Stand on the Issues

Abortion 

I can't put any more simpler than "Abortion is murder." 

I believe that the life of the unborn child begins at conception.  I believe the federal government must have no position on abortion. According to our Constitution, this issue is the responsibility of the state governments. I believe the Supreme Court decision "Roe v Wade" must be overturned. Additionally under no circumstances should the federal government fund or otherwise support the practice of abortion.

I believe that only an amendment to the U. S. Constitution can make abortion rights a federal issue. I would support such an amendment guaranteeing the right to life.  

Campaign / Election Reform 

Our current process for election is corrupted to the point that only Democrats and Republicans stand a chance of being elected to federal office. The cost of running a campaign has risen through the roof. The only way we can return the power of the vote to the people is to reform the method elections are financed. This would involve the following: 

     Abolishing the Federal Election Commission and repealing the Federal Election
     Campaign Act, including its 1974 amendments. 

     Removing the limitation on the amount of contributions from individuals, meaning natural persons, not corporation, lobbyists, unions, trade groups, PACs or political parties.

     Banning all contributions from entities comprised of individuals. This would include corporations, labor unions, political action committees, political parties, and other special interest groups. 

     Require the immediate and full disclosure of all receipts and expenditures.

The Constitution of The United States is not a dead document, as many believe. It is the greatest document drafted in the history of humanity. As your Senator, I will work to restore this great document. Our Constitution divided the responsibility of governing between the three branches of our federal government and the states. Additionally, our Constitution specifically protects the rights of our nation's citizens.

Responsibilities of the Legislature: 
The Congress of the United States has become an overpaid, overstaffed, self serving institution. It confiscates taxpayer funds to finance exorbitant and unconstitutionally determined salaries, pensions and perks. Many members of Congress have become more accountable to the special interests than to the people in their home districts. Both Houses of Congress are all too often unresponsive and irresponsible, arrogantly placing themselves above the very laws they enact, and beyond the control of the citizens they have sworn to represent and serve. 

It is time for the American people to renew effective supervision of their employees in public office, to restore right standards, and to take back the government. Congress must once again be accountable to the people, and obedient to the Constitution. They must repeal all laws that delegate legislative powers to regulatory agencies, bureaucracies, private organizations, the Federal Reserve Board, international agencies, the President and the judiciary. 

The U.S. Constitution, as originally framed in Article I, Section 3, provided for U.S. Senators to be elected by the state legislators. This provided the states direct representation in the legislative branch so as to deter the usurping of powers that are constitutionally reserved to the states or to the people. The Seventeenth Amendment (providing for direct, popular election of U.S. Senators) took away from state governments their constitutional role of indirect participation in the federal legislative process. 

If we are to see a return to the states of those powers, programs and sources of revenues that the federal government has constitutionally taken away, then it is also vital that we repeal the Seventeenth Amendment and return to the state legislatures the function of electing the U.S. Senate. In doing so, it would return the U.S. Senate to being a body that represents the legislatures of the several states, on the federal level and, thus, a tremendously vital part of the designed checks and balances of power that our Constitution originally provided for will be restored. 

I will propose and support legislation in regards to term limits. Congress needs to be more responsive to the electorate. Incumbency leads to unresponsiveness and complacency. Term limits of 6 years for members of the House and 12 years for members of the Senate would not be inappropriate. 

I will call upon both houses of Congress to remove from their rules the words "and for other purposes". The words "and for other purposes" circumvent the constitutional process. For example, take a look at the recently passed ominbus budget bill for 2009-2010, containg a whopping 2400 pages. As your Senator I will vote against all legislation containing the words "and for other purposes". 

Responsibilities of the several states: 
The closer government is to the people, the more responsible, responsive, and accountable it is likely to be. 

The Tenth Amendment to the Constitution makes clear that the federal government has only those powers which are explicitly delegated to it. All other rights and authorities are reserved to the states and to the people. 

I pledge to be faithful to this constitutional requirement and to work methodically to restore to the states and to the people control over legislative, judicial, executive and regulatory functions which are beyond the delegated scope of the federal government. 

Rights of the Citizens: 
Freedom of religion is guaranteed by the First Amendment. It is important to understand that this is not freedom from religion. The federal government abridges the free exercise of religion by: 

Regulating churches and other religious organizations through its tax laws. Churches are tax exempt if they subject themselves to IRS regulations. 

Limiting religious liberty in the area of public and private education. Forbidding non-denominational prayer in public schools and at educational ceremonies. 

Excluding the religious documents from school classrooms and from other school property. 

