Representing the 19th District of Illinois
Issues
The Economy
Economic policy is a direct representation of government's role. Government's primary role is to protect freedom. Economic policy should reflect this.
People should be free to make transactions to which they voluntarily agree when the transaction is judged to be beneficial by those making the exchange.
Government does have the role of protecting competition. Markets can be hindered by coercion, pollution, and fraud. Government does have a responsibility to monitor the market for coercion, pollution, and fraud. There is a need for new anti-trust guidelines, as the merging of formerly competing companies is a form of coercion when those companies comprise a substantial percentage of a market segment.
Government should not be making judgments within a market in place of individuals. Government should not be giving nor loaning money to individuals or groups. Government should not be giving special status to some as seen with corporate law.
The Federal Reserve System idea has proven itself to be a failure. New monetary policy will need to be established with strict guidelines which are not subject to the whims and fortunes of a selected few.
The Constitution
The federal government has a limited list of duties as defined in the Constitution. The list of 17 powers held by the federal legislature has been ignored. The overreaching of the legislature beyond these seventeen powers has been to the detriment of our freedom.
It is the duty of all elected representatives to uphold and protect the Constitution. I would do so. I would never support legislation which exceeds the list of powers. A slow correction of the unconstitutional legislation needs to begin. It will take decades to return the federal government to its originally intended powers. Progress towards this must be accomplished every year.
Taxation
The biggest problem with taxation is the current need for so much of it. While a reduction of federal services will be the most important step towards a solution, the problems of taxation being unfair and cumbersome also need to be addressed. Taxation should be simple. Transaction taxation (taxing the use of money at a flat low percentage) and a flat income tax with a single deduction would be two effective means for gaining revenue which are superior to present means.
Foreign Policy/War
Only the legislation can declare war. The legislation is required to reevaluate war commitments every two years. Both statements are constitutionally defined.
The imperialist nation building which the United States has undertaken in recent history has been detrimental to the people of the United States. It has been a mixed bag of help and hindrance to those countries where we have intervened. The cost and corruption of monies spent on these follies has been astronomical.
Free trade and free communications between countries should be supported.
Our military strength is best supported by a vibrant free economy. The primary purpose of our military should be defending our nation. Entangling the military in political issues of alien nations should be avoided.
Healthcare
The right to privacy is one of our fundamental inalienable rights. Privacy is a sense of security within our own homes and on our own property. We should have exclusive decision over our health and reproduction. We should be free to have conversations free from prying ears and eyes, and free to vote and support any candidate without prejudice of political affiliation nor public expression of support of individual nor party.
The federal government must obey the Constitution. Providing services is not one of the powers of the legislature. State government is not prohibited from providing services, as long as such services do not interfere with privacy.
The distribution of government power to the various states is necessary for the protection of freedom.
Immigration
Human population is growing worldwide, and the resulting pressures on the world equilibrium are profound. The quality of human life and the environment are threatened because of population overgrowth. In the United States, the native population is close to static. Immigration is pushing population upwards. If we wish to encourage static population, we should not support incentives for illegal immigrants. Employment is the biggest incentive for illegals to seek living in the United States. The best course of action to reduce illegal immigration is to penalize employers who are benefitting from the hire of illegal immigrants.
Further, free government services for all is another incentive for illegals to come. Free services must be decreased.
The Environment
Monitoring pollution should be a government responsibility. Carbon dioxide emissions have been identified as a probable factor towards changing the world's environment. Steps to curtail carbon dioxide emissions must be entertained. The Cap and Trade legislation is a bureaucratic quagmire. We need other options.