This latest installment of Republican on the Street focuses on people's opinion of the upcoming election regarding the issues that will define who they are going to vote for. People from both sides, and those indifferent, gave their opinions on which candidates for president and governor they were supporting and what issues helped them make that choice.

A new brand of conservatism is rising, as a new generation reaches their political awareness. Young Americans born during the Reagan administration are now in their 20s, and they are starting to make a stand in terms of their political views and their ideas about this country. This generation is more moderate and more tolerant than any conservative one preceding it. Figures such as James Dobson and Pat Robertson are fading, and their audiences and influence are as well. New conservative and Republican leaders have emerged and are at the forefront of the political world. There are complaints from the older generation about John McCain, saying that he is not a true conservative. While this in their eyes may not be good for the Republican party, it is a good thing for America.

The division that exists between people on different parts of the political spectrum is as ugly as ever. This rivalry makes it difficult to come to agreements on important issues like the war, the environment, energy independence, climate change, and health care. The result of a divided country has resulted in our congress that is unable to accomplish much.  For progress to occur there has to be cooperation. If we can learn to work together, then we can have an America that we can be proud of. 

Young conservatives have an opportunity to lead in this crucial time. Our generation has a fresh perspective that is more universal towards all Americans, not just those with similar ideologies. We have seen the smallest amount of racism take place than any other generation. We have a strong respect for the environment and our responsibility to take care of it. We are more aware of situations internationally, mainly because of increased technology that allows information to be spread rapidly, and feel a conviction to help those in need.

A change to more common sense solutions will be the way in which conservatives can lead. Compromise will help solve problems while working with the other side.  We all can agree that we need taxes in order to pay for things. Democrats want to raise taxes to pay for things, Republicans want to put more money back in the hands of Americans so that they can put it into the economy, therefore the government still gets revenue from sales and income taxes. Both ways, things get paid for, it's just a disagreement on how to accomplish this. 

Most of the problems that liberals and conservatives disagree on are not what the end result should be, but they disagree on how to get there. If we realize this, we can find more solutions together. There is a new generation of conservatives who are more relevant on more issues and that makes me excited about the future and proud to be a part of this new generation. 

There has been some confusion in the press about the Top-2 Primary, but everything is right on track. If you, like me at times, are confused about how this all took place including what it means to have a blanket versus open primary, then watch this video to find out how this primary came to be, including all of the legal steps along the way.

As I think about this long summer, I'm looking forward to/dreading all of the parades and fairs going on around the state. There are going to be tons of events, and the grassroots of our party are going to be out there, so look for them. At almost every parade, there will be GOP candidates walking with supporters. It's a great thing to be a part of if you can find the time. 

It may seem like a lame thing to do, but go to Costco, buy 20 giant bags of candy, and then watch the faces of the kids light up and then tell me how lame it is. My friends and I joke around that during parades you really see "America," and it is kind of true. You get to see the excitement of the kids when the Seafair Pirates drive by, some all proud to wear their cub scout uniforms, or their drill team's outfit and you get to appreciate all the activities that we get to do in our free time. Other countries around the world are not this lucky and sometimes it takes something like watching kids at a fair to remember that. 

Here is a video from the 4th of July: 

 I was recently asked this question and was expected to write a response. It's a tough question, and I really have tried to put myself in the shoes of the average militant to try and see things from their point of view. It gave me a few ideas.

It seems to me that when someone is oppressed, or more importantly, when someone percieves that they are oppressed, then they act out. Whether it's a child who throws a tantrum to spite what they percieve as an overbearing parent, or a terrorist who bombs citizens of a county that they percieve as an overbearing country, where there is percieved oppression, there will be a counter act of protest or violence.

I would say this is why Palestinians fight with Israelis, why Al Qaeda in Iraq attacks coalition forces, and why teenagers get tatoos.

The next question that follows, considering that we are combating global terrorism, is how to we stop the perception of oppression by terrorist groups that are attacking us and our allies. This becomes increasingly more difficult as we need to balance our national security, and our ablity to protect the interests of our friends and allies around the world.

 Some would suggest that we could withdrawl from bases around the world, and solve this problem that way. The concern would then become how do we stay competitive economically, politically, and militarily in a very competive world where natural resources are hard to come by, and every country has the responsibility to protect the livelyhood of its citizens.

It's not a question easily answered, although it may be one of the most important ones that we need to find a solution for.  

Feel free to discuss in the comments part of this blog.

John McCain released a statement today that shows the support that his economic plan has. Over 300 professional economists signed a statement that lauded his plan, including private and public sector economists, and Nobel Prize winners.

 McCain's plan:

• Veto every bill with earmarks
• Keep taxes low
• Phase out the alternative minimum tax
• Permit first year expensing of new equiptment and technology

This plan focuses on doing the smart thing when it comes to business. The easy thing to do when times get hard with the budget is to raise taxes. The problem is the unintended consequences that follow. We can raise taxes to pay for things, in an effort to gain more revenue for the state, but when people stop spending as much money, then the revenue goes down. Sometimes when taxes are raised, people don't consume as much, and then the amount of money that actually comes in is LOWER than it was before the tax increase, compounding the problem.

John McCain understands this, and that's why we need for him to get elected. Barack Obama said that he wants taxes to be "fair" so that people are taxed at the same rate, but the problem is that if rates are adjusted without understanding the unintended consequences, then we will get less tax revenue and be worse off.

Let's use some common sense here, and make good decisions based on solid information when it comes to the budget, our economy, and our future.