ECONOMY
|
I am a firm believer in the free market philosophy "Laissez Faire", which means
"Let it be". I am confident that if the Federal government would confine its role
to protecting our rights to life, liberty, and property as enumerated in Article
1, Section 8 of the United States Constitution, the free market would self regulate
the boom and bust cycles of our economy.
Would there continue to be economic bubbles that burst? Of course; but they would
not even be close to the scale we are currently facing. Market corrections are as
necessary to capitalism as is freedom. The economy of the United States and the
world is far too complicated for a group of financial planners to make proper decisions.
What ends up happening in their attempts to correct one deficit is they create another
much worse. The absolute worst thing they can do is attempt to prevent the inevitable
and needed bursting of bubbles. This turns a minor recession into a major and painful
correction.
The only way capitalism can excel is in a true free market setting with laws created
to assure fair play. Until our legislators learn that over-regulation and excessive
taxation kills economic growth, America and the world will continue to struggle.
I strongly opposed the "Bailouts". I believe the best thing would have been to allow
the correction to occur, learn from our mistakes, and put the free market back in
control of the economy. In order to put the free market back in control, I support
the abolition of the Federal Reserve and a return to the Gold Standard.
|
HEALTH
CARE
|
Medical expenses continue to sky rocket because the government is subsidizing (socializing)
health care through government run programs. Why would costs go down when the health
care industry is guaranteed government support through Medicaid, Medicare, and State
Children’s Health Insurance Plans? It is an improper role for government to provide
health insurance for the people of America. The proper ‘state’ role is assuring
the people the system is fair. One needs look no further than Massachusetts to see
what government mandated health insurance does to medical costs.
The answer lies largely in eliminating the tax deduction for employer-based insurance.
This will move insurance to an individual-based system, where the free market (competition)
and the pocket book (individual responsibility) will determine prices, not the government.
|
IMMIGRATION
|
There are between 12 and 20 million illegal immigrants in the United States today.
Why should we expect them to keep our laws when their first act was to break them?
First, we need to secure our border with Mexico. I support the building of the border
fence and an increase in the border patrol.
Second, the law needs enforced on anyone who hires an illegal alien. A system must
be in place wherein employers can easily check the legal status of all their potential
employees. We must demand that no illegal be given a job. If that means getting
tough with employers, so be it. If there are no jobs, many of the illegal aliens
will return home. I also support law prohibiting all people who are not citizens
or legal residents from all welfare programs. I would remove all federal mandatory
requirements from hospitals to serve these people. For those who will not willingly return
home, they must be deported.
I support a program wherein foreign workers could apply for a one-time, renewable
three-year visa if matched with an employer(s). For those who would like
to use our health system, they can get insurance or pay out of their pockets like
everyone else. Workers would be invited on a temporary basis only and with the exclusion
of their families. There can be no free handouts any more, especially if you are
not a United States citizen.
As far as Mexico or any other nation goes, I support all measures to help them establish
an economically sound country to increase their peoples’ standard of living, with
the exception of federal funds. Helping them create a free market system is the
answer to their and our problems.
|
EDUCATION
|
Education is the province and responsibility of the parents, not the government!
Federal government education mandates are not only unconstitutional (please find
'the education of the citizenry' as an enumerated power in the U.S. Constitution),
but a patent violation of parental rights to determine what kind of education their
children receive. All of the evil empires that have ever existed have dictated what
their youth would learn and by whom.
I oppose "No Child Left Behind" and would sponsor a bill to have it repealed.
Let the parents take responsibility for their children and let the teachers teach!
|
TAXES
|
Presidents Coolidge, Kennedy, Reagan, and Bush have proven that cutting taxes stimulates
the economy and increases revenue. The Democrats are committed to repealing the
Bush Tax Cuts of 2001 and 2003, which are due to expire in 2010. It is a high priority
for me that the Bush Tax Cuts remain permanent and the death tax is permanently
repealed. Furthermore, I believe the federal tax system is in desperate need of
major reform. I support a flat tax, which would not only simplify tax preparations,
but would lower taxes even further. I have signed the Americans for Tax Reform pledge
to oppose all tax increases. Furthermore, it is my pledge not only to oppose all
tax increases, but to vigilantly work to reduce them to the absolute minimum required
for a limited federal government.
|
SPENDING
|
The Constitution was founded on the principle of a limited federal government empowered
to do only those things which the States could not do for themselves. Article
1, Section 8 of the Constitution lists those things. The Tenth Amendment reserves
to the States all powers not specifically delegated to the Federal. I pledge that
I will work to return federal spending only as allowed by the Constitution and to
make America debt free. I support a “Balanced Budget Amendment” to the Constitution.
The day is long overdue when our Representatives and Senators vote in compliance
with the Constitution and stop spending us into bankruptcy. I also pledge to never
support an earmark. If the spending is a legitimate expense it should have no problem
going through the proper appropriations channel.
I support the Enumerated Powers Act. The Act would require each act of Congress to
contain a concise and definite statement of constitutional authority relied upon for enactment.
|
ENERGY
|
|
America cannot rely on other nations for our energy, especially when the politics
of world trade are so volatile. We must do everything we can to provide for our
own energy needs. I support all forms of energy production including oil, natural
gas, coal, nuclear, wind, solar, geothermal, and hydro. In particular, I believe
we have overlooked the safety and efficacy of nuclear power and support the building
of more nuclear power plants. I also support the principle that energy production
is not a function of government. America will be energy independent, prices will
be lower, quality and service will be greater, when it is turned over completely
to private industry.
|
GLOBAL
WARMING
|
|
I do not support the theory that man is primarily responsible for global warming.
There is too much science to the contrary. I believe carbon trading to reduce the
amount of carbon dioxide in the air is an economy killer and frankly is possibly
the greatest hoax ever played on the human race. Carbon dioxide is one of the most
vital gases in our environment. It feeds plant growth. If the world continues to
warm (the last ten years it has cooled) and the amount of carbon dioxide rises,
we will see a greener more vibrant world. Agriculture land will produce more food
for man and animals and energy demand for heating during the cold months will decrease.
I see no down side to a slight increase in the temperature to the globe. The catastrophic
consequences predicted by the doomsayers are evidence of their lack of faith in
a Supreme Being who holds the creation and the future of the world in His hands.
|
MULTIPLE
USE
OF
OUR
PUBLIC
LANDS
|
I support multiple use of our public lands; recreation, grazing, logging, and mining.
Our public lands are a vast supply of natural resources and can be used effectively
to strengthen our economy, while still managing them in an environmentally friendly
manner.
I oppose any efforts to create more Wilderness areas that prevent access to our
public lands. This does not mean I support building major thoroughfares through
the mountains or oppose any regulations of their use. On the contrary, I enjoy their
pristine beauty as much as anyone and I pledge to support its continuation. However,
I do not support the concept that our public lands are best set aside from human
use. We need the natural resources for our economy and I believe a balance can be
reached between multiple use and environment protection.
I support select cutting of old growth and high density timber stands, along with
controlled burns to prevent wildfires. Thinning is good for the forest, good for
the wildlife, and good for the economy. Our current "hands-off" burn policy is a
waste of natural resources and is a policy I would work hard to repeal.
I believe wolves need to be eliminated. Their predation of our big game herds
and depredation to our livestock is unsustainable. The damage to Yellowstone’s
great herds by the wolves is indisputable. It is either the wolves or the native
wildlife, it can not be both. I choose the native wildlife and pledge to fight against
the continuation of wolves in the lower 48.
|
|
|
|
|