At a small gathering of locals over
coffee last week, Republican candidate
for Steve Pearce’s Second Congressional
seat Earl Greer listened to concerns
and gave his thoughts.
On the subject of schools, he talked
about when he had children in a middle
school where a no-nonsense administrator
turned the teaching staff around. “The
answer is not just throwing money at
the schools,“ Greer said. “We have to
hold the schools accountable with benchmarks
and milestones.“ As the conversation
subject invari�ably touches on border
security, Greer agrees that the United
States needs to “seal the border,“ but
doesn’t see a fence as the only answer.
He recited the quote, “build a 10-foot
fence, they’ll make a 12-foot ladder,“
and reminded those listening that there
are ocean borders and the border with
Canada that are as easily crossed with
impunity.
Greer emphasized he is against amnesty
for illegal immigrants, even if they
have children in the United States.
In terms of controlling the U.S.-Mexico
border, Greer has faith in the technology
to create a “virtual fence“ backed by
more Border Patrol agents. Faith in
American ingenuity and enterprise is
a common theme as he talks about the
economy and the need for expanded energy
resources. Technological improvements
in nuclear generation makes this energy
source something Greer doesn’t fear,
but he also sees great value in sup�porting
renewable energy resources, such as
wind and solar. While the technology
isn’t advanced enough to make a huge
impact, he’s all for sup�porting more
research and develop�ment to become
less dependent on fossil fuels and foreign
imported oil. “The people of this country,
by our nature, we’re explorers,“ Greer
said.
As he talks, some of his stances are
party line, Reagan-era conservatism.
But other takes such as not vilifying
the multi-national companies appear
to be more moderate. And his website
even criticizes the previously Republican-controlled
Congress for “pork barrel spending“
that disregarded the principle of having
a balanced budget. Greer said he is
just as tired as the voters of the partisan
politics in Washington that pits the
“red versus the blue.“ “Whatever happened
to the red, white and blue?“ he asked.
“We need someone fighting for us.“ Instead
of worrying about the loss of basic
manufacturing jobs to the international
job market, the United States should
be the leader in education, communications
and invention, he said.
To do that, the government should be
providing incentives for developing
new products and technology, said Greer,
who opposes government-sponsored health
care because he believes that would
remove the profit incentive that he
said propels medical advance�ments.
“Profit is not a four letter word,“
he said.
Greer said his campaign for Congress
will be characterized more by meetings
like this than large rallies and extensive
advertising. “That’s why our campaign
is called Grassroots for Greer,“ he
said.
Greer said he is already very familiar
with the district. Raised on a ranch
in central New Mexico, the Truth or
Consequences-based Greer has been in
real estate since 1978 and been a fixture
in the New Mexico GOP scene including
unsuccessful bids for the Public Regulation
Commission and for state party chairman.
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