It’s an election year. Right now, Republicans control all three branches of government. When asked the question, “Generally speaking, would you say things in this country are heading in the right direction, or are they off on the wrong track?” only 1/3 of adults nationwide say we are headed in the right direction. We need a change. While we can’t do much about the Supreme Court or the Presidency right now, we can affect the legislature. This November, Iowa’s fourth district will be asked to choose whether we want to continue to be represented by Tom Latham, or if we want Dr. Selden Spencer to take over the job of representing us in the U.S. House of Representatives. The WEB believes it is time for a change, and thoroughly endorses Dr. Spencer. Spencer began as a candidate known by many as only “the guy running against Latham.” Since then, he has made a name for himself in the fourth district and nationwide as the only candidate for Congress to visit Afghanistan while on the campaign trail. Afghanistan has played a substantial role in U.S. foreign policy and the War on Terrorism, and Spencer felt that visiting would be a good opportunity to get a better perspective on what’s going on in the area, as well as volunteer his services as a doctor. Now Spencer is back in Iowa, promoting the tenets of his campaign, many of which cross party lines. Spencer emphasizes fiscal accountability; although it is traditionally a conservative value, the $9,000,000,000,000 national debt demands our attention. Since Bush’s 2006 State of the Union address, energy independence has become a bipartisan issue, and Spencer wants Iowa to play a leading role in the transition to alternative energy sources. Spencer also plans on bringing his experience as a doctor to Washington so that he can help to create an efficient system of universal healthcare. The current Medicare prescription drug benefit, Part D, is inefficient and benefits big business instead of the American people. America pays about twice as much per capita as other developed countries on healthcare, but our infant morality rate is higher and our life expectancy is lower. Iraq is another key issue in this election, and Spencer’s views are aligned well with those of The WEB. Spencer understands that we cannot leave Iraq immediately, but we can change the course so that we are more effective. He also understands that our presence is only adding tension and instability to the area, but it is still our responsibility to rebuild that which we have destroyed. Spencer also wants the new Congress to investigate the role of the petroleum industry in the war, the no-bid contracts with Halliburton, and how nine billion dollars of United States money disappeared in Iraq. Spencer’s website, http://www.spencerforcongress.com/, states the current situation in Iraq quite accurately. “Each week that passes takes another 15 U.S. soldiers, more than a hundred are wounded, 700 innocent civilians are killed, and we add another $3 billion to our record budget deficits. Yet the situation in Iraq continues to deteriorate. Staying the course as our soldiers become entrapped in a civil war is not an option.” Tom Latham has been nothing but a rubberstamp for the Bush administration’s ill-advised endeavors. He was elected in 1994 for the first time in Newt Gingrich’s Contract with America, which entailed term limits of 12 years for representatives, among other things. This election, those 12 years are up. It’s time for a change. The WEB recommends everyone who is eligible register to vote immediately, and in November elect someone who will really represent Iowa’s fourth district. Spencer for Congress!