Brian L. Bengs

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Physical and moral courage includes the willingness to face challenges and do what’s right no matter the situation, people, or place involved because actions matter more than words. Public officials have a greater obligation to stand up and speak out when something isn’t right–even if it means going against their political party.

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Words are what people live by—words they say and mean. Partisanship outsources the integrity of public officials to a political party that makes decisions for them. Yet whether a billionaire or a custodian, a person is only as good as his/her word. Keeping promises is integrity in action that builds trust. American society is built on trust so public officials must be better held to this standard without regard to political party affiliation.

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What is the brand for a public official? Do they work for a political party, wealthy campaign donors, or the interests of regular folks who vote for them? The answer, of course, should be regular folks but career partisans who spend too long in Washington seem to forget the regular folks who sent them there and why. South Dakota public officials must work first and foremost for regular South Dakotans.

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What someone does or does not do is a much better indicator of true intentions and character than what they say because actions speak louder than words. The values and principles a public official believes and what they stand for should be clear to regular folks watching their actions. The dysfunction of partisanship can be overcome if public officials continually strive to connect with regular folks of all political affiliations by engaging them directly, convey accurate information in a clear and concise way, and explain how core values and principles apply.

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In A Cowboy’s Prayer, Badger Clark–South Dakota’s first Poet Laureate–explains this concept clearly. Cowboys had few material possessions so were instead focused on enjoying God’s creation and the well-being of family, friends, and neighbors who stand by you in tough times. Public officials acting on behalf of regular folks must keep their priorities in the proper order.

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Everyone has a personal limit on what you will say, do, or allow to happen in your personal or professional life. Because of the potential risk to our society, however, public officials have a greater obligation to recognize, respect, and ensure accountability for violations of the boundaries. Partisanship undermines this responsibility by expecting inaction for violations supported by the party.

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The two-party system incentivizes and rewards extremism and hyperpartisanship while shortchanging regular people. Our political system suffers from the same problem as our economy for the same reasons: too little competition because of too much money involved. Gerrymandering—when politicians choose their voters instead of voters choosing their representatives—is practiced by both parties. Congress is in a state of dysfunctional gridlock because gerrymandering ensures the most ideological extreme members only have to worry about a primary election, not a competitive general election. The Supreme Court again screwed regular people with the Rucho v. Common Cause (2019) decision, declaring the federal courts unable to prevent partisan gerrymandering. Since that judicial green light, gerrymandering has become more common and more extreme. Federal redistricting reform will take map-drawing out of the hands of diehard partisans trying to rig congressional districts for their preferred party. This common-sense reform will make Congress more accountable, more balanced, and more responsive to regular people as our founders intended.

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Social Security and Medicare, two of the most successful programs in American history, are a promise that after a lifetime of hard work, regular people will not be left struggling in old age or when facing serious illness. Keeping these programs strong is a moral obligation and practical necessity for economic stability and the dignity of the millions counting on them. Career politicians have proposed privatizing Medicare and Social Security so Big Money can further profit off the backs of senior citizens. I won’t stand by while Big Money career politicians once again screw over the regular people who depend on these programs.

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Our immigration system is outdated and broken because it’s more valuable as a perpetual campaign issue. We have the slowest population growth since the 1930s, so immigration is crucial to American economic growth and prosperity. To remain globally competitive and keep Social Security strong, effects-based reform must include a strong border security component and increased legal immigration. Specifics are available here: https://substack.com/home/post/p-171833263

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Public officials have a duty to lead, follow, or get out of the way. Our country has many issues deserving greater attention and action but if a political party isn’t interested partisans are far too content to do nothing. Regular folks know not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts but action is better than inaction.

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A tough leader sets high standards and is not afraid to impose consequences for failure to meet them while a fair leader is impartial and consistent with the standards. In essence this means consistently treating everyone with respect and understanding, regardless of any personal attributes you may disagree with or dislike. This is a low standard but partisans still freely violate it.

