As a member of a working family, I’m worried about job security; about the dramatic disappearance of jobs and small businesses in our communities; about the loss for so many of that most basic human need – to earn an honest day’s wage for an honest day’s work. I believe firmly that we must collectively work to bring back manufacturing jobs to this country so our country becomes a producer of goods rather than simply a consumer.

As a future retiree, I’m worried about the catastrophic decline in the value of my retirement, and worried about our financial security – still at the mercy of a woefully under-regulated financial sector, still indifferent to the consequences of their reckless and self-serving behavior on real people, like us.

And I’m angry that the current representative, John Boehner, is making promises to the Wall Street bankers he helped to bail out that he now will work to block any new regulations to protect the public in exchange for campaign contributions for his party.

As a homeowner, I’m worried about the value of my home and my neighbors’ homes, concerned about the continuing toll of the foreclosure crisis on our economy, on our communities and on all the families who suffer as a result.

As a taxpayer, I’m frustrated with elected officials, like Mr. Boehner, who have carelessly approved spending beyond our country’s means for nearly a decade, acting with knowing disregard for responsible and sustainable fiscal practices and wasting untold hundreds of billions of our tax dollars on an unnecessary war and irresponsible tax cuts for the rich, all the while, scoffing at programs to strengthen, build and grow our people and our communities.

And as a constituent, I’m frustrated with career politicians like Mr. Boehner, who serve only the special interests of the rich and powerful, eager to bask in privilege and excess, while willingly ignoring the people they were elected to serve, unaware or indifferent to their viewpoints, their struggles and their aspirations. This servitude to the special interests on behalf of Mr. Boehner is no more evident than his vote last week to uphold insurance companies' anti-trust exemption, an appalling vote that should cause a chill to run down the spines of his constituents.

Government solutions may not always be the answer, but they are not always the problem either, as Mr. Boehner would have us believe. In a democracy, we get the government we deserve – because we make it what it is. And Mr. Boehner’s "just say no" approach to governance, is neither effective leadership nor responsible representation.

That’s why I’m running – to end the 20-year reign of an out-of-touch career politician and take back the people’s seat in Congress; to return responsibility, respect and common sense to our seat in Washington; and to listen to and learn from all the people of the 8th District, giving them a voice once again.

But I cannot do this alone. I need help from people like you on the netroots if I am going to take the 8th District seat away from Wall Street and the insurance companies.

Please help me by donating money at my website.

And if you live in or near the 8th District in southwestern Ohio, please consider becoming a volunteer for the campaign as well.

This campaign will not be easy. I am an underfunded long-shot against the House Minority Leader in a solidly conservative district. But I know I can make it a race with your help. And I know I can win if we put all our collective resources together and finally focus on defeating John Boehner once and for all.

Thank you Kossacks for your time. I look forward to future conversations with you throughout the campaign season.

www.coussouleforcongress.com