Valley Character Seeks Board Nominations

As you may know, I am a member and a new Board Member of Valley Character which is an organization committed to character development in the greater Roanoke Valley: www.valleycharacter.org

Valley Character is responsible for programs such as the Sportsmanship Awards, Ethics in the Workplace, Hope Follows Work, and Character Counts in our area schools.

Valley Character is seeking 5 new energetic board members to expand our involvement in the community.

Board members are expected to have a strong belief that character development is essential to our community, and be willing to work for it. If you or someone you know is willing to work hard to improve the character development in our valley, I encourage you to nominate yourself or someone you may know by emailing me at sam@samrasoul.us.

Please respond with your full name and contact information (and the contact information of your nominee if necessary) and someone will contact you shortly. Please have your nominations in by February 24th.

My participation with Valley Character has been enjoyable over the years and watching this organization help our community has been my pleasure. I hope you will consider becoming active in helping Valley Character.

We Did It For Yahiya From Gaza

As you may know, I work with and am now a new board member of an organization called The Hope Fund (http://www.thehopefund.org) which provides scholarships for Palestinian refugees to come and study in the United States and obtain a 4-year college degree. This is a great opportunity to help educate the Palestinian youth in need.

Today I have good news. Last month I asked for your help for a young man named Yahiya from GAZA to attend Roanoke College, a private liberal arts college in my area and WE DID IT! We needed to raise $8715 by February 15th and we raised $10,015 with more checks still coming in!

The balance will go towards Yahiya's 2010 account balance with 2009 being the first of four years he will spend at Roanoke College obtaining a Bachelor's Degree. Roanoke College has graciously agreed to pay for the tuition (the most expensive part, over $30,000) every year. The Hope Fund pays for travel, books, health care and other expenses, and I find donors to cover the room and board expenses for Yahiya.

The Hope Fund has helped dozens of young Palestinian refugees start a new life by obtaining a college degree in America that helps these students escape the violence in Palestine and dream of something bigger. If you would like to help by sponsoring a student or just learn more about The Hope Fund, please contact me by email or by phone at 540.312.9449.

Da'Mes Appointed To The Planning Commission

I am honored to announce that MuAwia Da'Mes has been appointed to the HarrisonburgCity Planning Commission by the new city council.

MuAwia is a tireless worker who impressed so many this past election cycle workingfor Sam Rasoul For Congress and other candidates. Some of you may only know me because of this young man with four kids. MuAwia wrote to me:

"As you know, my disposition is to become completely committed to what I get involvedin without any intention of personal gain. I can only hope to live up to the expectationsafforded me by Council's selection as its my understanding they had 8 requests forconsideration with only two openings and they took extra steps in the vetting processby interviewing the candidates, most of which were highly qualified and whom I respectand know for their community activism. As you can imagine their selection was humblingand I consider it an honor."

MuAwia's parents immigrated from Palestine many decades ago and he has grown up in Harrisonburg. A special thanks to his loving wife, Heather, who allows him togive so much back to his community.

Best of luck to MuAwia and look out in years to come for him to make a strong impactin the Valley.

Healthcare In Crisis: Virginia Public Forum

Please try to attend.

Greatest Dangers Are From Within

Eventful as the last few months may seem, the infamy of this era may live on in the history books as marking the demise of our great Republic. With the massacre in Gaza, unrest in Africa, and world economic recession at the top of our minds, American citizens must realize that the greatest threat to the world would be a rapid deterioration of the United States as the world’s lone remaining superpower.

Contrary to neo-conservative views, while terrorism is of utmost importance for the federal government, economic and political instability are the greatest threats to our nation’s long-term viability. Under attack, our political and economic freedoms are in danger due to the abuse of our financial systems and widespread political corruption.

