Elections normally choose individual candidates for public office, based on their records, promises and qualifications for the job they are seeking. Purple believes there are reasons to look at this election for our 10th District Congressman more broadly.

America faces many problems, each tracing to one or more of the basic dangers our nation faces:

(1) Animosities between the US and some Asian peoples because of cultural, religious, and economic differences. Symptoms include wars, terrorism and nuclear proliferation.

(2) Impending climate disruption.

(3) Fiscal instability, traceable to excess and risky US borrowing over several decades. Resulting unemployment, deficits, and accumulated debt must be addressed.

In considering these critical issues, Congress has divided along partisan lines, with adherence to the Party line demanded of its members. Thus almost no Republicans are willing to work cooperatively with the Democratic President, or vote for his proposals. Since only 41 senators (out of 100) can block any legislation, for almost two years Congress has been gridlocked. Republicans claim this proves the Democrats are ineffective, and the Democrats, with some justification, call the Republicans the "Party of No." The Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision on the Citizens United case (all of the majority five were Republican appointees), has unleashed large sums of anonymous corporate and special interest money to spew a torrent of innuendo and misinformation into this election.

For the campaign Republicans have promulgated a seven point "Contract with America." Very briefly, they would:

• Vow to support the Constitution (implying some Democrats don't)
• Escalate the intensity of the war on terror
• Propose a Constitutional Amendment requiring a balanced budget
• Reduce taxes (but without specifics on cutting spending)
• Deal harshly with illegal immigrants
• Promote drilling to achieve energy independence; oppose any tax on carbon emissions
• Reinforce a citizen's right to bear arms

They offer no program to solve the three major issues facing America, unless you believe that differences with Islam can be ironed out by military action, or deficits reduced without raising taxes. From his 65 years of experience in business, government and conservation, Purple believes the Contract is unrealistic, drafted only to appeal to angry voters who have taken no time to understand and analyze the facts. So your vote in November is also for a Party, not just for a candidate.

But how about the candidates? Retired Air Force Colonel Jeff Barnett, Democrat, is a vigorous newcomer to politics. As a combat-experienced pilot he believes the Iraq war was a "monumental mistake." With two children in uniform he favors working our way out of Afghanistan ASAP. His military career gave him deep experience in intelligence, and he hopes to serve on that House committee. He is for "fiscal sanity," including targeted tax increases for those most able to pay. And he supports a mix of cap-and-trade and carbon taxes to address climate change.

Republican Frank Wolf has been in Congress 30 years. He voted for the Iraq war and against against any action on climate, despite the overwhelming science establishing its dangers. His best proposal was to call for a bipartisan Congressional body to address the financial mess. The Republican Senate vetoed this good idea, and Frank poo-poohed the President's alternative - a bipartisan group of elder statesmen to propose solutions. What does that say about Wolf's ability to influence his Republican caucus, or stand up when he is right?

Wolf is running for his 16th term in Congress. His Party's "Contract with America" calls for a limit of six terms for Congressmen. Purple, a bit older than Frank, knows the pressure of a government job, and the hard time keeping up as one ages. Why didn't the Republicans adhere to their Contract and select a younger candidate? The voters now have a chance to correct their error, and vote for Jeff Barnett, and the nation, rather than the hypocritical Republican Party and its long term incumbent.