Retired Air Force Colonel Jeff Barnett is one of the hardest working Congressional candidates in the nation, having walked his entire (reasonably large) district in an effort to introduce himself to the citizens and voters. Barnett has a strong resume, pilot, military assistant to the Office of Net Assessment, and time as Chief of Staff of what might rate as the most effective/best run UN peace operation (UNPROFOR in Croatia) over the past 60 years. Just as in much of his professional career, Barnett’s campaign is focused on the future — recognizing today’s challenges while offering solutions to create a stronger tomorrow.
Here is Barnett describing his ideological position:
3. How would you describe yourself ideologically – “progressive,” “conservative,” “moderate,” “liberal,” or something else?
I am a Democrat. Period. Democrats believe in social justice and economic progress. These are not separate ideals; they are equal sides of the same coin. Social justice means equal opportunity, which ignites competition and creativity, which fuels economic growth, which underwrites social justice. Democrats understand that social justice and economic progress work together to fuel the American Dream. That’s why I’m a Democrat.
Barnett is an extremely intelligent, hard-working public servant who ‘gets it’ on issue after issue.
When it comes to Energy and Environment, here is the material from Jeff’s issues page:
Every day, America sends $2 billion overseas to buy foreign oil. We also send 16,000 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere. Neither is sustainable. Both sell-out the future for short term profit.
Sending money overseas to feed oil to our McSUVs and sending too many tons of CO2 into the atmosphere absolutely “sell-out the future for short-term profit.” It is hard to think of an opening paragraph to a politician’s issue section that laid the situation out so clearly and accurately.
Renewable energy is the future. Whoever leads in green energy will get massive economic returns, fantastic job growth, and a healthier environment. Virginians have the talent, schools and bandwidth to lead the world – so long as we invest in education and incentivize business.
From the challenge to the opportunity — the solution to our climate challenges is also an answer to our economic challenges.
Because corporate executives respond to incentives, I support a “carrot and stick” approach to energy use: Cap-and-Trade (“carrot”); and carbon tax (“stick”). Cap-and-Trade is a positive incentive that rewards corporations for doing the right thing. Cap-and-Trade worked to reduce acid rain emissions; it deserves an opportunity to reduce CO2 emissions. A carbon tax, while not the only answer, is part of every solution. Polluters will change behavior when the status quo is more costly than embracing energy efficiency and renewable energy.
This is an interesting and potentially valuable approach, “carrot and stick”.
And, Barnett again lays it out clearly and accurately: “polluters will change behavior when the status quo is more costly” than coming clean. They will change behavior when they have to actually pay for damaging our children’s lungs and threatening their future.
The same “carrot and stick” approach can bust logjams in other area. We know we need low impact development, green buildings, renewable energy standards, vehicle energy efficiency standards. Let’s get to work. Combine positive and negative incentives to get people off the dime.
Jeff is right … “let’s get to work”.
Barnett has walked the district, spent some six months without a salary to dedicate himself to connect with voters, in a campaign against 30-year Republican Frank Wolf, Jr. Wolf has created an image of moderate, focused-on constituent issues Republican member of Congress. Putting aside specific issues with Wolf’s policies, there is a simple reality that Wolf will vote for House leadership and give power over to those who demonized government service and government employees. What is the ‘business’ of Virginia’s 10th district? Government and those contractors working with/for the government. Who are Wolf’s voters and constituents? Government workers. When it comes to climate change and clean energy, Wolf has made noises about global warming but doesn’t seem capable of articulating any serious path toward dealing with it. Might we want to mention that Frank Climate Peacock Wolf would, if given the opportunity, vote for Climate Zombie Boehner for House leadership?
For the first time, in perhaps decades, the local Fairfax Times decided not to endorse Wolf:
Frank Wolf, as always, is a good, safe choice.
Jeff Barnett, who radiates energy and optimism, is a better one.
Jeff’s has been a long-shot campaign from the get go and is rated at a near zero percent chance of winning even though there aren’t too many polls out on the district.
But if you’re a gambler, perhaps you’re willing to throw in some cash on a long shot to get “a better one” into office.