Paul Johnson is the Democratic candidate running for Congress in District 4, Central and Northeast Iowa



The
Tribune's editorial board is impressed by [Paul] Johnson's character
and vision. A former director of the Department of Natural Resources,
chief of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources
Conservation Service, formerly the Soil Conservation Service, and an
Iowa legislator, Johnson is known for his conservation ethic.



But he's
far from one-dimensional. Indeed, his conversation with The Tribune
ranged from international relations to a novel idea for national
service. His experience in state and federal government gives him the
experience to be an effective congressman.



He says
he was propelled into the race by his frustration over a cadre of
issues including foreign policy, education, the environment and
renewable energy.



In
international relations, he says he's saddened that the U.S. is “using
our incredible strength in such an arrogant fashion … We Iowans don't
act like this in our own personal lives. Why should we tolerate it in
our national leadership?”



In
education, Johnson calls for a program that provides more funds for
buildings, computers, special needs and teacher training, but less
federal control.



On the
environment, Johnson would push to make conservation on private lands
something landowners see as positive through restructured incentives.
“You can stop some people from doing really bad things, but you can't
get them to love God's creation without rewards.”



He also
calls for a “man on the moon” national effort to promote alternate
energy sources such as wind. And there's no better place for such an
effort to come from than this district.



Johnson
also favors a privately-delivered, universal national health care
system, a living wage, a progressive tax system and publicly funded
elections. His national service idea would roll together service for
young people in the military, Peace Corps or AmeriCorps with rewards
including college tuition grants and low-interest home and business
loans.



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