Dakota Beacon

In a year this nation faces serious issues, it is totally unacceptable for political candidates to distract people with juvenile squabbles and unrealistic proposals that get misconstrued merely by mentioning two subjects in the same sentence. 

Instead of arguing about debates and trying to dodge criticism, candidates must fulfill their duty to address the issues.

North Dakota's taxpayers and voters deserve to know each candidate's positions, but the time recently spent on petty arguments has been wasted and discussions about important topics stand idle.  Voters have a right to understand their candidate's ideas and candidates are obliged to share them.

North Dakota can help solve national fiscal and energy challenges by reducing its own demand for federal spending and cutting the nation's demand for foreign oil.  As a burgeoning oil superpower, North Dakota is positioned to wean itself from federal spending, provide high paying jobs, and substantially facilitate energy security for America.

Social Security and Medicare are worthy issues; ones that every member of Congress will have to resolve, but most candidates work to avoid.  These programs have over $100 trillion in unfunded liabilities and simply cannot exist the way they are currently financed or managed.  While some proposals are too frivolous to even consider, credit needs to be given to the candidates, on both sides, that think outside the box - even if it costs them politically.

First and foremost, voters deserve to know what course the candidates will take to resolve the nation's current economic stagnation.  While North Dakota may be experiencing its greatest boom-times ever, in many ways, we live in an alternate reality from the rest of the country.

Now is the time for every candidate seeking a seat in Congress to present their ideas on how to fix these problems and get the country back on track. 

There are acceptable policies and there are unacceptable policies. 

The only radical idea is to do nothing.