Refusing to permit the religious displays on public property. 

The right to bear arms is guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the Constitution. It may not be infringed upon nor denied and inherent in the right of self defense, defense of the family, and defense against tyranny, conferred on the individual and the community to safeguard life, liberty and property and that of his family, as well as to help preserve the independence of the nation. 

I will ardently oppose any attempt to limit or prohibit the ownership of guns by law abiding citizens. 

The Fourth Amendment gives the people right to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects against  unreasonable searches and seizures, including general and unwarranted electronic surveillance, national computer banks, and national identification cards. Civil governments must be strictly limited in their powers to intrude upon the persons and private property of individual citizens, in particular that no place be searched and no thing be seized, except upon proof of probable cause that a crime has been committed and the proper judicial warrant be issued. 

I will support the common law rule that protects the people from any search or seizure whatsoever, when that search or seizure violates the people's Fifth Amendment right against self incrimination. 

I will oppose legislation and executive action that deprives the people of their Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights under claims of necessity to "combat terrorism or to "protect national security". 

I will oppose legislation and executive action expanding asset forfeiture laws that enable the confiscation of private property of citizens who have not, by their own criminal action, forfeited their property rights to the asset subject to forfeiture. 

Criminal Justice 
The involvement of the federal government in crimes not against the nation must end. The states must have the right to exact punishment and restitution from criminals. 

I will support the right of states and localities to restrict access to drugs and to enforce such restrictions. I will propose and support legislation to stop the flow of illegal drugs into the United States from foreign sources. As a matter of self defense, retaliatory policies, including embargoes, sanctions and tariffs, should be considered. 

At the same time, we will take care to prevent violations of the constitutional and civil rights of American citizens. Arbitrary searches and seizures must be prohibited, and the presumption of innocence must be preserved. Government programs should not come at the expense of individual freedom. When it does the decision should be made with the greatest of care.

Death Penalty 
I personally oppose the death penalty, the taking of a convicted criminal's life. However, It should be noted that this is an issue that is according to our Constitution left up to the states, who would, presumably, be in a better position to understand the will of the people in their constituency.

Education 
Education should be free from all federal government subsidies, including vouchers, tax incentives and loans. 

The federal government has absolutely no jurisdiction concerning the education of our nation's children. No federal agency, department, board or other entity may exercise jurisdiction over any aspect of children's upbringing. Education training and discipline of children must be  properly placed in the domain of the parents. 

I will propose and support legislation to abolish the Department of Education. Additional I will propose that all federal legislation related to education should be repealed, including, but not limited to Goals 2000, all Outcome Based Education programs, "School-to-Work" programs, the "Success by Six" programs, and other similar programs; and no federal laws subsidizing or regulating educating of our nation's children should be enacted. Under no circumstances should the federal government be involved in educational curriculum, textbook selection or learning standards, including comprehensive sex education, and psychological and psychiatric research testing programs and personnel. 

Energy 
I call attention to the continuing need of the United States for a sufficient supply of energy to sustain the nation's standard of living and its agricultural, business and industrial activities. However, private property rights must be respected, and government should not interfere with the development of potential energy sources, including natural gas, hydroelectric power, solar energy, wind generators, and nuclear energy. 

I also encourage the use of coal, shale and oil sands for the production of power, and the conversion of coal, shale and agricultural products to synthetic fuels. 

I will oppose any increase in federal fuel taxes and insist that, so long as such taxes are collected in any amount, all of their proceeds should be used exclusively for the maintenance of interstate highways.

Family 
The importance of the family is overlooked, if not discouraged in our nation today. We must restore the family to it's proper honor in order for our country to be indeed great again. 

Foreign Policy 
The only constitutional purpose and basis of foreign policy is to serve the best interests of the nation. The purpose of foreign policy is not to be the world's policeman. As Americans, we pledge our allegiance to the United States of America. We say "No!" to any one world government. No American autonomy shall be given up to any international organization or group of nations. 

I will oppose entangling foreign alliances. The United States should withdraw from NATO and bring our armed forces home. 

We should review all treaties and agreements to determine which are beyond constitutional limits. The United States must only enter into agreements which would have an positive impact on the security and safety of this nation. 

I will propose legislation that calls for the withdrawal of United States from the United Nations and would require the U.N. to move out of the United States. 

I will propose legislation that calls for the withdrawal of United States from all international monetary and financial institutions and agencies such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, etc. 