Economic Woes

Our economic solution must focus on how the stimulus package is spent, should include health care reform, and needs to be mindful of inflationary dangers. Obama has recently announced $300 billion in tax cuts as part of his economic stimulus package, which will account for some 40% of the projected $800+ billion stimulus total. As he continues to craft a centrist image, these tax cuts for the middle class have pleased conservative congressional leaders.

The problem with these tax cuts lies in the in the lack of focus on the spending of these funds. Not only is the impact not immediate with the tax cuts, but most of the tax cuts will not be spent on projects with the optimum multiplier effect throughout the economy. Consider the $150+ billion stimulus passed last spring; our economy felt a very minor positive impact and for only a few weeks.

Last month I spoke about 10 points to help rebuild our economy, but critical in the short-term is helping states and cities with their budget shortfalls. Even directing a small portion (7-10%) of the stimulus funding to states and cities will help to secure millions of jobs and ensure that vital services are not interrupted. As for the long-term, if the money is going to be spent, Obama’s choice of infrastructure investment for much of the remaining balance is a good one.

Missing from the conversation completely is comprehensive health care reform, which has been mischaracterized as too expensive. The reality is that a reform package like the bill H.R. 676, which has 91 co-sponsors in Congress, would actually save our nation health care dollars by eliminating inefficient health care insurance while maintaining a privately delivered health care system. This will allow for American businesses to operate with a similar cost structure to the rest of the developed world.

Inflation is a problem pushed to the back burner with the recent decrease in oil prices, but will be a serious issue facing our country in the next 12 to 24 months. With the Fed’s target rates near zero (increasing the money supply) and a massive stimulus package being passed in the coming weeks, we must be concerned with flooding the system with dollars. An abundance of dollars brings the value of the greenback down, raising prices and potentially triggering a downward spiral where we have inflation and low economic growth, or stagflation.

Political Challenges

In the midst of this “change” transition, Democratic Governor Blagojevich has highlighted the corruption that plagues our political landscape with his “pay-to-play” games. Sadly, the Blagojevich saga has become more the norm than an anomaly. Without question, we have a leadership crisis in America and in my opinion this presents the most dangerous threat to the long-term viability of our country. One of the most important steps our republic can make to counter this threat is to enact public financing of our federal elections.

Our partisan hats must be put aside when we confront political corruption because ethical double-standards do nothing but make a mockery of our political system and create increased apathy amongst our citizenry. Whether it be Democratic Congressman Jefferson or Republican Senator Larry Craig, our nation must begin to weed out these elected by having strong bipartisan condemnation of irreprehensible acts and pushing for public financing of federal elections. We must work on political reforms at this level so we can begin to elect leaders and statesmen again and not just corrupt partisan powermongers. If we hope to ensure our status as a premier superpower, we must change the way we bring our leaders to be.

Our greatest challenges are from within. With our economic hurdles needing to be met with a long-term approach, to our political shortfalls requiring systemic change, our nation must look within our borders to ensure long-term political and economic stability.

10 Points to Help Rebuild Our Economy

December 5th, 2008
10 Points To Help Rebuild Our Economy
By Sam Rasoul

On the verge of global economic collapse, we hear many ideas about how to improve our economy. Just spending more is not going to work. You can add all the fuel you want to a broken engine, but our nation needs to make some fundamental changes. If we are going to spend trillions in tax-payer dollars, we must make them count.

Here are 10 points that I feel will help rebuild the economy, but it won't be quick, cheap, or easy. The first five points are more short-term in nature and the last five more long-term:

1. The Treasury should enable banks to bring mortgage rates down to 3.5%, 200 basis points below the current market rate. A substantial decrease will help to stabilize the mortgage industry.

2. Have a one-time doubling of the Home Mortgage Interest Deduction for 2008.
-Such a tax savings will directly help millions of struggling American families.

3. Of the $700 billion in TARP monies authorized, $70 billion should go directly towards helping states and municipalities with their budget shortfalls.
-Redirecting that portion of the funding will help to secure millions of jobs and ensure that vital services are not interrupted.
-Should only be used to assist with up to 50% of the budget gap needed once the state/municipality shows it is able to make the necessary adjustments for the remaining 50%.

