we need to address those needs and problems that immediately and directly affect the health, safety and welfare of our community. The most basic needs, in Mark’s opinion, relate to our transportation and communication infrastructure. After all, if we can’t leave our homes or talk to our friends and neighbors, we are all land-locked. We can neither travel to earn a living or gain an education, nor obtain the goods and services we need to live. We need good roads, accessible and sensible public transportation and an efficient and reliable power grid and communication system.

it needs to act to make sure we can do so safely and securely. We all take police and fire protection as a “given”. We all expect to have access to emergency services and medical care in times of need. We all expect to have our children reasonably and competently educated. We all expect our State and National military to protect us from foreign and domestic enemies. These are the “basic” services we expect our government to provide.

that only after our government takes care of ALL these “basic needs” (transportation, communication, public safety and security) do we have the luxury to address the other moral, philosophical or political issues that confront us.

that all of us have very real and legitimate moral, philosophical and political concerns…and it is the duty of our elected and appointed leaders to address them. Mark also believes it is the primary obligation of our elected and appointed leaders to carefully and respectfully consider everyone’s issues and opinions. This is the foundation of our Democracy and the beauty of “representative” government.