Ever since World War II, the United States has provided military and non-military aid to over 100 nations. Hundreds of billions of dollars have been poured down a bottomless pit, with little evidence of   benefit to the safety and security of the American people. Not only have we given aid to our "friends", but even to "neutrals", by means of which aid we hoped to buy their "friendship". Finally, we are now committing ourselves to send the taxpayer's dollars to those who have been our enemies for years. This must stop! 

The Congress and President have a duty to provide for the defense of this country, but the American people have no similar duty to provide for the defense of any foreign nation. Further, the U.S. Government no constitutional authority to tax the American people to provide aid of any kind to foreign governments. 

I will propose legislation that calls for the termination of all programs of foreign aid, whether military or non-military, to any foreign government or to any international organization, including the United Nations, the IMF, the World Bank and other similar institutions. 

Government Excess and Waste 
Since 1981 the national debt has quintupled: from $914 billion to more than $9.1 trillion. In just a few years, it may cost more to service the debt than Uncle Sam collects in income taxes. 

The federal government has turned into a tax and spend monster that is devouring the people it is supposed to be serving. As the Declaration of Independence cried out, so it is today: The federal government "has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent out hither swarms of officers to harass our people and eat out their substances." Just since 1961, at least 297 new federal commission, councils, public corporations, grants and management programs have been created, in addition to all
those which existed beforehand. 

The only legitimate purpose of civil government is to safeguard the God given rights of its citizens; namely, life, liberty and property. Only those duties, functions and programs specifically assigned to the federal government by the Constitution should be funded. 

We, all Americans, must restore to the state those powers, programs and sources of revenues which the federal government has usurped. 

I will propose legislation that would halt all federal expenditures which are not specifically authorized by the Constitution of these United States. 

I will propose legislation that would abolish of the Civil Service system which confers on government employees a "property right" in their jobs. The President should be able to determine who will carry out, free from subversion or opposition from the tax paid personnel, those programs which he has promised the people to inaugurate and implement. 

Health Care 
I will oppose the socialization of American medicine. Government regulation and subsidy constitutes a threat to both the quality and availability of patient oriented health care and treatment. Hospitals, doctors and other health care providers should be accountable to patients, not to politicians. 

If the supply of medical care is controlled by the federal government, then officiers of that government will determine which demand is satisfied. The result will be the rationing of services, higher costs, poorer results, and the power of life and death transferred from caring physicians to unaccountable political overseers. 

The federal government has no constitutional provision to regulate or restrict the freedom of the people to have access to medical care, supplies or treatments. Therefore, I advocate the  elimination of the federal Food and Drug Administration, as it has been the federal agency primarily responsible for prohibiting beneficial products, treatments and technologies here in the  United States, that are freely available in much of the rest of the civilized world. 

I would propose a system of peer medical review for practitioners and drug makers alike should it be possible to come to agreement on a fair and impartial board. 

I will affirm freedom of choice of practitioner and treatment for all citizens with any health problem. 

Immigration 
I affirm the integrity of the international borders of the United States and the constitutional authority and the right of the federal government under the law of nations to guard and to protect those borders, including the regulation of the numbers and of the qualifications of immigrants into the country. I also recognize the priceless contributions that have been made by immigrants in our nation. 

Each year nearly 1,000,000 legal immigrants and hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens enter the United States. Many of these immigrants, including illegal aliens, have been made eligible for various kinds of public assistance, including housing, education, Social Security, and legal services. This unconstitutional drain on the federal Treasury is having a severe and adverse impact on our economy, increasing the cost of government at federal and local levels, adding to the tax burden, and stressing the fabric of society. 

I will propose legislation that would require that every individual, group and/or private agency which request the admission of an immigrant to the U.S. on whatever basis be required to legally commit to provide housing and sustenance for such immigrants, and bear full responsibility for the economic independence of the immigrants. 

I will oppose the provision of welfare and other taxpayer supported benefits to illegal aliens. 

I will support the strengthening of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, for the proper screening of immigrants, the apprehending and deportation of illegal aliens, and the protection of our borders. 

I will oppose bilingual ballots. I insist that those who wish to take part in the electoral process and governance of this nation should be required to read and comprehend basic English as a precondition of citizenship. I support English as the official language for all governmental business by the United States, and of all individual States. 

Individual rights 
Human dignity is a basic right recognized in the Constitution by our Founding Fathers. I affirm that human beings are created equal and should be evaluated on their individual merits. 

I will propose legislation that would eliminate of all so-called affirmative action programs which substitute race, or creed, or other illegitimate criteria for merit. 

