Citizens deserve to be represented in government by people who are not simply looking to move up the political ladder and amass power for themselves. Instead, we should be represented by people who personally believe in something. We need people who, instead of working for the benefit of their powerful friends and special interest groups, are working for the greater benefit of society as whole.

I want everyone to be successful in life. In order for that to happen, I believe that it is time for common sense and personal responsibility to return to the nation and to the State of California. And I believe that striving for success will make society better off.

In 1961, John F. Kennedy proclaimed the immortal words, "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country." Too many people in the America that we live in today have decided to live their lives contrary to that noble notion. Instead of being positive members of society, many have adopted an outlook where they believe, regardless of their contributions to society, they are entitled to receive money and services from the government. Instead of seeking out ways to succeed, far too many people are searching for excuses to justify failure. This is the wrong way to go through life.

The way to help out the country and the State of California is simple: Focus on becoming a functional contributor to society. Do not look to others to solve your problems; find ways to solve your problems on your own. Do not miss any opportunity to improve yourself to the point where you can stand on your own two feet. This includes getting a good education, acquiring skills to make yourself valuable in the eyes of others, and avoiding self-destructive behaviors. If we are able to improve ourselves and become fully-functioning contributors to society, we will find that we will no longer feel the need to turn to government to rescue us. We will be able to walk through life with our heads held high, full of pride in our accomplishments, instead of with our hands held out in search of help.

We all need to realize that there are consequences to our actions. If you behave well, then you set yourself up to reap the rewards that come about as a result of that behavior. But if you behave badly, you should understand that there will be negative consequences as a result of those actions. You must also realize that you should not expect others to bail you out when you put yourself in a bad situation. It is unfair for others to pay for your poor decisions.

I want everyone in society to succeed. But success involves effort. The role of government is to ensure that, if you put forth the necessary effort, the opportunity to succeed is available. It is up to the individual to find their own path to success. And if everyone is willing to honestly put forth their best effort, many of California's problems can be fixed.

In order to achieve this fundamental shift in the way society operates, we must elect leaders who will act as role models for others. We need people who can be depended upon to work for the betterment of society as a whole. We need people who truly believe in allowing citizens to reap the rewards of their own efforts. We need people who want everyone to be able to succeed in life. I believe in these principles down to my very core, and I believe that I am exactly the kind of person that California needs.