Here you will find my views on the issues, if you do not see something you are
interested in feel free to email me at bob@bobcoggins.com and I will include my
view regarding your question here. I chose to list the issues in what I believe is the
order that each should be addressed in Congress. Thank you, Bob Coggins
interested in feel free to email me at bob@bobcoggins.com and I will include my
view regarding your question here. I chose to list the issues in what I believe is the
order that each should be addressed in Congress. Thank you, Bob Coggins
The following list of issues is a case by case look at my belief in good-sense. It seems that nowadays
good-sense is in need of “endangered species” protection, I think it has already gone extinct in
Washington . The American political world appears to be filled with “commonsense,” which should
actually be “common-lack-of-sense.” I have never much liked “commonsense,” I have always been partial
to good-sense, mostly because it is “good” and not the “common” brand we have been offered for far too
long. Good-sense is not the views of one party or the other, it is the best ideas to help all Americans.
Sometimes good-sense even seems contradictory. I am a republican but I do not make a lot of money. I
support both the right to bear arms and a woman’s right to choose. As you read each issue topic you may
see that my views seem to belong on both sides of the isle of the senate chamber…because they do.
How can one freedom be protected and another not, how can we punish the wealthy for being well off.
Personal responsibility…(what is that?) It is not the government or your neighbors fault that you are not
rich. It is not your parents fault that you are addicted to drugs and live on the streets. If there is something
you do not like about yourself and you have not done anything to change it, it is your life and your
responsibility to do something about it. This is America, what happened to being an American? We have
to pick ourselves up and be reminded of who we are and where we come from. Reminded that it is alright
to do an honest days work for an honest days pay, that if we stop complaining and do something our lives
will get better and as a whole we can recapture the spirit of America and what it feels like being proud to
be American. My views are not radical, but I hope they do make you think about the subjects a little more,
because they just make good sense.
good-sense is in need of “endangered species” protection, I think it has already gone extinct in
Washington . The American political world appears to be filled with “commonsense,” which should
actually be “common-lack-of-sense.” I have never much liked “commonsense,” I have always been partial
to good-sense, mostly because it is “good” and not the “common” brand we have been offered for far too
long. Good-sense is not the views of one party or the other, it is the best ideas to help all Americans.
Sometimes good-sense even seems contradictory. I am a republican but I do not make a lot of money. I
support both the right to bear arms and a woman’s right to choose. As you read each issue topic you may
see that my views seem to belong on both sides of the isle of the senate chamber…because they do.
How can one freedom be protected and another not, how can we punish the wealthy for being well off.
Personal responsibility…(what is that?) It is not the government or your neighbors fault that you are not
rich. It is not your parents fault that you are addicted to drugs and live on the streets. If there is something
you do not like about yourself and you have not done anything to change it, it is your life and your
responsibility to do something about it. This is America, what happened to being an American? We have
to pick ourselves up and be reminded of who we are and where we come from. Reminded that it is alright
to do an honest days work for an honest days pay, that if we stop complaining and do something our lives
will get better and as a whole we can recapture the spirit of America and what it feels like being proud to
be American. My views are not radical, but I hope they do make you think about the subjects a little more,
because they just make good sense.
Budget & Economy: I, like most American’s am not rich…not even close, yet we are able to live our lives with a roof over our
heads and some food in our stomachs. As one of the millions of Floridians who just gets by, I question why our government
cannot do the same. It is time that Congress gets a Senator with first hand experience of what it is like to actually have to live within
a budget. Those of us who are not rich seem to do just fine with much less and I believe that our federal government can and must
spend our money with greater care and a stronger sense of responsibility.
heads and some food in our stomachs. As one of the millions of Floridians who just gets by, I question why our government
cannot do the same. It is time that Congress gets a Senator with first hand experience of what it is like to actually have to live within
a budget. Those of us who are not rich seem to do just fine with much less and I believe that our federal government can and must
spend our money with greater care and a stronger sense of responsibility.
Civil liberties are one of my greatest concerns. We as a nation have to stand strong against any loss of our
civil liberties. The “War on Terror” struck a deeper blow to American society on September 11, 2001 than we
realized at the time. Those attacks forced Americans down the path toward safety at all costs with items such as
the Patriot Act. We have all heard people say “freedom isn’t free” but I do not think everyone realizes all the
implications of that statement. Our service men and women protect that freedom every day, but it is our
responsibility to also protect that way of life. While they are away keeping us safe from harm abroad, we have to
make sure that we are protecting this nation from forces within. If we are unwilling to preserve our way of life from
our own government why do we have men and woman in harms way around the globe protecting us…we owe
them the same country they had when they left when they get back.
civil liberties. The “War on Terror” struck a deeper blow to American society on September 11, 2001 than we
realized at the time. Those attacks forced Americans down the path toward safety at all costs with items such as
the Patriot Act. We have all heard people say “freedom isn’t free” but I do not think everyone realizes all the
implications of that statement. Our service men and women protect that freedom every day, but it is our
responsibility to also protect that way of life. While they are away keeping us safe from harm abroad, we have to
make sure that we are protecting this nation from forces within. If we are unwilling to preserve our way of life from
our own government why do we have men and woman in harms way around the globe protecting us…we owe
them the same country they had when they left when they get back.
