Imagine taking a simple philosophy of 3 words and turning them into a vision for future entrepreneurs.

Simple words like Educate, Encourage, and Empowerment sounds like a philosophy that rings of something that comes out of some “self help motivational book”, but today I met 2 of Jacksonville’s real business leaders that not only believe in those words, but live them.

E3 Leaders Anthony Butler, Sr., Rich Stewart and I had the opportunity to sit over lunch at the City Kidz Ice Cream Cafe in downtown Jacksonville, and discuss the real power behind the E3 Business Group’s  plan and vision for those who desire to become small business owners and entrepreneurs right in the Jacksonville area. Without a doubt, these people involved with the E3 project are going to build the future leaders of this nation and do exactly what they have set out to accomplish:

• Educate people on all aspects of living and how education is not only important, but the way we are teaching our children today is failing them and leaving them totally unprepared for living.
• Encourage people to reach for the dreams and desires beyond what they imagine is possible and to define goals and objectives for reaching those dreams
• Empowerment of the individual by making application of these principles and running on that road to success as a lifetime journey- not a destination.

My belief is that the 3rd Congressional District is perhaps the most under-served District in the nation and by bringing small business initiatives and opportunities to the people who can benefit the most, they will succeed in enriching the communities and the neighborhoods where they work and live. All throughout this District, few are encouraged by what the future may hold and little opportunity is there to overcome that plight many talk empty talk about and do little to make a real difference in improving. The reality is, this District is ripe with potential and simply needs to change the mindset and the leadership to make that possible. Every accomplishment begins with a vision, and without a doubt Anthony Butler and Rich Stewart have that vision and desire to give back to the community more than they receive with their E3 Business Group.

We discussed changing the way we educate our children that will actually leave them with knowledge and skills they can apply in real world situations. Our discussion led to a belief that entrepreneurship is a trade/skill that can be learned and applied to impact the lives of countless numbers of people and that a belief in a dream and having the resources available to reach that quest can and will be possible through an entire network of small and medium business initiatives in this District.

Bringing real technological manufacturing to Florida can not only create jobs, but further enhance the success of new and dynamic start-up companies throughout this area. It is possible to bring real prosperity to this District that has the reputation of “poverty, crime, and low educational expectations” by working through the E3 Business Group and initiatives I will bring to this District as the Congressman representing the PEOPLE and not the big money, special interest groups now in charge of Washington. Unless there is someone in Washington that understands Small Business and the need to bring more and more success to this District, nothing will ever change. I believe that the E3 Business Group in conjunction with real Congressional leadership, we can revive this entire region and bring real growth and opportunity for all.

I am looking forward to meeting again with these men and women of the E3 Business Group and further unfolding my vision for real economic development for the 3rd District. It starts with real education reform so the next generation of entrepreneurs are armed with the tools needed to succeed and ends the cycle of drop-outs that has plagued this District for decades. When we empower the our children and grandchildren with the motivation of successful living, we have left them ready to lead our country into the future only America offers.

I believe that real leadership and a real return to the community comes from making sure the E3 Business Group not only succeeds, but becomes the model for the next leaders of business and the communities they serve- a model this country will want to follow. Their model is the self-sustaining method for real prosperity for our children and our future as a nation.

3 simple words that can transform an entire nation and ones I believe is the solution for the survival of the American dream, the American family, and the American way of life. It is time that the real measure of success becomes how easy it is to find a job and how easy it is to start a business and it begins with working with the leaders and visionaries of the E3 Business Group.

Today, Rep. Corrine Brown introduced legislation that would ban all off-shore drilling and exploration for oil. Her ban would:

“permanently prohibit the conduct of offshore drilling on the outer Continental Shelf of the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.”

Mike would like to remind Rep. Brown that the Department of Energy was created for the sole purpose of “Eliminating the Dependence of Foreign Oil” in the United States. In spite of the fact that is its purpose, it has obviously FAILED miserably in its objective.

Yes, we have a massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, but to have this type of knee-jerk reaction to this disaster is far from what is needed to achieve the goals of the Department of Energy.

Mike believes in 3 basic goals that must be achieved and drilling resumed:

1. Determine the cause of this disaster and make sure that proper safeguards and controls are in place to assure that it will not happen again.
2. Clean up this disaster using all available private and public resources to do so.
3. Open other areas of this nation like the Bakken Reserves in N. Dakota and Montana for drilling.

Rep. Brown seems to forget that until there is available alternative energy sources that can fully meet the demands of this nations energy needs, oil will remain a needed resource for our nations survival. Even her “precious” rail transportation system she wishes to spend even MORE of taxpayers dollars on and continue to subsidize with even MORE taxpayers dollars, requires DIESEL FUEL to operate. Rep. Brown, THAT is an “oil based” product and to restrict the supply of DOMESTIC oil is going to be even MORE costly for Americans.

