Ask a Career Politician

Our Guest Advice Columnist this week is Governor Montgomery Stapleton. Governor Stapleton has been a political figure in the US for 32 years. His claims to fame are protecting the public’s interests, fighting for the rights of others, and negotiating bills and laws to defend people and make a difference (all his words).

Jennifer L. – Montgomery, Alabama – I have been a nurse for over 20 years. I am used to unruly patients, disrespectful doctors, being barked at by patients’ family members, and working insane shifts and ridiculous overtime. With so many people leaving the Health Industry, my hours are even longer, and my workload is even heavier, I have not received a raise for 3 years, people have even shorter fuses, I am always tired, and nothing is seeming to be getting better anytime soon. Do you think I should stick it out in hopes that things will turn around, or should I start looking for a new career?

Jennifer. First of all, I hope you know how much we appreciate those in the medical field. Louise Daniels, an African American nurse in Toledo, Ohio, just told me the other day that she is in such a rut finding daycare for her kids while she works her shifts. Daycare is so important. And with gun violence, and not necessarily gun violence, being what it is today, we must protect and defend our children. Children are our future. This is why we must create more jobs. Whether it is teaching, law enforcement, electricity; these are areas that need more people. The Oil and Gas industry, as a whole, is so important, and we need to keep this machine going. It is so imperative to the US economy. And regardless of what some may say about the economy, we are on the verge of something great in this great country. God bless you, Jennifer for all you do. 

Michael K. – The Woodlands, Texas – I am a small businessman. I have owned a restaurant in the Woodlands for 14 years. We have had our ups and downs. Unfortunately, right now we are down. The cost of just simple things like; eggs, milk, poultry, and beef are just all of the sudden insanely expensive. I have to charge over $15.00 for an omelet just to make very minimal profits. I have seen such a drop-off in patronage. We are never as busy as we were in the past. It all comes back to the expense of core price increases versus the general public not seeing any increases in their pockets. What can I do to try to build my business in these tough economic times?

Michael. Thank you for your efforts in the restaurant industry. Just last week I was talking to a Hispanic gentleman named Jorge Alverez, who is a server in a very well-known restaurant in Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin. He explained to me that he loves the opportunities that have been given to him as a new citizen of these great United States. It is so important for legal immigrants to have all of the same chances that US-born citizens do. Whether that is certain inalienable rights, to the pursuit of happiness, to the American Dream! Why so much hate? And why so much change when it comes to public opinion as well as the right to keep things culturally the same? We need to make sure that we all have the same fighting chance. My father worked so hard to give me the best life possible. Did it always work out well? Heck no. But with a mere $2 million that he left to me upon his death, I took it upon myself to become a self-made man. You just keep that in mind when it comes to what you do, and I am sure you will see that the American Dream is as big as the World we live in. 

Julie F. – Studio City, California – I have always wanted to be an actress. I picked up and moved to California when I was just 18 to start my journey. I am 25 now. I was always the star of my high school plays, and I am a great singer. I am pretty attractive, too. I have an agent, but she has not done much for me. She says that I need to try to audition for every part that comes my way. I am running out of money to survive, so I have taken a job as a bartender to make ends meet. Any advice on how I can strengthen my chances to reach the heights that I am striving for?

Julie. Thank you for the art you are offering. You seem so dedicated to your craft. I have a friend in New York. She is of Indian descent. Darma Singh. She has always been enamored with Broadway. Living in New York is quite expensive. Taxes are high and so is the cost of living. There are so many homeless people in this country. Volunteers do their best to help this crisis, but they always need help… and funding. That is something I stand for in the biggest way. How can we increase funding for volunteers? Whether it is for helping at the polls, door to door polling when it come to political candidates, or even just helping to put together political rallies. Funds are always needed. People need to make sacrifices to make sure important causes get the money they need. When I first ran for office, I did it with only 23 people helping with my campaign. I now have 104 people working around the clock on my team. These people sacrifice time with their children and spouses, extra money from their own pockets, and sleep just to make sure our campaign runs like a well-oiled machine year-round. We all make sacrifices. Heck, I am lucky if I get 8 to 10 hours sleep on any given night. I am with my team at least 7 to 9 days every month to make sure that we are doing what needs to be done to ensure that we can make the best efforts possible to make this great country even better. Bottom line… it takes sacrifice. TEAM. Together Everyone Achieves More! You must make sacrifices, Julie. It’s the only way that you can become a truly successful bartender.