9/12 Platform: Jim Trautz | U.S. Congress 10th Dist. VA
Posted by Jacob Roecker on November 4, 2009 under INSPIRATION | 
Be the First to Comment
James “Jim” Trautz, Jr.
2010 Candidate for U.S. House of Representatives, 10th District of Virginia
9-12 Candidates’ Platform Statement
Principles
America Is Good.
The long track record of American generosity is well-documented and has long been a fundamental principle of the American experience. I will work to further our standing as a generous nation, not only here but abroad through a plan that fosters giving through the established, extensive networks of helping foundations across this country.
I believe in God and He is the Center of my Life.
My actions as a person are centered on the teachings of Jesus Christ and the will of my Lord God Almighty. My faith is my source of personal grounding; and, while I believe all who have faith have the right to practice that faith, I make neither excuses nor apologies for my own faith and its role in my life.
I must always try to be a more honest person than I was yesterday.
I recognize I am continually evolving and growing as a person of faith. I believe honesty and integrity are integral ideals to this faith. I live each day for the gift that it is, and act accordingly.
The family is sacred. My spouse and I are the ultimate authority, not the government.
I believe strongly that the family is the root of our society, and the family unit should be held in the greatest esteem possible. While my own children are grown, I believe that families must be free to exercise their own judgments within the constraints of the Constitution and local law.
If you break the law you pay the penalty. Justice is blind and no one is above it.
With my father in law enforcement, I was reared on this concept. I believe that our judiciary must be led back to the “justice is blind” principle upon which the equal protection standards were enacted. No perpetrator of a crime should think he or she will receive differentiated treatment, because of any life, financial or positional standing.
I have a right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, but there is no guarantee of equal results.
There are so many examples from prior and current generations of how the freedoms offered in our great country have given the most unlikely among us tremendous results. Ask any of those exemplary people how they did it, and to a person, each would offer that they seized opportunities and worked hard to achieve their goals. All citizens have the same opportunities to be successful and to fail, at their choosing. I believe the freedom to pursue opportunity—as well as to elect not to—is the essence of a free America. I reject the notion that someone at this time in our history lacks opportunity; thus, I support personal freedoms without guaranteed outcomes.
I work hard for what I have and I will share it with who I want to. Government cannot force me to be charitable.
I’ve stated that my faith is Christian-based. As such, I believe I have a higher calling to ensure (a) I do not become a burden for others to bear; and (b) I pay forward what I feel called in my heart to share. I believe people should be strengthened in resolve to help themselves, and the purpose of collective charity should be to assist those who are truly in need and unable to fend for themselves. This is the job of humanity, not government. To quote Abraham Lincoln, “You cannot make a weak man strong, by making a strong man weak.”
It is not un-American for me to disagree with authority or to share my personal opinion.
Our founders forged this country from disagreement with leadership that had devolved into tyranny. They cogently set forth the basis of their agreement in a number of attempts with the British Crown in advance of declaring their sovereignty. I believe firmly that the heart of American freedom is the ability to express peacefully disagreement, and to seek redress of grievances in an equally peaceful manner.
The government works for the people. The people do not answer to the government, the government answers to the people.
One of the cornerstones of our country is the notion that government officials are elected to terms through the free and fair election process. While we might not always like the outcome, we have always respected that tradition. One notion that seems to be getting lost is that many in our government today believe their position gives them empowerment over the very lives of the citizenry, even as they exempt themselves. It astounds me to watch, listen and read some of the comments made by these so-called leaders! I believe that we must return our country to the foundation of responsive representation. In fact I feel so strongly about the need for our representatives to remember “who’s the boss,” we made responsive representation one of our 3 platform tenets, with fiscal responsibility and proactive leadership.
Values
Honesty
I believe strongly that, “that which is not the truth is a lie.” There can be no courage without honesty. I consider myself a highly courageous person.
Reverence
I am a man of faith, and I believe that respect for life is tantamount to living in a civil society.
Hope
Because I have great faith in our country and its citizens, I value the vision our founding fathers had for our country and believing returning to those principles is still possible. I believe in the inherent good of this country’s citizenry and its commitment to the tenets of the country’s founding.
Thrift
Our government is obligated to use wisely the funding given by its people. I believe we must not squander our children’s futures in order to have what we want now. Governance through fiscal responsibility means we provide only the necessary services the government must provide, at the best possible value, using the most efficient means available. This means stimulating innovation and individual prosperity, and abandoning the cycle of dependence on government to solve all the ills of the world.
Humility
Those who know me well, know that I am not a person running for office in order to call attention to myself. I truly want to make a difference for my prospective constituents; and, with the help of Almighty God will endeavor to do so.
Charity
I firmly believe that charity is a requirement of all who believe in God, regardless of religion. I believe the prosperity of this great nation has been a blessing from God, because we as a people have long recognized that we are called to be generous and to look after those in need.
Sincerity
As a non-career politician, I pledge to be forthright in my dealings with my constituency. I believe sincere messages, even when not positive ones, are better appreciated than messages founded in expedience or self-interest.
Moderation
Moderation is a principle that guides my life. I have a belief that excesses break down the ability of a person to be selfless, and I strive to be a selfless person.
Hard Work
One of the greatest gifts my parents gave me was the doctrine of a strong work ethic. I believe that self-esteem is rooted in hard work, selflessness and determination.
Courage
Having spent more than twenty years serving this country in the United States Navy, I have a deep sense of courage. Courage is a trait formed from having to make decisions literally of life and death with only moments to spare and limited information.
Personal Responsibility
With honesty, courage and faith I believe in taking personal responsibility for all decisions and actions I make. Have I always made the right decision? No, to be sure I have not! Still, I accept the results and consequences of my actions, and I believe we all must do so.
Gratitude
I pray daily with tremendous gratitude in my heart. I’ve lived in non-free countries, and I well understand the insidious ways in which government intrusion in the lives of citizens leads to tyranny. I know personally how we are viewed by common people around the world. I am grateful to be a citizen of this land, and to have had the privilege of rearing six children in it. My goal in my candidacy is to encourage pride in our country; restore the principles of our founding; and ensure the safety and liberty of our now and future generations!
Add A Comment