Each and every citizen shall be free to choose his friends and associates, to offer, seek or refuse employment, and to rent or sell property. Further, businesses should be free to protect their employees by refusing service in any circumstance where the lives of the employees or property are perceived to be endangered. 

Medicare 
The Medicare trust should not be a rainy day fund which politicians can pirate, or from which they can borrow to cover their errors and pay for their excesses. 

I will propose legislation that would require the federal government meet its obligations and protect the Medicare funds as a trust which can be used only to fulfill its obligations to those who have contributed to the system. 

To protect and enhance the return on payments made by Medicare taxpayers and prevent future defaults, I call for the transfer of all Medicare funds to accounts beyond the reach of politicians who improperly transfer funds from Medicare to help pay the price of other federal programs. 

The Constitution grants no authority to the federal government to require its citizens to participate in Medicare. Individual citizens, however, have the right to choose between private retirement and pension programs, either at their place of employment or independently. 

I call for the removal of earning limitations on persons aged 62 and over, so that they may earn any amount of additional income they choose, without placing their Medicare benefits at risk. 

National defense 
It is a primary obligation of the federal government to provide for the common defense against enemies foreign and domestic, vigilant to deal with significant potential threats and prospective capabilities, as well as with perceived present intentions. 

I will oppose unilateral disarmament and dismemberment of America's defense infrastructure. That which is hastily torn down will not be easily rebuilt. 

In order to protect our territory, our armed forces, and our citizenry, we should immediately give notice of our withdrawal from the Nixon-Brezhnev Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, which restricts full development and deployment of a strategic defense system. 

I will condemn the presidential assumption of authority to deploy American troops without the consent of Congress. Under no circumstances would we commit U.S. forces to serve under any flag but that of the United States of America, or for any other purpose other than the defense of the United States or any foreign command. 

The goal of U.S. security policy is to defend the national security interests of the United States. We should be the friend of liberty everywhere, but the guarantor and provider of ours alone. 

I will call for the maintenance of a strong, state-of-the-art military on land, sea, in the air, and in space. 

I will urge the Executive and Legislative Branches to continue to provide for the modernization of our Armed Forces, in keeping with advancing technologies and a constantly changing world situation. 

I will support the maintenance of a strong and ready and well equipped Reserve and National Guard. 

Privatization 
There is no Constitutional basis for the federal government engaging in such enterprises as Amtrak, ConRail, the TVA or the Oak Ridge uranium enrichment facility. 

Further, in violation of Article I, Section 8, Paragraph 17 of the Constitution, the federal government has vast areas of land and resources under federal control which have nothing to do with the nation's defense or seat of government. These lands should revert to the ownership of the States, to whom they rightfully belong. 

I will propose legislation that would require the federal government to divest itself of operations which are not authorized by the Constitution. We call upon the Congress to get the federal government out of such enterprises which compete with private free enterprise. 

I will propose legislation that would require the federal government to divest itself of the millions of acres of lands and natural resources in Alaska and other Western states by restoring them to the States, to whom they properly belong. 

Social Security 
The imposition of the unconstitutional income tax and the requirement for the government to provide "social security" traveled hand in hand. Without the burden of income tax people were free to deposit into savings accounts and build nest eggs to see them through retirements and periods of unemployment.  Without the currently burdensome income tax system, people would be free, once again, to create retirement accounts, structure savings programs, and plan for their later years. In the past, society required children and the community to see after the needs of the elderly if they were unable to see after themselves. This should be the case again.

I will propose and support legislation that would repeal the Social Security Act and refund all monies paid into the scheme to each taxpayer.

This does not mean that those that have paid into the system for years would be left out in the cold. The Federal Government should undertake a complete accounting of the current social security system, redistribute the illegally received funds proportionately to individuals, and close the social security system.

Americans would be able to plan for retirement on their own using just those funds saved from social security taxes. The average person earning $31,000 per year could reasonably expect to have over $1 million in retirement savings if they deposited the same amount into certificates of deposit that they presently pay into the social security system. Personal responsibility is a requirement in a democratic society.  It isn't the job of government to provide for every need for every individual. It is time for Americans to become the free-thinking, responsible people they are. To stand up and take stock of themselves and their lives and plan for themselves. If individuals fail to adequately prepare themselves for periods of unemployment or retirement, it falls then to their families, the community, and charitable organizations to assist with their needs. The government has no money of its own. It has only our money. It cannot be charitable with money that doesn't belong to it.

The Republican Party position regarding social security is to "strengthen" the program. Unfortunately, there are no clear positions presented as to how they hope to accomplish this. There has been talk of investing the funds in the stock market to increase return and boost the Fund, and there has been some talk about privatizing the Agency. To date, we have not found any clear examples or plans presented by the Republicans.

