My name is Herb Robinson, I am running for the United States House or Representatives in 2012 as a Democrat from the Massachusetts 4th Congressional District.

In a nutshell, I am socially liberal and fiscally responsible.  That means I believe in supporting Main Street, not Wall Street.  It also means that I believe the government must live within its means and that large government programs are often the worst way to accomplish good deeds -- no matter how well meaning the intent.

I am not a politician, I am an Engineer with more than 30 years experience solving problems in private industry.  If you want to change the way Washington does business, I am your best bet.  Our country is facing an economic downslide that will not be resolved without an all hands on deck effort to reduce our dependency on foreign oil. I believe that the fastest step we can take to make that happen, and provide jobs, is to reduce the taxes on long term capital gains.  I want to see little or no capital gains tax for IPOs (Initial Public Offerings) on American energy startups and something in the 10% range for IPOs on other American startups.  This is my first choice because it should appeal to both parties and I want to get the job done, not bicker over how it gets done.  I am aware that the only proven way to stimulate the economy is FDR style stimulus spending, but that seems to be more difficult for Congress to agree on.  I do, of course, support all kinds of stimulus spending, including everything in President Obama's Jobs Bill.  Also, I believe that Federal budget cuts have a negative multiplier effect on the economy the same way stimulus spending has a positive effect -- Even though I would like to see reductions in the largest Federal bureaucracies, I would be very careful to make sure they only happen to the overseas portion of the budget.

This is a unique period in history and it is important that our elected representatives be capable of understanding technology.  We need at least some representation with the ability to understand when technology is dangerous and stop it from happening -- You just can't legislate the laws of physics and you can't negotiate the way mathematics works! 

For example, if we attempt to use dangerous technology, it's only a matter of time until we have a catastrophe in the United States.  The Chernobyl nuclear accident has killed between 9000 and 900,000 people over 20 years (it's hard to figure out exactly how many -- the experts disagree wildly) and will continue to kill at a similar rate for the next 400 to 500 years.  The Fukushima Daiichi accident is in the same class and has the potential for as many long term casualties.

Who do you want making the decisions that will affect the safety and health of your children, grandchildren and the thousands of generations that come after them:  Some photogenic showboat or an Engineer who actually understands the difference between  hairspray and nuclear fallout?

Remember, revolutions in American politics happen one vote at a time.  That would be you!  Please sign up to help out.  You don't have to do a lot, I have a 4 hour task for you that will make all the difference.