Dr. Brad Wenstrup and Dr. Ben Carson

Today's first order of business is a well-intentioned – albeit political – plug for one Congressman Brad Wenstrup.

In less than two months in Congress, the new Second District representative has already voted against at least one pork-laden measure in Congress in which lawmakers tried to pass a bill – ostensibly for Hurricane Sandy relief – that was filled with special-interest gifts at taxpayers' expense.

If Congressman Wenstrup keeps voting like that, he'll either be challenged to an arm-wrestling contest with Gov. Christie or risk a fate similar to GOP Congressmen Justin Amash, Tim Huelskamp, Walter Jones and Dave Schweikert. (Last year, their conservative votes against "party leaders" Kasich and Ryan cost them their respective committee assignments.)

Apparently, in today's Grand Old Party, conservatism is OK. Just don't get carried away with it.

Votes on principle mustn't rock the boat – or the agenda.

From all early indicators, though, Congressman Wenstrup is the real deal.

He's yet to learn the fake sincerity and convenient political-speak of his Republican predecessor in the Second District. (Wasn't she the one writing to the House Committee on Ethics about this time last year? Something about more than $400,000 from the Turkish Coalition of America that was conveniently missing from her financial disclosure forms.)

But I digress.

For the record, Brad Wenstrup was endorsed by The Highland County Press on three separate occasions last year – and he only had two political campaigns. (I can explain, but that's another column.)

We endorsed Dr. Wenstrup in part because of his private-sector business experience, his military service and his academic credentials. More importantly, we liked his sincerity in wanting to make a difference for his country.

While we understand that the majority of our senators and members of Congress leave Washington, D.C. much wealthier than the day they arrived, we hold out hope that there are a few who truly want to change the "tax-and-spend" course that our great nation has been on for far too many years.

Freshman Congressman Brad Wenstrup could prove to be one of those "difference makers."

Let's hope so.

The congressman will be in Hillsboro on Feb. 21 for this year's Lincoln Day dinner. It's a Thursday night, so I won't be there (not that that matters!). As a small business owner, work often trumps political chicken dinners. I'm sure he will understand.

But if you want to hear from a true conservative, a man of integrity, a scholar and a gentleman, contact Kay Ayres, Paulette Donley, Peggy Hite or Dick Counter and plan to attend the 2013 Lincoln Day dinner.

* * *

• When Dr. Wenstrup addresses the Highland County faithful on Feb. 21, I hope he mentions another doctor.

I hope Brad mentions Dr. Benjamin S. Carson, the director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

If you missed Dr. Carson's speech at the 61st National Prayer Breakfast this week (Feb. 8), you missed one of the better speeches in recent memory. (It's available online.)

The National Prayer Breakfast is a chance for world leaders to gather in an effort to affirm commonly held religious values and to put aside political differences.

According to his website, http://carsonscholars.org, Dr. Carson had a childhood dream of becoming a physician.

"Growing up in a single-parent home with dire poverty, poor grades, a horrible temper, and low self-esteem appeared to preclude the realization of that dream until his mother, with only a third-grade education, challenged her sons to strive for excellence.

"Young Ben persevered and today is a full professor of neurosurgery, oncology, plastic surgery, and pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and he has directed pediatric neurosurgery at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center for over a quarter of a century. He became the inaugural recipient of a professorship dedicated in his name in May 2008. He is now the Benjamin S. Carson, Sr., M.D. and Dr. Evelyn Spiro, R.N., Professor of Pediatric Neurosurgery."

Moreover, in 2001, Dr. Carson was named by CNN and TIME Magazine (God love those liberal bastions of journalism) as one of the nation’s 20 foremost physicians and scientists. That same year, he was selected by the Library of Congress as one of 89 "Living Legends" on the occasion of its 200th anniversary. He is also the recipient of the 2006 Spingarn Medal, which is the highest honor bestowed by the NAACP.

Today, Dr. Carson and his wife, Candy, dedicate themselves to expanding the reach of the Carson Scholars Fund. Their dream is to name a Carson Scholar in every school within the United States.

Dr. Carson's common-sense approach to government taxation and excessive spending was a breath of fresh air not normally witnessed in Washington. (If 10 percent is enough for the Good Lord, it ought to be enough for the IRS, he pointed out.)

Amen.

"What we need to do is come up with something that’s simple (in the tax code)," Dr. Carson said. "The inherently fair principle is proportionality: You make $10 billion, you put in a billion. You make $10, you put in one.

"Some people say, ‘That’s not fair! It’s doesn’t hurt the guy who made $10 billion.’ Where does it say you have to hurt that guy? He just put a billion dollars into the pot!"

As Dr. Carson spoke, President Obama appeared to be somewhat uncomfortable. After all, Obama would prefer the guy with $10 billion to put all of it in the pot.

Dr. Carson also referenced the nation's multi-trillion-dollar deficit and suggested we try to count to 16 trillion. Allowing one second per each number, it would take roughly 500,000 years. (I'll get back to you on that.)

Seated two chairs to Dr. Carson's right, Obama looked on in disbelief. But then, simple arithmetic is lost on most folks in Washington. Especially those who discovered the political ease of spending other people's money. (Do Ivy Leaguers count? Can they?)

To be sure, this is not a discussion of politics, either. It is a discussion of policy – and grade-school mathematics.

When I was about 10 years old, my dad told me that if I saved a penny on the first day of the month and doubled that savings each and every day for one month, I'd have a million dollars.

I didn't believe him.

So, he made me do the calculations. He was right. On Day 27, I'd be a millionaire. By month's end, I'd have more than $10 million simply by doubling my pennies for one month.

The old man won a lot of bar bets with that statement.

Here's the elementary calculations:

Day 0 .01
Day 1 .02
Day 2 .04
Day 3 .08
Day 4 .16
Day 5 .32
Day 6 .64
Day 7 1.28
Day 8 2.56
Day 9 5.12
Day 10 10.24
Day 11 20.48
Day 12 40.96
Day 13 81.92
Day 14 163.84
Day 15 327.68
Day 16 655.36
Day 17 1,310.72
Day 18 2,621.44
Day 19 5,242.88
Day 20 10,485.76
Day 21 20,971.52
Day 22 41,943.04
Day 23 83,886.08
Day 24 167,772.16
Day 25 335,544.32
Day 26 671,088.64
Day 27 1,342,177.28
Day 28 2,684,354.56
Day 29 5,368,709.12
Day 30 10,737,418.24.

A vast majority of elected officials – on all levels – could use a math lesson or two. It's a sad commentary when old-time newspaper editors have to explain government funding in these terms when talking to the recent college grads:

• If you're talking county government, it's millions of dollars;

• If you're talking state government, it's billions of dollars; and,

• If you're talking federal government, it's trillions of dollars. (That is, until it reaches a googolplex. See E. Kasner, American mathematician.)

Dr. Carson learned simple math from his mother, who refused to accept welfare and poverty as a way of life. She stressed the importance of education, beginning with reading at an early age.

(It all begins with reading.)

Dr. Carson is a pleasant, soft-spoken educator who, in practical terms, explains why government dependence and political correctness are not in the best interests of America.

His speech ought to be televised in prime time on every network. (That will never happen.)

Too bad most Americans are fixated with Honey Bo Bo, Snooky and JWow. (My apologies for any incorrect spellings, I only recently became familiar with such nonsensical TV shows and refuse to watch any of them.)

Maybe the Highland County GOP can extend an invitation to Dr. Carson one of these days. In fact, he'd be a great speaker for any public policy event – regardless of political affiliations.

Rory Ryan is publisher of The Highland County Press.