The Democratic Party's position concerning social security is the same as it was when Franklin Roosevelt enacted the founding legislation in 1935. They see the program continuing in perpetuity regardless of the fact that aging Americans make up a greater portion of the country each year. They are in favor of maintaining the "contract" no matter what it costs working Americans. They are against all efforts to raise the retirement age, decrease any benefits, or privatize the Social Security Administration and Trust Funds.

Taxation 
The Constitution, in Article I, Section 8, gives Congress the power "to lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts, and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defense and general Welfare of the United States." In Article I, Section 9, the original document made clear that "no Capitation, or other direct Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportion to the Census of Enumeration herein before directed to be taken." It is moreover established that "No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any State." 

I will propose and support legislation to repeal of the 16th amendment and legislation to replace the Internal Revenue Service with a private agency with duty to collect taxes and pass those collection to the Treasury. 

I will propose and support legislation that would replace entirely the current tax system of the U.S. government (including income taxes, Social Security taxes, estate taxes, inheritance taxes, corporate taxes, and fuel taxes) with a new approach based on the original design of our Founding Fathers. 

To the degree that tariffs on foreign products are insufficient to cover the legitimate constitutional costs of the federal government, we will offer a "state rate tax" in which the responsibility for covering the cost of unmet obligations will be divided among the several states in accordance with their proportion of the total population of the United States, excluding the District of Columbia. Thus, if a state contains 10 percent of the nation's citizens, it will be responsible for assuming payment of 10 percent of the annual deficit. 

The effect of this "state rate tax" will be to encourage politicians to argue for less, rather than more, federal spending. 

Tariffs and Trade 
Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution states that Congress shall have the power "To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations", and "to promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing" copyright and patent protection for authors and inventors. 

Congress may not abdicate nor transfer to others these constitutional powers. I, therefore, oppose the unconstitutional transfer of authority over U.S. trade policy from the Congress to agencies, domestic or foreign, which improperly exercise policy setting functions with respect to U.S. trade policy, and the unconstitutional transfer of authority over copyright and patent policy from Congress to agencies, domestic and foreign. 

I favor the abolition of the Office of Special Trade Representative, and insist on the withdrawal of the United States from the North American Free Trade Act (NAFTA), from the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), the World Trade Organization (WTO), and all other agreements wherein bureaucracies, institutions or individuals, other than the Congress of the United States, improperly assume responsibility for establishing policies which directly affect the economic well being of every American citizen. I also favor more vigorous efforts to protect the copyright and patent rights of their owners in both domestic and foreign markets. 

As indicated in Article I, Section 8: duties, imposts and excises are legitimate revenue raising measures on which the United States government may properly rely. As Abraham Lincoln pointed out, the legitimate costs of the federal government can be borne, either by taxes on American citizens and businesses, or by tariffs on foreign companies and products. The latter is preferable to the former. 

Similarly, I oppose other international trade agreements which have the effect of diminishing America's economic self sufficiency and of exporting jobs, the loss of which will impoverish American families, undermine American communities, and diminish America's capacity for economic self reliance. 

The defense of the American nation and the preservation of its economic integrity is essential to the defense of the liberty and prosperity of every American citizen. 

I will insist on strict federal criminal penalties for any officer of the United States government, or spouse thereof, who subsequently hires himself or herself out to represent any foreign government or other entity, public or private, with respect to influencing either public opinion or public policy on matters affecting U.S. trade with any such governments or other entities. 

The indebtedness of the American government has dangerously contributed to making our economy more vulnerable to foreign takeover and manipulation. Particularly in the area of national security, foreign interests have thus been abetted in gaining access to America's high tech secrets under the guise of commercial enterprise. 

I reject the concept of Most Favored Nation status, especially insofar as it has been used to curry favor with regimes whose domestic and international policies are abhorrent to decent people everywhere, and are in fundamental conflict with the vital interests of the United States of America. 

Welfare 
America's welfare crisis is a government induced crisis. Government social and cultural policies have undermined the work ethic, even as the government's economic and regulatory policies have undermined the ability of our citizens to obtain work. 

Charity, and provision of welfare to those in need, is not a responsibility of the federal government. Under no circumstances should the taxpayers of the United States be obligated, under penalty of law through forced taxation, to assume the cost of providing welfare to able bodied individuals. Nor should taxpayers be indentured to subsidize welfare for persons who enter the United States illegally.

I will propose and support legislation that will repeal all existing welfare laws.