Corporations: Americans are hard workers, those we work for are apparently not as thorough in their work efforts as the rest
of us. It is amazing to me that a country filled with such an intelligent and caring workforce is in financial trouble and the
companies we work so hard for are closing their doors, leaving many out on the streets. Circuit City , GM, Chrysler, AIG…we all
know the list of corporations that are failing, have failed, or have been bailed out with our tax dollars. The worst offender appears
to be AIG, which has accepted $180 billion dollars in government funds and is still giving “performance bonuses” to executives. I
have to ask how someone gets a bonus for performing so poorly. AIG has also filed suit against the Internal Revenue Service
for “overpaid taxes.” I guess the $180 billion was not appreciated and they would like even more money. The United States
government needs to stop shoring up bad business and focus on the companies which will have the most impact on the
average citizens lives. Companies like General Motors whose collapse would put thousands out of work directly and many
thousands more indirectly. I keep asking what would be so bad if Citibank was allowed to fail? People who had money in the
bank would have it protected under the FDIC. Those who owed Citi money for vehicle, home or credit card loans would no
longer have that debt. By giving taxpayer money to those banks which used our money poorly the American taxpayer has been
made liable for the banking mess. These “troubled” corporations are behaving like crack-addicts, they have squandered all of
their money and now they are burning through any handouts given to them.
For more on this topic:
http://news.yahoo.com/us_financial
http://biz.yahoo.com/aig_crisis_management
http://biz.yahoo.com/aig_bonuses
http://www.abcnews.go.com/Business/
http://chicagoist.com/tarp_funds_to_support_auto_parts
of us. It is amazing to me that a country filled with such an intelligent and caring workforce is in financial trouble and the
companies we work so hard for are closing their doors, leaving many out on the streets. Circuit City , GM, Chrysler, AIG…we all
know the list of corporations that are failing, have failed, or have been bailed out with our tax dollars. The worst offender appears
to be AIG, which has accepted $180 billion dollars in government funds and is still giving “performance bonuses” to executives. I
have to ask how someone gets a bonus for performing so poorly. AIG has also filed suit against the Internal Revenue Service
for “overpaid taxes.” I guess the $180 billion was not appreciated and they would like even more money. The United States
government needs to stop shoring up bad business and focus on the companies which will have the most impact on the
average citizens lives. Companies like General Motors whose collapse would put thousands out of work directly and many
thousands more indirectly. I keep asking what would be so bad if Citibank was allowed to fail? People who had money in the
bank would have it protected under the FDIC. Those who owed Citi money for vehicle, home or credit card loans would no
longer have that debt. By giving taxpayer money to those banks which used our money poorly the American taxpayer has been
made liable for the banking mess. These “troubled” corporations are behaving like crack-addicts, they have squandered all of
their money and now they are burning through any handouts given to them.
For more on this topic:
http://news.yahoo.com/us_financial
http://biz.yahoo.com/aig_crisis_management
http://biz.yahoo.com/aig_bonuses
http://www.abcnews.go.com/Business/
http://chicagoist.com/tarp_funds_to_support_auto_parts
Government Reform: With both Houses of Congress being populated by the “usual suspects” there can be no real reforms
of our government. The members of Congress are the problem, they are the ones adding the “pork” to spending bills, refusing to
allow the line-item veto, and the ones who would never impose term limits on themselves. Congress is turning the United States
into a socialist society where the hard-working and law-abiding are punished with higher taxes or rights limitations to
accommodate those who contribute less to the common good or those that break the law. The only way to reform government is
to throw the majority of those in office out on the street, just as they have done with the American peoples faith in our government.
We have to make a stand and take back our country from those who have lost touch with the American people. Less government,
responsible spending, civil liberty protection, productive legislation, and the restoration of faith in our government cannot happen
with the individuals we currently have representing us in Congress.
of our government. The members of Congress are the problem, they are the ones adding the “pork” to spending bills, refusing to
allow the line-item veto, and the ones who would never impose term limits on themselves. Congress is turning the United States
into a socialist society where the hard-working and law-abiding are punished with higher taxes or rights limitations to
accommodate those who contribute less to the common good or those that break the law. The only way to reform government is
to throw the majority of those in office out on the street, just as they have done with the American peoples faith in our government.