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Actual systemic change requires structural fixes such as open primaries and consensus choice voting that partisans oppose because they restore power to regular people. Appeals for “civility” or “bipartisanship” are insufficient. Permanently changing the rules of the game to alter incentives is the only viable solution.

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Big Money bought the ability to create their preferred tax system that helps the rich get richer at the expense of everyday Americans. It’s long past time for the ultra-rich to pay their fair share once again, like they had to in the 1960s. So-called “fiscally responsible” politicians are lying when they say we must choose between programs benefiting regular people or paying down our national debt. Both are possible. Not only that, but we can actually lower taxes for small businesses and people who work for a living. Specifics are available here: https://substack.com/home/post/p-173472009

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Roughly 50 percent of our national debt is the result of the four tax cuts since 2000 that overwhelmingly benefited the wealthiest 1 percent. The time for talking and budget gimmicks is over. America’s long-term prosperity and security depend upon restoring fiscal responsibility. Balancing the federal budget and paying down the national debt are not just economically prudent actions; they are imperatives. Both conservatives and liberals are guilty of reckless spending without the accountability taxpayers deserve. We must set aside partisan grandstanding and engage in honest budgeting with effects-based investing that strengthens our economy so we don’t pass down a bill to the next generation. To make that happen, members of Congress apparently need repercussions for not doing their job, such as withholding their salary during a government shutdown.

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Corruption is not a conservative or liberal issue, so eliminating it shouldn’t be partisan. It is a slow rot destroying public trust, weakening America, and screwing over regular people. Big Money relies on both legal and illegal corruption in the Washington swamp to control the government. My experience as a military prosecutor and federal ethics advisor convinced me that governmental integrity requires unimpeachable ethical standards and irreproachable personal conduct by all people in government. For starters, members of Congress and their spouses must be banned from purchasing, selling, or holding individual stocks for the duration of their time in office. Because of their committee assignments, these members have access to nonpublic information enabling them to trade stocks before such information becomes widely known. Insider trading is a crime for regular people, but somehow not for members of Congress. If the government is to actually serve the people, not the powerful, we must constantly push for transparency and accountability in all corners.

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If you think the government doesn’t do what’s best for regular people, you’re right and researchers have confirmed it. It’s obscenely corrupt that corporate political action committees (PACs) and Big Money mega-donors can spend unlimited money to drown out the voices of everyday Americans. In 2024, a mere 25 mega-donors bought access, power, and preferred policy by contributing $1.4 billion to super PACs. The Supreme Court screwed regular people with the Citizens United (2010) decision, declaring unlimited corporate political spending free speech. Until we reclaim government for the people with a constitutional amendment banning this “legal” corruption, Big Money will always rig the system to keep us divided so their pockets stay full. Specifics are available here: https://substack.com/home/post/p-172312433

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Affordable living is the foundation of a stable and productive society. If day-to-day requirements like housing, healthcare, food, and education are unaffordable, working families struggle and the American dream shrinks. That dream is already fading when 50 percent of Americans believe there is little chance young people will have better lives than their parents and 32 percent of regular people do not have any emergency savings. Affordability means people working full-time can live with dignity. Good policies like fair wages, targeted subsidies, and tax credits make a difference. The goal is to restructure our economic system so it delivers for regular people, too, not just Big Money that has engineered the status quo. Specifics are available here: https://substack.com/p/its-all-about-affordability

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The healthcare industry is effectively a monopoly. Big Money owns career politicians who keep the entire system rigged for maximum profit. Healthcare accounted for 27 percent of federal spending in fiscal year 2024, a percentage projected to rise dramatically if nothing changes. Compared to other wealthy countries, the U.S. spends far more per person on healthcare and pays 278 percent higher prescription drug prices. Indeed, since the adoption of the Affordable Care Act, the top 5 for-profit health insurance companies have collected 230 percent more profits while premiums skyrocketed. It’s no wonder medical debt causes over 50 percent of personal bankruptcies. By every measure, regular people are getting the shaft. Completely overhauling American healthcare is a complex challenge that we literally cannot afford to ignore any longer. A 5-stage effects-based process of reinventing our system will simultaneously reduce costs while improving the affordability and accessibility that everyday Americans deserve.