4. Stop political grand-standing and help the car industry with bridge loans maxing out at $50 billion.
-These funds should only be accessed on a strictly as needed basis.
-The "Big Three" should have only six months to right-size their business and re-organize the American car industry with a viable sustainable business model.

5. Double the Pell Grants for the spring semester of 2009 to help struggling families cover the cost of higher education as tuition spirals out of control, while at the same time helping colleges and universities maintain their enrollment, keeping them stable.

6. Invest $1 trillion in major infrastructure projects over the next three years, projects which will create jobs.
-The government should rebuild our deteriorating bridges so to avoid a repeat of the Minneapolis bridge collapse. Approximately one-third of our nation's bridges are in unacceptable condition.
-The United States needs investment in proper border and port security with investments in technology.
-Let us prepare for a National Energy Revolution by beefing up our national grid to support the efficient transfer of energy over long distances.
-Investment in high-speed passenger and freight rail to connect our businesses at a speed that truly reflects our 21st century technology, not the 19th century.
---Freight rail investments will reduce inventory costs with shorter freight transport times.
---Investment in passenger rail will allow for top quality jobs to reach every corner of our nation with workers being able to travel much longer distances for a career choice.

7. Support the passage of HR 676, which will solve our major health care woes by reducing inefficiency in the system and help American businesses compete both domestically and globally.

8. Invest in green technologies that will help to lessen our dependence on foreign oil and create millions of new green-collar jobs. These are quality jobs that produce family supporting wages, many of which cannot be outsourced.

9. Enact common sense regulation over Wall Street and executive compensation, including regulations that eliminate improper speculation of energy commodities.
-Enact legislation that ends tax breaks for excessive executive compensation. If a firm wants to pay an executive more than 100 times it pays its bottom workers, the firm should not be able to deduct any compensation over 100 times as an operating expense. Such a deduction results in a tax break for the firm.

10. If we want a government that works for the people and not big money, then we must take money out of the system and have federal elections that are publicly financed. The lobbyists and special interests got us into this economic mess with their control over Washington, and now it's time to regain the Republic.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Goodlatte Peer Endorses Rasoul

The Rasoul for Congress campaign today received the endorsement of Mr. Wayne Gilchrest, the Republican Congressman representing the 1st District of Maryland. Mr. Gilchrest sits on the Committees of Natural Resources and Transportation & Infrastructure. Congressman Gilchrest has served with Congressman Goodlatte on many issues common to both regions including this year's Farm Bill and Chesapeake Bay concerns.

Congressman Gilchrest stated, "For 18 years I have served as a Republican member of the House of Representatives. But I am crossing party lines to endorse Sam Rasoul because of his positions on the important policy issues of today. I'm supporting Sam Rasoul because I know that he shares our values and will put principle above party in Washington."

Mr. Gilchrest was elected to Congress in 1990 and has served with Congressman Goodlatte for the last 16 years. Knowing Mr. Goodlatte for so long, it comes as a surprise that Congressman Gilchrest would back his opponent but he continued, "Sam will work with both sides of the aisle to address the many problems that Virginians and the people of this great nation face. From the economy to health care to responsibly ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Sam has the skill and the knowledge to be a responsible voice for you in our nation's Capitol. As a veteran who served in Viet Nam and as a Marine rifleman, I would be proud to have Sam Rasoul at my side."

"Mr. Gilchrest has served his district and this nation proudly," responded Rasoul. "I am honored to receive his endorsement and look forward to continuing the tradition of bi-partisanship that Congressman Gilchrest has held in trust during his tenure in Washington."

This is Mr. Rasoul's fourth major endorsement in the last week and follows the endorsement of Chairman John Conyers of Michigan, The Roanoke Times and The Staunton News Leader.