We have to make a stand and take back our country from those who have lost touch with the American people. Less government,
responsible spending, civil liberty protection, productive legislation, and the restoration of faith in our government cannot happen
with the individuals we currently have representing us in Congress.
Families & Children: I believe in the people of the United States of America . I remember saying the pledge
of allegiance every morning at school and knowing that I was living in a special place. I remember the honor I
felt when it was my turn to raise the flag in front of the school. What I remember I still believe today, and that is
that the United States is the greatest nation on the face of the planet and that Americans are the greatest people.
My confidence however, is sometimes tested. Times when the fear that still fills some at the sight of a Middle
Easterner at the airport is visible on their face and they whisper about and point at the "terrorists" who better not
get on their plane. Times when our high school kids cannot find Iraq or Afghanistan on a map, a place some of
their siblings and friends are fighting for our freedom. I am concerned that America is becoming soft, weak, and
scared. It seems that some Americans have lost their pride for this country. I could be wrong but I have seen too
many kids running their parents lives, too many kids dropping out of school, using drugs, getting pregnant or
someone pregnant before they are 18 years old. I guess I am a little “old school” but we need to instill in our
children the pride that should be present in all of us by being American. But we need to check ourselves first to
make sure that we have not lost the pride that comes with being a good citizen in the greatest country there is or
ever will be.
of allegiance every morning at school and knowing that I was living in a special place. I remember the honor I
felt when it was my turn to raise the flag in front of the school. What I remember I still believe today, and that is
that the United States is the greatest nation on the face of the planet and that Americans are the greatest people.
My confidence however, is sometimes tested. Times when the fear that still fills some at the sight of a Middle
Easterner at the airport is visible on their face and they whisper about and point at the "terrorists" who better not
get on their plane. Times when our high school kids cannot find Iraq or Afghanistan on a map, a place some of
their siblings and friends are fighting for our freedom. I am concerned that America is becoming soft, weak, and
scared. It seems that some Americans have lost their pride for this country. I could be wrong but I have seen too
many kids running their parents lives, too many kids dropping out of school, using drugs, getting pregnant or
someone pregnant before they are 18 years old. I guess I am a little “old school” but we need to instill in our
children the pride that should be present in all of us by being American. But we need to check ourselves first to
make sure that we have not lost the pride that comes with being a good citizen in the greatest country there is or
ever will be.
Education: Click here--> "Support Our Schools" or see the tab at the top
left of this page.
left of this page.
Jobs: The way the economy is going has made it difficult for some to find a job and just as difficult for others to keep their jobs.
We are in a recession, but not because we don’t want to work or spend our money. We are in a recession because the big banks
granted too many loans to companies and individuals that had no business even asking for money. We are in a recession
because some companies expanded beyond a reasonable size for their business which made them either unprofitable or unable
to continue operations. We are in a recession because some big business and a lot of big banking has put us here with their
terrible choices in how they have run their organizations. We are in a recession, we are the ones feeling the pinch of a downturned
economy. We are the ones searching for work. We are the ones fighting to receive unemployment compensation. We are the
people who are hurting the most from the economy that the C.E.O.’s and bank directors created with their incompetence. We must
not give “Corporate America” or “Wall Street” the opportunity to inflict this upon the people who are working so hard for them ever
again. The mismanagement of American big business and banking has to be addressed, perhaps with legislation allowing for
criminal prosecution of company leadership who run their companies into the ground and employees out of work.
We are in a recession, but not because we don’t want to work or spend our money. We are in a recession because the big banks
granted too many loans to companies and individuals that had no business even asking for money. We are in a recession
because some companies expanded beyond a reasonable size for their business which made them either unprofitable or unable
to continue operations. We are in a recession because some big business and a lot of big banking has put us here with their
terrible choices in how they have run their organizations. We are in a recession, we are the ones feeling the pinch of a downturned
economy. We are the ones searching for work. We are the ones fighting to receive unemployment compensation. We are the
people who are hurting the most from the economy that the C.E.O.’s and bank directors created with their incompetence. We must
not give “Corporate America” or “Wall Street” the opportunity to inflict this upon the people who are working so hard for them ever
again. The mismanagement of American big business and banking has to be addressed, perhaps with legislation allowing for
criminal prosecution of company leadership who run their companies into the ground and employees out of work.
WELCOME to the ISSUES...
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Bob Coggins for U.S. Senate