Well here's my stab at it:
1. Should photo ID cards be required in order to vote?
No, not neccessarily, but we need to do more to ensure that one person gets one vote. I think we should be able to allow voting over the internet- photo id doesn't make much sense if you are voting via the internet- but we certainty want good ways of ensuring the identity of the voter, so that one person gets one vote.
2. What will you do to secure our borders from illegal immigrants and/or terrorists?
Bush's plan- grant work visas. The reason why it's such a problem is there is a market demand for labor. Our current laws created the black market and we have all the problems associated with black markets.
3. Is there a better solution to Middle East turmoil, than the establishment or promotion of freely elected democratic republics? Why or why not?
Nope, we are basically doing a good job. Presently, I do have some slight doubts about the wisdom of trying to do this through the UN. The French betrayed us and we should have known that they would do this. I had thought that the French would evenually come around, but their "apparent" slowness in this area, make me wonder whether it was worth the effort.
There is one bright side to this, I doubt the America public or any public on the planet will be eager to get involved in major wars in the near term. But at the same time I do not think the American public is "gun shy" and does have the willingness to do whatever is needed. I don't buy the idea that miltarily or even politically we have been weaken by the war in Iraq, especially in regards to such countries as Iran.
4. What are your intentions regarding Tort Reform?
I think generally speaking justice system is too costly. I think people can't sued because of the cost of the legal battle. I think Justice isn't swift enough. And we have too many legal battles in which really more a matter of economics than justice. Part of the solution is to greatly reduce frivious lawsuits. But you have the injustice of having deep pockets being targets because they have the money, and you have the same deep pocket having enough money to hire a herd of lawyers to bury anyone. Justice should not be a poker game which people can't play because they will be out bid.
5. If you could write an Amendment to the Constitution and know it would pass and be ratified, what would that Amendment be?
In a government of, by, and for the People who governed by the rule of law, excessive complexity denies the sovereignty of the People. Therefore sustained effort is needed to reduce the tendency creating mountains of "red tape" and continous effort must be made to increase the transparancy and general accessiblity so that the government is of, by, and for the People.
6. What specific measures would you recommend to protect Social Security for coming generations?
Social Security should be a governmental safety net. It shouldn't be a govermental retirement plan. Keeping the current Social Security and encouraging more people to rely on individual retirement plans
7. Where do you stand on eliminating the income tax and SSI tax and replacing them with a national consumption tax?
Politically we would probably end up with adding a national consumption tax to our income tax and SSI tax; I'm against a national consumption tax. We need to make our Federal tax less progressive and we need to simplify all tax laws and all the forms needed to file taxes. Our tax laws should not encourage "off shore" banking, America should instead be ours and the rest of the world's "off shore" bank.
8. What will you do to ensure the integrity of the voting system?
This is a matter of the individual states- as per the Constitution.
9. What are the limits to judicial authority?
Limited.
10. Given that many states give equal treatment U.S. citizens, legal aliens and illegal aliens, just what does it mean to be a U.S. citizen (besides not being hassled by INS) ?
US citizen is the soveriegn power. Aliens are vistors or gate crashers.
It's generally human nature to treat guests with respect. The problems in regard to aliens is we are ignoring the problem and have created a black market. Vistors to this country should be seen as valuable, something to promote: Tourists, labors, and students; we need more of them not less.
"11. Should undocumented aliens have the ability to get legal drivers licenses?"
"Undocumented aliens" are illegal aliens. They are illegal because WE have failed to deal with this problem. If we properly deal with this problem then the remaining illegal aliens should be deported- so no driver licences.
12. What is your first proposal to balance the Federal Budget?
Reduce Federal employees.
13. What is your proposal for lowering the National Debt?
Do all that is reasonable to get economic growth around 5% or higher per year.
14. Confidence in the validity of elections has fallen sharply in some places. What would you recommend to repair and rebuild that confidence?
Well, people use criminals to defeat criminals. So in the same line of thought, get the political operatives come to a conference/workshop to work on a solutions to stop voting fraud and "dirty tricks".
15. What are the limits to the authority of the Federal Government?
The Federal goverment has responsiblity to act to unify the states and maintain National Security. It's involved with interstate issues and relations with other countries. In the modern era the Federal govt has gone way far beyond it's authority
16. Do you believe the continued existence of a central bank (the Federal Reserve) that issues fiat money is in the best interests of the U.S.?
Yup.
17. What actions do you support for education reform?
I believe that parents should have more choice of where and how their children should be educated.
18. Should judicial nominees be guaranteed a “yes or no†vote in Committee? Why or why not?
They should get a vote because the issue regarding the Senate is whether the judge is competent, not whether they have the correct political views according to the view of the Senate or a few Senators.
19. What should our short and long term strategies be in Iraq?
Need governmental work programs for short term. Need more trained Iraqi security. Need projects which will unite Iraqis. Encourage commerce and trade. Promote sports, arts, and things which are unique to Iraq. I also think that Iraq should have a proper nuclear program which is actually for peaceful purposes. Long term, Iraq should see it's future a Educational mecca. It should promote tourism related it's historical past. It should be forward looking- high tech, space exploration, etc.
20. What should the United States’ relationship be with the United Nations?
The UN needs to be reformed, e.g. it needs modern management skills and practices. It needs to change it's security council to reflect the 21 Century. And it need a major overall in it's general assemble so that it's functional instead of completely disfunctional and corrupt.
Off Topic » in reply to Some damn good questions...
re: Some damn good questions...
The whole thread (28 posts)
- Some damn good questions...
- Some probably inadequate answers
- re: Some damn good questions...
- My turn
- Here's mine
- My shot at it.
- re: Some damn good short answers...
- re: Some damn good questions...
- #1 - Doesn't matter as long as Republican felons control the vote counting.l (n/t)
- They sure are . . .
