9, 2010, and has the following: Democrats, 142,283; Independents, 103,750; Republicans,75,487; and Libertarian/Green, 3,414.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Yes there is!

No tango la confianza que los gabachos pueden arrancar la economía. Entonces yo estoy pidiendo Los Hispanos por su apoyo y votación en esta elección por un solo objetivo. Abril el mercado entre México y Estado Unidos para arrancar nuestros economía con $32.1 mil millones de dólares en un estímulo económico por Estados Unidos y un cantidad lo mismo por México. Arizona puede provechar casi $2 mil millones de dólares en un estímulo económico. Nuestras escuelas ocupan el dinero porque el Estado no tiene dinero suficiente. Esta estrategia va a pagar le gente en México con una mejor salario también – entonces se baja la migración ilegal entre Estados Unidos. Eso es necesario para nosotros aquí podemos revolver algunas fabricas aquí con buenos salarios también. Hecho lo mano. Su estado y su país le necesitan en su hora de necesidad. Eso es su hora para levantar el país con su lucha para abril el mercado libre por nosotros