Maryland’s Fourth District Election

            Over the past few years there have been many signs that the United States is heading towards a recession and severe economic crisis.  The United States dollar has suffered severe inflation and is now valued at less then the Canadian dollar, oil prices have risen to more than 100 dollars per barrel, demand for products and services has begun to outstrip available supply within the marketplace, predatory lending in the mortgage industry has led to significant foreclosures throughout the country, and many foreign investors have stopped making investments in American companies and products.  All of these signs lead me to believe that in the near future the United States will suffer a severe economic crises and possibility the collapse of the American dollar.

            In order to prevent further inflation of the American dollar and to avoid a major economic collapse, I feel that it is necessary for the United States government to take some important steps towards returning our economy to the force that it once was.  The first step that must be taken is a commitment by our government to pursue alternative energy sources.  The government should invest in providing grants to companies producing biodiesel, ethanol, coal-to-liquid fuel, renewable diesel production, wind, geothermal, syngas, and hydrogen power alternatives.  It is vital that the United States decrease our dependence on foreign oil as a means to stop the inflation of the United States dollar.

            Another step that is necessary is the immediate withdrawal of United States troops from Iraq.  It is quite possible that the cost of the Iraq War will exceed one trillion dollars in the near future (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11880954/).  The 275 million dollars that the United States puts into the war every day (http://www.nationalpriorities.org/costofwar_home) could be invested into alternative energy sources.  An increase in alternative energy production would help stop inflation of the American dollar by decreasing our reliance on foreign oil and the oil prices that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) set.  It is essential that our government do this because oil prices in the future are only going to increase as the demand for oil from China, India, and other developing countries increases.

            Because of the growing economic crisis that our nation is facing, I feel it is necessary that we elect candidates to governmental positions that have a strong grounding in economic theory and understand what needs to be done to strengthen our economy and prevent a major collapse.  In Maryland’s fourth congressional district, I feel that the obvious choice is Dr. Michael Babula.  Dr. Babula has the experience and understanding necessary to make the correct decisions in fixing out economy.  Unlike Dr. Babula’s opponents for Congress (Albert Wynn and Donna Edwards) who fail to even mention the economy as an issue on their election websites, on Babula’s (http://www.babula2008.com) stresses how a strong nation is based upon a strong economy.

            Another reason why a feel Dr. Babula is the right choice for Congress from Maryland’s fourth congressional district is that he will make the decision that he feels is best for the people of this nation and not for corporations or lobbyist groups.  Unlike his opponents Albert Wynn and Donna Edwards, Babula does not have allegiances to major corporations or lobbyist groups.  In Donna Edwards’ case, she is executive director of the Arca Foundation that holds $1.8 million in investments in multi-national oil and gas companies including almost $1 million in investments in Exxon-Mobil and Halliburton (http://cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=5&docID=news-000002652921).  Donna Edwards’ campaign also accepted money from a corporate lawyer at Fannie Mae.  A company that is 2006 was accused of extensive fraud.  They wrote, “Fannie Mae engaged in "extensive financial fraud" over six years by doctoring earnings so executives could collect hundreds of millions of dollars in bonuses, federal officials said yesterday” (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/23/AR2006052300184.html).  Fannie Mae had to pay a $400 million settlement for their corporate.  Edwards’ says that she will do what is best for the people in Maryland’s fourth congressional district but has been quoted as saying, “They stand with me because I stand with them” about her financial donors (http://www.gazette.net/stories/122007/prinnew161825_32359.shtml).

            Dr. Michael Babula is the right choice for Maryland’s fourth congressional district.  As a congressman he will withdraw out troops from Iraq, prevent our economy from continuing its track towards a major economic collapse, and make decisions based on what is best for the people and not corporations or lobbyists.  For these reasons I believe Dr. Babula is the best choice for Congress in Maryland’s fourth congressional district.