A New Direction – Uncommon Courage
My name is Reid Ribble and I have decided to run for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 8th Congressional district of Wisconsin. The idea to run has been on my mind for many years, but life kept getting in the way. I am a roofing contractor by trade, and owning and operating your own business takes a lot of time.
I am also married and have two adult children – and most recently I have been blessed with two grandchildren. Each of these relationships requires attention, as all husbands, fathers and grandfathers know. Spending the time, resources and energy required to maintain healthy family relationships can be both exhausting and exhilarating. I have been married for 34 years, and that relationship is still the single most important thing in my life. Ultimately, all of my relationships – at home and at work – have shaped me (sometimes my kids suggest misshaped me) and have given me a broader view of the world.
In spite of the hectic pace of my life, it is because of these relationships, and mostly because of my children and grandchildren, that I feel compelled to run for Congress. I care deeply that the U.S. Congress and our president continue, as they have for decades, to spend money they don’t have. I care deeply that my grandchildren will be forced to pay for benefits to recipients who will have long since passed on.
I care deeply about government intrusion into our daily lives. I care about the impact of unnecessary government regulations that have driven up costs for businesses, and consequently to consumers. I care that the national debt is growing every day, and will become even more of a burden to future generations.
Add to these concerns a health care system that is failing, a $36 trillion unfunded liability for Medicare, a population that is aging without enough young workers to replace them, then you have serious problems that never seem to get addressed. Some in Congress would have us believe that just raising taxes on the wealthy will make things better. I believe the real solutions are more complicated.
For most of my adult life, I have listened to politicians make promises about fixing Social Security, fixing Medicare, simplifying the tax code and balancing the federal budget. But yet, here we are, decades later, and still no fixes have been made. In fact, the situation is getting worse, not better. It’s time to develop and implement a plan to be sure Social Security and Medicare can be saved, so my children and grandchildren don’t have to worry about whether they can retire, or whether they will receive the medical care they need.
I have heard politicians talk about being fiscally responsible for as long as I can remember. Yet look at our tax code today: it is more than 60,000 pages long, and growing. Does anyone really understand it? What will it be like when it’s time for my grandchildren to pay taxes?
I’m concerned that if we don’t address these big issues soon, we never will. We either fix them now or run the risk of losing them…and along with losing them we lose a bit of ourselves and a large amount of what has made this country great. I believe these problems can be fixed, but only if we are willing to make a serious effort to finding solutions. And doing business as usual in Washington, DC, is not the answer. We desperately need new leadership, new vision…and courage.
Earlier in the year there were a series of protests called “tea parties”. I think protests are good and are part of the American experience. The problem I have with the protests however is that protest without alternatives leaves me feeling like I am on a blind date where the women never shows up. What’s the point?
Jim Wallis in his book God’s Politics, points to something better, something greater:
“Protests and protesters are too easily written off. While the noble and necessary tradition of citizen protest should, of course, continue, it should always point and concretely connect to viable policy alternatives that could actually solve the issues at hand. Offering better visions is in the best of our traditions of dissent and protest. Saying “yes” and not just “no” gives political leaders something to consider and debate and not merely something to stop. And alternatives give citizens something to advocate and not just something to oppose. A political alternative brings more energy and possibilities to the public debate than political opposition can by itself. Being “for” is simply better than only being “against”. And, ultimately it will be more successful.”
Rather than protests, I’d like to introduce honest debate and discussion about these – and other – issues. It is no longer good enough to simply be “for” something or “against” something; real solutions can only come from a spirited discussion and critical thought about how we can solve our problems.
I intend to offer solutions. In the near future, in this forum I will outline my cohesive strategy that will do more than simply “kick the can down the street” to the next Congress, but will pick it up and repair it. Now is the time to get to work on these – and other – big issues. We simply can no longer wait. We can no longer just protest, or leave the solutions to others.
That’s why I am running for Congress. That’s why I need your help. Contact me at reid@ribbleforcongress.com and let’s begin the discussion.
2 Responses to “A New Direction – Uncommon Courage ”
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Dear Mr. Ribble. I have been hoping that responsible fiscally conservative business people would respond to the outrageous spending coming out of Washington. Your decision to run is a courageous one for you and your family but vital to reclaiming our country. I will not contribute to the Republican Party until they get their act together, but I will contribute to candidates that will take a hard line against reckless spending of the liberal Democrats that control both houses of congress and the White House. I am now a Florida resident living in Green Bay during the summer, but will contribute to your campaign once you put forward your strategies. Thank you thank you thank you for running.
Dear Mr. Opel, Thank you for your comments. I appreciate your position about not supporting the “Republican Party” until they get their act together. Hopefully I will be able to join real conservatives who believe that fiscal responsibility can happen in Washington. I really don’t care all that much about the label Republican or Democrat. I care about America’s future. I look forward to earning your support. It is individuals who get involved in the game that help change happen. I am getting involved by my campaign. Others, like you get involved by contributing to people like me and volunteering their time. I often hear people complain about Congress. Let’s face it, their approval rating at 17% is telling. Yet…….over 90% of incumbants get reelected. There is a disconnect between how people feel and how involved they become. I will need supporters like you to contribute. Then and only then can I be a game changer. I also accept the premise of earning your support. Please stay tuned. Over the next few weeks I will be adding more information here about my positions and more importantly my ideas to fix things. I also hope to hear your ideas. Let’s face it, this race is about the people of the District and I want to hear from them. Thank you for giving me your thoughts and I look forward to a continued conversation.