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Over 85 percent of Americans support term limits, and 79 percent support a maximum age for lawmakers, yet Congress refuses to send a constitutional amendment to the states. It’s time to end the era of career politicians prioritizing themselves over the people they claim to represent. That disconnect is typically the result of too much time in the Washington swamp. Term limits will restore accountability and reduce corruption by encouraging fresh ideas. No senator should be in office more than two terms (12 years), and no representative more than six terms (12 years). I pledge to advocate for those standards and lead by example in serving no more than two terms. It’s time to return power to the people and make the government work for everyone again.

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The Court has a vital role in maintaining the separation of powers between our branches of government while enforcing the rule of law necessary for a functional republic. 70 percent of Americans support term limits for Supreme Court justices, and 75 percent of us support an enforceable code of conduct to prevent them from accepting “gifts” from Big Money donors. Despite the strong support of regular people to transform the Court away from an unaccountable, quasi-political body, the Court refuses to regulate itself, and hardcore partisans defend the inherent corruption. Congress must impose enforceable ethical standards to increase accountability and transparency. Although a constitutional amendment is required to impose term limits, there is a workaround to achieve the same outcome with Congressional action. Specifics are available here: https://substack.com/home/post/p-174175189

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There’s a lot of wisdom in the advice to “mind your own damn business.” I believe in limited government that respects your liberty to lead a life of meaning and purpose—whatever that means to you. The government should stay out of your personal life and let you make your own choices, even if others disagree.

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As a gun owner, I favor reasonable gun safety measures and support your right to bear arms because self-defense isn’t up for debate. As a husband and father of daughters, I respect a woman’s right to choose and support abortion restrictions after the point of “viability” with exceptions for the life or health of a mother. As a person who generally wants others to be happy, I support you loving whomever you want.

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Freedom and liberty are about trusting you to run your own life and handle the consequences of your choices. Unless you are infringing on another person’s rights, the government shouldn’t make choices for you. Politicians trying to overreach, overregulate, or dictate how you can live, love, or defend yourself need regular reminders to “mind your own damn business.”

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South Dakota’s congressional delegation hasn’t included a military veteran for decades, and it shows. As the only veteran running for federal office in the state, I know that vets kept their promises to us during America’s longest war because I was there with them. I will ensure we keep our promises to them. Too many career politicians are trying to privatize Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare so Big Money can profit off the backs of our veterans. Only 27 percent of the VA’s 2022/23/24 healthcare budget was spent on direct VA-provided healthcare, while the rest went to private contractors. VA medical facilities are already facing severe staff shortages and must now deal with recently announced significant workforce reductions. Both issues are causing healthcare delays and access problems, along with a growing backlog and increased wait for claim processing. Intentionally shortchanging the VA so it will fail in its mission and can be privatized for profit is disgraceful. On my watch, Americans who served their country will not be abandoned at home just so Big Money can make an extra buck.

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Family farms and ranches are the beating heart of rural America, but their livelihood is dominated by massive agribusiness corporations and four giant meatpacking corporations that prioritize profit over all else. Corporate concentration gives them the ability to dictate prices and buy politicians so they can disrupt research, block regulations, and crush competition. Corporate agriculture is destructive for rural communities and more expensive for consumers because profit is the only thing that matters. In the last decade, more than 100,000 family farms have been lost, often because they can’t compete with corporate giants. Big Ag will only keep growing unless we contain it with aggressive enforcement of antitrust laws to break up monopolistic practices and restore fairness so family farmers and ranchers have a fighting chance.

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Many corporations design products, particularly farm equipment and appliances, so repairs are difficult or impossible without proprietary tools, parts, or software. Manufacturers should not have a repair monopoly to hold consumers captive by denying them the freedom to fix it themselves, modify it, or take it to a competing small business. When you buy something, you should have full discretion over how to maintain it. A right to repair law requiring companies to offer easy access to the tools, parts, and information needed to fix their products fosters a competitive economy that saves families money, supports local businesses, and ensures independence for farmers and workers.