A quick summary of positions...
I'm
a Libertarian.
Libertarians are the 'Live and Let Live' party. The basics were
learned when we were five years old. Don't hit other people unless they hit you first. Don't steal
their stuff. Think for yourself. Honesty is the best policy.
• personal responsibility, personal freedom and
financial
independence
• free markets
• strong national defense and minimal intervention in
the internal
affairs of other nations and peoples
I also believe very strongly that we need a congress that is
free-thinking and not just a rubber stamp for a Republican or Democrat
administration. This is the reason I am running for office.
It is my intention to represent moderate Independents, Republicans,
Democrats, Libertarians and others who share many of these beliefs.
Middle East
- We need to
declare victory in Iraq and exit by whichever
plan will result in the least loss of life to Americans, Iraqis, and
others. The immediate threat from Iran is very small and we
need
to let diplomacy and international pressure work.
Spying on Americans
- Abolish
the Patriot Act and stop all other clandestine,
warrant-less internal spying on American citizens. Let's
restore
our civil liberties.
Immigration -
Foreign workers
should be able to legally work in the
U.S. They are a necessary part of our workforce in a global
economy. We need a
guest worker program that allows foreign workers to be here legally
while at the same time we must improve border security to discourage
being here illegally.
Budget -
The national debt,
combined with our overwhelming balance of
trade deficit, has become a serious threat to the economic security of
our country. Congress has proven that it is incapable of
dealing
with this problem. I favor a balanced budget amendment to the
U.S. Constitution.
Health Care
- The U.S.
government would administer a national health
care program about as efficiently as it administers everything else -
badly. I prefer a set of incentives for private insurance
companies to provide basic, affordable insurance to those who cannot
afford a top-tier policy, and a Patient Bill of Rights to guarantee
standards of conduct.
Self Defense and Guns
- Every
living thing on this planet is born with a natural
right to defend itself. Ultimately your well-being is up to
you,
not your local
police.
You are going to be the first person on the scene of a crime directed
at you or someone close by; not the police.
Gay Marriage
- Marriage
is a
bond and contract between two people. It is NOT a bond and
contract
with the government. Marriage is sanctified by family,
friends,
and
clergy - not by the government. I am opposed to government
legislation
or constitutional amendments that either prohibit or mandate gay
marriage.
Education -
As the federal and
state governments assume more and more
control of our schools the quality of education continues to
decline. More bureaucracy cannot fix this. The
solution is
to bring free-market principles to education. School vouchers
will get us on the right path. The parents of school-age
children
will take vouchers to the schools where they can get the best education
they can for their children. Just like automobile
manufacturers,
good schools will prosper and grow, bad schools will wither and fade
away, and new schools will come into the community.
Social Security
- The Social
Security Trust Fund is bankrupt.
Literally. The federal government has used the assets to pay
for other things. Instead of the fund being a portfolio of
real
investments, it is nothing but a stack of IOU's from the federal
government to be paid for with future taxes. So, instead of
getting your SS payments from the proceeds of real assets that you paid
for earlier, you will be getting the payments from your own pocket
through higher taxes needed to pay the IOUs. The answer is
tax-deferred private investment accounts. You need to tend to
your own investments because the federal government has demonstrated
that it cannot be trusted to watch them for you.
Abortion -
I am
personally pro-life. That said, I also have found that a
woman's
decision to either carry through with an unwanted pregnancy
or
have an abortion is the most difficult decision she will ever make in
her life. It seems to me that this is a decision best made
with
the advice of family, friends, doctors and clergy, with minimal
interference from government.
You may not agree with my position on every issue. I hope you
find that in most cases the directions I propose are
reasonable.
Some of these issues are difficult and reasonable people will
disagree. Let's talk about it.