My Values



Dan reading as Justice Thurgood Marshall
in Syracuse [2002]

We are way off course. As we look around we can see government spending out of control, record debt and foreign borrowing that makes our deficit balloon. Buy any measurement or standard, the GOP economic policies have not worked and they have the poor record to prove it. 

Oil and Gasoline Prices Dominate Conservation.  How did this happen, why, and when will it end? Those questions are on everyone's mind. Some say it is “supply and demand” issue; others say the value of the dollar at all time lows; and still others blame a lack of will to allow new drilling. Those things are part of the problem – a very small part, but Saudi Arabia alone has over 260 billion barrels of oil in reserve in the ground. They are followed by Canada with 179 billion barrels, and then Iran and Iraq with 132 and 115 billon barrels – oil that is still in the ground. There is plenty of oil. There is demand for sure; but there is lot of greed and speculation, and no shortage.

A lot of people are getting very, very rich off our misery as government lingers without any sound rational energy policy. That has to change, and it must be done quickly. Drilling tomorrow would not solve the current problem. The GOP is trying to make political points by blaming the Democrats and translate that into votes. There is plenty of "blame" to go around for both sides - and that's the problem - they blame instead of working for solutions.

The War in Iraq:  I posed this question a long time ago: “If Iraq had been the serious threat to their neighbors or to the region as we said they were, then why didn't those neighbors join the fight as they did in the first Gulf War?” Why do we have to travel half way around the world to protect neighbors from neighbors? Why do they stand by and watch Americans die for their freedom? Worse: Why do we tolerate it? There seems to be a growing consensus that there “there is no military solution in Iraq.”

If that is true, then let's start making plans now to get out. The sooner we can convince the Iraqis to get up and stand up alone, the sooner we can safely leave and come home knowing they will defend themselves by being both a better neighbor to the other countries around them, and not a threat to anyone. We need a plan now to get out - not a schedule or ticking time schedule, but a rock-solid plan that we can start to implement soon. 

Lack of leadership and lack of Trust:  If I were to choose three words to describe our government today they would be: Arrogant, Abusive, and Broken. Leadership to me means getting out front on tough issues and staying out front until they are resolved.  We lost our focus in Afghanistan early on and got greedy as we turned toward Iraq. We had a great victory in Afghanistan when we kicked out the Taliban, but now due to a total lack of leadership (again) they are coming back into power – they have their own surge. 

Abuse of Power and Office: Our government spies on us at home and we excuse them by accepting what they say: It keeps us safe. That is a joke. Loss of any freedom is not being safe! Once a freedom is gone, it's gone forever – it will never come back.  Our government is infringing on our most basic and fundamental Constitutional rights, and it must be stopped. Those in office will never be accountable if we don't hold them accountable and that is my aim.

The Big Money Chase: Look at the incumbent, Rep. John McHugh. He is in what is called a “safe district.” That means he is virtually guaranteed a seat for as long as he wants to run. How ridiculous that sounds. Seats belong to the people, not to any dynasty or individual. I think he has lost his direction and view about whom he serves. His voting record is clear: it favors big business and special interests, who in turn help him stay in office with their big money.

Mr. McHugh takes between 60 and 80 percent of his campaign money from big businesses and PACs not only from outside the district, but from outside New York State. 

Now, the other Democrat in this race has learned the game well – we pretty much is tracking money like McHugh does (all insider and mostly from outside the district). The PAC money for McHugh is obscene – click and take a look. Every voter must pause and ask: "Whom does he represent, and whom does Mr. Oot want to represent?" 

This is not to say that I don't need money to run - I do, and we all know that it takes money to run. I call on small donors, the good people of this district and certainly small donors around New York State who advocate with me for positive change. Taking money from all over the planet is not change - it sustains the failed status quo and nothing changes!

I hope that this election motivates everyone into action – it should. As for me, on one hand, I am frustrated and angry, but on the other hand, I am optimistic because I know we can adapt and change direction and straighten out the mess and head in a new direction.

My aim is to win and then start working hard for you for change. In this election, choice is as clear as it's ever been in many decades.