Dick Barry was born in the humble town of Rock Springs, WY. As a distant cousin of a WWII vet, Dick was inspired to defend and honor his country from a very early age. His father, a modest employee at the Sinclair Oil Company taught Dick the value of hard work and how to fulfill one's dreams. The family's 27 acre ranch was certainly hard work to maintain. Every morning before school, Dick would feed the animals, practice his shooting skills and make a three course meal for his entire family. He engaged in this daily until high school, even though the family already had a maid. At the age of 14, Dick started his first company, selling candy to kids after school. He had a knack for business and exceptional interpersonal skills. In fact, he won the superlative for 'Most Outgoing' in his high school yearbook. Did we mention, Dick was the quarterback of his high school football team, the Fossils.
Despite being a social butterfly, Dick's mother, Mindy, encouraged him to pursue a girl he had set his sights on. Sarah Whittaker, cheerleader and high school sweetheart became Dick's wife only nine months after their graduation.
It was not long before Dick headed off to college. He was quite the prodigy in his family, being the first only- child to attend a public university. While at Arizona State, Dick joined the ROTC at his father's advice. Six years after Dick started college, he was able to graduate with a B.A. in Business and became a Lieutenant in the Navy.
Of course this opened up many opportunities for Dick, and not long after he founded his own business. In September of 1976, Dick opened up the first sushi restaurant in Wyoming. While on tour in the Navy, Dick found the Japanese people fascinating and developed a fondness for their light seafood meals and delicate paper craftsmanship. This inspired him to open up SumoSushi. However, due to some controversy in the 70s, the name was eventually changed to SushiSay, a franchise of 6 stores in the greater Cheyenne metropolitan area. Dick firmly believed he had what took to represent the great people of Wyoming as a successful business owner. In December of 1983, riding on the coat-tails of President Regan's inspiring leadership, Dick announced his candidacy for state senate. Running on the platform of reducing government waste and easing access to hunting licenses, Dick won the election in a landslide to Green candidate, Tracy Birkenstocks. From that point onward, Dick's political career took off, eventually landing him a seat in the United States House of Representatives in 1992.
Dick has worked tirelessly for the 1st (and only) district of Wyoming and the people of America, holding onto his seat for eight consecutive terms. As a staunch fiscal conservative, Dick sat as Chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee for four years and was the brainchild behind Social Security and Welfare reform.
Dick is a leading advocate for tax reform and believes that the past two Democratic Presidencies have allowed the size of the government to grow exponentially. Because our government basically functions like a personal checkbook, Dick believes that the government should have to make the hard spending decisions that people, small businesses and corporations make every day. He has introduced numerous bills limiting spending, including the most recent Balanced Budget Amendment that made it's way through the Senate but was vetoed by our Communist President.
This Administration's policies have paralyzed the American economy. Obamacare's mandate of health insurance for all is unconstitutional infringement upon our personal freedoms. Much research has shown that Obamacare will cost us an additional $1 trillion, money we can't afford to borrow from foreign governments, and will shed the economy of nearly 500,000 jobs! Dick doesn't believe the phony illusions of government-run healthcare. And neither should you. After all, being fat is a personal choice.
The 2008 financial crisis has hurt many people and entities of personhood. But Dick believes that the bailouts and increased government spending has failed us, causing a economic stagnation. The only way to restore prosperity and confidence to the American people is to first balance the budget, reduce taxes for job creators and to fix our education system. Although a previous proponent of No Child Left Behind, Dick believes that eliminating the Department of Education all-together will solve our failing schools. As for higher education, Dick was an strong opponent of the Obama Administration's sneaky efforts to reduce lending for students. He believes that students must work hard, like he did, and pay off their debts, not seek government handouts to study abroad in expensive 'socialist paradises'.
Dick, like many conservatives, believes in restoring a contract with America. For too long the American people have been duped into wasteful spending on things like bailouts, Obamacare, education and welfare. Dick believes that with your support, we can revive the rugged individualism, our spirit of ingenuity through reduction in government waste, lower taxes and job growth that will come as a direct result of the former two. He has a strong record of reform, and will surely bring it to Washington as President. Together we can build a stronger America.
© Richard Rizzo
