Roland Straten for Congress
Read the analysis of the 2008 Campaign
Vote for Straten to run in 2010
Logic and Reason in Washington
Let's get together and bring Logic and Reason to Washington.
After running a business in Paterson, NJ for 39 years under the illogical and unreasonable decisions coming from Washington, I concluded that we need more logic and reason in Washington. I felt that if I did not step up, I would not have the right to complain. Therefore, last election I decided to run for Congress in NJ's 8th district.
The citizens of the 8th congressional district decided against sending me to Washington.
Here are three possible reasons for their decision:
- The citizens of the district had different priorities.
- They did not believe that I could bring logic and reason to Washington.
- I did not get the message across to the voters.
I suspect that reason 3 is most valid. Whenever, I was able to talk to a voter directly, more times than not, people approved of my positions and supported me. After the election, a great many people told me it was too bad that I did not win because my concepts (see the issues and core values pages for details) are needed in Washington more than ever. Many have said I should run again in 2010.
This leaves me in a quandary. Should I run again? Many say that I ran a great campaign and
should continue to build on all the hard work of the 2008 campaign. Others are quite cynical stating that logic and reason do not stand a chance in a congressional race.
So far, I have been telling people that I have not made a decision, but am keeping my options open.
It is time to make a decision, and I am asking you, my supporters, to help me make this decision. It is clear that if a large number of voters want me to run and support my candidacy, I have a
good chance of winning. On the other hand, if the response is lukewarm, let's save everyone's time.
In order to determine whether a voter's support is genuine, I am asking for a token contribution of $25 and a commitment to help during the campaign along with the yes vote.
Please tell me whether or not I should run by voting yes and sending a contribution or voting no by telling me not to waste my time.
Click HERE to go to the vote forms.
Some key elements of Logic and Reason
I am Roland Straten and I ran for Congress in NJ's 8th Congressional District as a Republican in 2008
because I was fed up with our unresponsive Congress. Some key elements that a Logical and Reasonable Congressman should support are:
We must control spending and taxes.
We need Congressmen who have had business experience. Successful businessmen know how to spend within their
means and eliminate obstacles to growth. During my 39 years as chief executive of a private
company, I've developed the habit of keeping spending under control. In private industry you
go out of business if you cannot control spending. We need that discipline in government as well.
Career politicians have developed the habit of increasing taxes rather than controlling spending.
We deserve better than that.
We must develop a sane, reasonable energy policy written by engineers and technicians, not lawyers, special interests, and fear mongers.
We must keep the price of energy reasonable by increasing supply. We will do so by drilling for oil, building safe nuclear power plants, and building clean coal plants.
At the same time, we must use more hydroelectric, solar, wind, geo-thermal, and other renewable power sources. Finally, we need to conserve energy by developing more energy efficient cars and buildings.
We need to try everything -- not arbitrarily eliminate options and drive up consumer costs. We need to have a Congress that will act positively,
not just support a leadership that prevents progress.
Our Children deserve a first rate education.
Parents should choose a school based on the child's needs, not their income or address.
We need to be safe in our homes.
The surge worked. Casualties are down and the troops will be coming home from Iraq.
My opponent, while voting to send the troops to Iraq, voted against the surge. The surge is a key reason that the troops can come home soon.
We need a Congressman who recognizes the dangers Radical Islamic Fundamentalism (RIF) - dangers that resulted in the tragic events of 9/11.
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Roland Rollin' to Congress Roll
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Upcoming Events
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Election Day
VOTE FOR STRATEN!!
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Please look at the issues page for more details on my positions on issues.
Now more than ever we need efficiency, logic, and independence in Washington. A career politician simply cannot bring about the change we need. I am not a career politician, but an engineer and a small business owner who is used to finding and implementing effective common sense solutions. I have the integrity and the judgment to help make Washington work for you, the taxpayers, not special interests and party insiders.
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Roland Straten
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973.333.5415
