Let me reiterate why I stepped forward to serve as your state senator and why I am running in this special election.
To begin with, I love the unique culture and customs of our region. We have a large and diverse district but there is a common thread of values and ideals that runs through its core. We respect hard work, we value families, we are independent, we like our privacy, we prefer to keep as much of what we earn as possible, and we're more than a little skeptical that the government will solve our problems. We want our children to have a promising future, we value the entrepreneurial spirit and we remember and believe in the American Dream.
My ancestors left multiple countries to come to America because they saw a country founded on a belief in the sacred promise of the ability of a citizen to secure their lives,livelihood and property. They sought a restricted government and a land of free citizens. They sought a place where they could live out their faith and be secure in their conscience. In America, they recognized the potential to come from meager beginnings, work hard, live responsibly, act generously, and end up in a better station in life than where they started.
Unfortunately, many have forgotten this dream. In Olympia, I see them every day.
But as long as even a few of us remember and are willing to stand for those ideals and make the sacrifices and commitments necessary to live them, the promise of America is still alive. I believe these principles are so powerful that there is no power on Earth that can silence them once we remember them. The same principles that made us great can restore our greatness and propel us into a better future.
This is what I mean by "fighting for our future." It can be a struggle to remember, and a battle to practice and bear the responsibility that goes along with it. This is not a government solution, but a cultural revolution. It is not something I can do alone in Olympia, but I can help provide time for us to regain our strength and remind our neighbors what if feels like to live and think freely.
I can't single-handedly change the culture of government or make all the bad things go away with the passage of a bill or two, but I can continue to fight and use the platform you've given me to bear witness to the potential of a better future, and advocate for each of you as you do the same.