Core Values
Why are values important? I deeply believe that our values frame our approach to every issue we face. Life is complicated, and we often don't know what to do from one moment to the next. But a set of core values helps us navigate through the complex landscape of life. Sure, we can talk about issues, but without core values, our issues will be unfocused, and our actions will be arbitrary.
The core values on this page help drive my stance on every issue, acting as my North Star that will guide me through the complex landscape of policy-making. By understanding my core values, you may know what I stand for and why. Core values provide insight into how I will address the challenges we don't yet foresee, providing a predictable foundation for my future decisions.
My values will guide my policy decisions that help build a fair, thriving community for Missouri.
Women's Rights
Women's rights are under attack, not only in Missouri but across the entire nation. Certain factions within the Missouri Legislature, who justify their actions with the "Sanctity of Life," are in fact pushing a broader agenda to consolidate patriarchal control. This strategy is not limited to suppressing women's autonomy but is part of a wider attempt to marginalize the LGBTQ community, racial minorities, and followers of non-Christian faiths. We've seen how recent legislation targeting abortion rights is paralleled by bills that undermine protections for several groups, indicating a unified and dangerous strategy to sabotage all our civil liberties.
Bottom line: The attack on women's rights is an attack on all our rights.
More Democracy!
Government by consent. We live in a country where the government is supposed to work for "We the people." The idea that the government needs our approval to make decisions has been around for nearly a thousand years and is a key part of what the Declaration of Independence is all about.
Lately, however, many of our elected officials have become more interested in gaining power for themselves than in serving us. They act as if they're entitled to their positions and ignore what we, the people, want, especially when we disagree with them. This is not how it’s supposed to work. They should be protecting our rights, not taking them away.
Bottom line: Our government works for us, not the other way around.
Education
Education is the key to our nation's greatness. For nearly 200 years, public education was vital to turning our children into disciplined and sensible adults. Public education evolved over the years, teaching the value of critical thinking and, as a result, yielding a nation that became the most innovative and creative in the world. We are the envy of the world; immigrants flock here to be a part of the "American dream," where anyone with a good idea and a willingness to learn and to work hard can find prosperity.
However, all that is changing. A movement is gaining momentum, advocating for the privatization of education and the suppression of critical thinking. Some folks seek to redirect public funds to private schools, prioritizing political and religious indoctrination over developing critical thinking skills. This shift not only jeopardizes the quality of education but also undermines the very principles of democracy that our nation was built upon. Our democracy thrives on the foundation of critical thinking skills.
Bottom line: We must support public education to ensure we remain one of the most innovative and prosperous nations on earth.
Healthcare
Leave no person behind. The United States is home to some of the most advanced medical facilities in the world, leading the charge against countless debilitating diseases. Our pharmaceutical companies have developed groundbreaking medicines subsidized - at least in part - through our tax dollars. So then why is it that our citizens still die because they can't afford the medicines that we subsidized? Why are medical bills one of the leading causes of personal bankruptcy? And why do people often fly to India to afford expensive drugs that were invented and manufactured right here in the United States?
In this blog article, I highlighted that the average person in Missouri pays up to 19% in healthcare tax if we consider insurance premiums, deductibles, and other out-of-pocket costs. By contrast, a universal healthcare system known as Medicare takes about 3% out of our paychecks, and it covers the most expensive health demographic - senior citizens. It makes sense to expand Medicare to everyone and cut the middleman out of our healthcare insurance system.
Bottom Line: Healthcare belongs to everyone, and it is within our grasp to make it universal.
Progress with Purpose
Progress is inevitable; unemployment is not. We can’t stop progress - it's in our DNA. But we can make sure that it benefits all of us.
As things like robots and computers start doing more of the work people used to do, we need to think about what work means to us. We will have to learn new skills. We may need to learn how to lead a team of AI bots rather than doing the work ourselves. We may even reduce the average work week to 32 hours ... or less. The most important thing is to work together so we can all find happiness and success in this new world. Nobody gets left behind.
Bottom line: Instead of fearing progress, embrace it!
Equity
Imagine life as a footrace. If we talk about "Equality," we focus only on who gets to the finish line first. But if we talk about "Equity," we focus on making sure everyone starts from the same spot and runs the same track.
Because of different life situations, some people start closer to the finish line than others. Is this fair? Many folks say it is not, so they attempt to change the rules at the finish line. Other folks blindly judge only the activity at the finish line without any special considerations. Neither one addresses the real problem.
The “E” in “DEI” stands for “Equity.” Being concerned with equity means focusing on the whole picture of people’s lives, ensuring equality from the beginning. For example, every kid, no matter where they come from, should get a good education, live in a safe place, have access to nutrition and healthcare, and be free to be themselves without feeling held back or judged. Can we do this perfectly? Maybe not, but we have to try because ignoring the problem by focusing only on the finish line doesn't make it go away.
The best way to make the race fair is to ensure everyone starts at the same place and runs the same track. This way, the race is fair from the start, and the real winner is clear from who runs the best rather than who has a head start.
Bottom line: True equality cannot exist without equity.
Labor Unions
Labor unions have long played a historical role in shaping a fair work environment for all Americans. Over the years, unions have worked tirelessly to ensure workplace safety, demand reasonable wages, and establish reasonable work hours—all of which greatly improved the quality of life for workers across the nation. Their efforts contributed to a proud tradition of American capitalism, where optimizing compensation for labor—as a vital service—is a major component of our collective prosperity.
Although my career as an engineer did not directly involve union membership, the rights I enjoyed were unquestionably influenced by the precedents set by unions. These organizations continue to defend workers against the practices of large corporations that often see employees as mere resources rather than individuals with families and dreams. Typical corporate behavior not only undermines workers' rights but also the ethical foundations of our communities. Corporate-driven efforts to establish Missouri as a "Right to Work" state undercuts and threatens everyone's rights, not just those who work in a union shop.
Bottom line: Labor unions advocate for all workers' dignity and fair treatment.