Instead of more legislation that will cost the people of this District even more in energy dollars, Rep. Brown would be better off working to create JOBS for the people and bring OPPORTUNITY to this District. Taking train rides to Miami to bring even more “high speed rail” to areas OUTSIDE this District is not making “Corrine Delivers” a truthful statement.

Arizona has come under assault by countless numbers of illegal immigrants because of one simple reason- the Federal government has refused to enforce the laws already on the books. Much of the area south on Interstate 10 is under attack including Tucson by illegals trafficking in narcotics and marijuana. Murders are at an all time high and attacks on law enforcement officers is commonplace throughout the region.

Arizona shares a common southern border with Mexico and the area south of there is a hotbed of gangs, thugs, and all out warfare of those attempting to control the illegal entrance routes into the U.S. The border fence is almost non-existent along that border and construction has been halted due to numerous reasons, including lack of funding by Congress to complete the mission originally started under President Bush.

Politically, the illegals in the country are a hotbed of dispute as to what to do with them. Democrats are going to tackle the issue, but with ONE goal in mind- increasing their voting block by nearly 20 million people. Amnesty is what they are going to propose for these illegals and Republican opposition is no doubt going to happen. Which ever “Party” can deliver the best bill for allowing illegals to stay in this nation will be the ones who has the most to gain in terms of voters.

Either way, the American people are sick of the “politics” of what to do with illegals and want to see simple enforcement of the laws before they “trust” the politicos with an “amnesty bill” for illegals already here.

Americans are not stupid either. Most of the illegals here are low-wage, semi to unskilled labor, and offer little in terms of “tax paying” capability. It is estimated that as a group, granting amnesty would only add considerably in Federal spending for already out of control entitlement programs. Many are receiving several billion Federal dollars already with the “anchor baby” rules we have had wrongly interpreted by activist courts. Programs like Medicaid, WIC, SCHIPS, and TANF are already filled with illegals at taxpayer expense. Who knows the countless dollars being spent in education and housing for illegals.

As was shown in 2007, Americans have no taste for an amnesty program or a “path to citizenship” for illegal aliens. The outcries of “fairness” toward illegals is sickening to many as well. America is NOT a nation of “fairness”, but one of a Rule of Law. The law is plain- if you are here illegally, you have broken the law. It doesn’t matter than you have children born here, family here, a job here, or for whatever reason you are here- YOU broke the law by coming into this nation without following the proper channels to get here.

The solution is without question, a very simple one and the type of “Immigration Reform” the American people will accept is as follows:

• Enforce existing laws regarding immigration. If you are here illegally, you are deported- PERIOD. That is what the law calls for now, so enforce it. (This is what Arizona seeks to do within their State borders)
• Complete the wall on our southern border. Unless the influx of illegals is halted at every point, the problem is only going to be harder to solve.
• Enforce the laws for employers who knowingly and willingly hire illegals. E-verify MUST be used before ANY person is hired to determine their legal status for employment. Increase the penalties for any employer who fails to use E-verify before hiring anyone.
• Increase penalties for any person who knowingly provides forged paperwork to anyone entering this country illegally. Increase penalties for anyone in possession of such documents.
• Eliminate the “anchor baby” provisions with laws requiring the parents to be legal U.S. citizens before their children born here can automatically be citizens. Redefine the term “natural born citizen” to mean a child in which BOTH parents are American citizens.
• Eliminate all expenditures of Federal money to any person who is NOT a U.S. citizen on any program funded partially or totally by taxpayers dollars.
• Define that illegals have no “rights” under the U.S. Constitution, other than the basic human right of being treated humanely when caught, access to the courts only for deportation or criminal proceedings, and that only United States citizens are allowed full protection of the law under the Constitution of our country.
• Streamline the process for those here LEGALLY to obtain American citizenship.
• Create new tracking methods and reporting requirements for those here on Visa’s or other entry documents that were obtained legally. Those who overstay their Visa’s will be deported and no longer be permitted to re-enter this country ever.
• Define English as the official language of the United States and that any person wishing to obtain citizenship be required to learn English.

These are Immigration Reforms ALL Americans can accept and wish that Congress would take a strong stand to ensure passage. LEGAL immigration is the backbone of our nation and has been for hundreds of years. We are all, basically, the result of immigration and to discount our rights as citizens and to confer those rights to someone that did not follow proper channels to get here is unacceptable to us.

It is time to elect those who will not engage in the POLITICAL motivations on Immigration Reform, but will do as the people of this nation desire. It is time to elect Mike Yost- the only candidate who will be “Taking YOUR Voice to D.C.”