Liberty-Candidates.org Endorsement Questionnaire

I submitted a questionnaire to Liberty-Candidates.org.  Liberty-Candidates.org describes its mission as:

Liberty-Candidates.org is a not-for-profit, non-partisan organization formed to assist voters in finding candidates who will uphold the standards of Liberty in coming elections.

Our goal is to prevent any more RINOs and/or Teo-Cons from being in charge of our money and our freedoms!  Our mission is in sync with Campaign for Liberty from whence the Liberty Candidate questions evolved:

• Individual Liberty
• Sound Money
• Free Market
• Constitutional Government
• Non-interventionist Foreign Policy

Vetted candidiates, running for office in California, are here:

My answers to the questions are italicized:

I) The U.S. Financial System:

1. What is your view of the monetary system in the U.S. today?

Our monetary system has been ruined by fiat currency.  An activist Federal Reserve Bank, operating way beyond its mandate, prints money, stealing money from poor and middle-class people to prop up a failed financial system.  The result will be a currency collapse and/or runaway inflation.

1. What corrective actions could we take right now to improve the economy?

Audit the Federal Reserve Bank.  Repeal legal tender laws.  Permit competing currencies.  Reduce spending to target funding only the legitimate federal government functions, outlined in Article 1, Section 8 of the US Comstitution

1. Do you agree with the actions the Federal Reserve has taken to solve the financial crisis? If not, what could the Fed have done differently?

The Federal Reserve Bank could have acted as a "safe haven" for failed bank assets and auctioned off deposits, loan assets, and other assets to healthy financial institutions.  The Fed could have facilitated the speedy creation of new banks (to buy the surviving assets) by "fast-tracking" charters for newly-formed institutions.

1. Should the Federal Reserve be audited fully, no secrets, or does it need to keep some information under wraps?

A full audit is necessary with an eye towards shutting the Fed down.

II) Foreign Policy:

1. What is your opinion on current US foreign policy?

Our current foreign policy is an overreach and may be exposing us to new and unknown dangers.  We spend too much money abroad, have far too many foreign military installations, and are distorting the peace cause through our foreign aid.

1. How should we fight a “war on terror”?

We should be clear about our goals.  Eradicating terror is almost impossible but we can identify and target groups or individuals, who want to attack this nation, through the issuance of Letters of Marque and Reprisal.  We can be clear with our allies about the size, scope, and expectations of our military actions in their lands, execute those plans with the the goal of limiting Amwerican lives, and come home rather than to try to nation-build.

1. Should the U.S. occupy other countries? If not, would you push to close all bases? Are there any you would keep open?

I'm never comfortable with the word "occupy" inasmuch as this country has never acted like an imperial conquerer.  Still, however noble our intentions, our continued presence in foreign lands have the unintended consequence of "choosing sides" with one group of foreigners, to the detriment of others in that foreign land.  I would be more comfortable with a worldwide naval presence, in all seven seas, and with a reach all over the globe.  I would seek to close the majority of our foreign basesexcept for certain strategic naval bases.

1. Should the U.S. maintain its standing army?

I think a professional military service is essential to a strong national defense in today's world.  Still, I think active-duty personnel could be reduced to essential patrol functions with an expanded National Guard and Ready Reserve.

1. Is the Patriot Act necessary to protect America? If not, would you vote to repeal it?

Absolutely not.  Warrantless searches are completely illegal and invasive.  I would seek to repeal the PATRIOT Act completely but might want to see an expanded judiciary, to examine and authorize the increased demand for previous PATRIOT Act activities.  Gathering information on American citizens should be only done with indisputable evidence, reviewed by an independent judge, that the citizen is engaged in subversive activities.

III) Personal Liberty:

1. What information may the U.S. government legally gather about its citizens? When would it be necessary to overstep those boundaries?

If an independent judge, is presented with evidence of reasonable suspicion of treason against the United States, and issues an appropriate warrant, the US Government should seek to gather as much evidence as possible to protect lawful citizens against the actions of the traitor.  When enough evidence is gathered, to try that traitor, an arrest should be made and the traitor should be charged.

Absent a properly executed warrant, the US Government should contain its infromation gathering to the limits of the constitution; the census of how many adults and children live in each household.

1. What limits, if any, should be placed on the U.S. government’s ability to search its citizens without a warrant?

I am a strict originalist and as such believe that the 4th Amendment is inviolable.  However, if a peace officer has clear and present knowledge, that  a crime is being committed, and another citizen's life or liberty is in danger, that peace officer should act upon that knowledge to protect against  the aggression towards that citizen.  These actions should be the rare exception rather than the rule.  Acting without a duly signed warrant should place an onerous burden of proof, through cross examination, on that peace officer to justify the extraordinary action.

1. Ought the U.S. government be allowed to protect its citizens’ health by outlawing foods it considers unsafe, or to force medicate (i.e., fluoridation) or force vaccinate citizens?

I believe that we own are own bodies.  Our rights come from God and we are made in His image and likeness We are responsible to ourselves and Him only about what we ingest.  Free citizens should be able to make their own health and nutrition decisions with the understand that with their rights comes responibilities.  Stated differently, the government is forbidden to make such determinations.

1. What controls, if any, should be placed on the right to own a gun? Is there an effective way to keep guns out of the hands of madmen and criminals without encroaching on the rights of free, law-abiding citizens?

The 2nd Amendment is quite clear that the government can place no restrictions upon how we defend ourselves.  Felons abdicate that right and restrictions can be imposed upon them.  Restricting the mentally ill from self-defense is trickly because, if society restrcits that right, it assumes the responsibility to protect the mentally ill.  These restrictions should be done on a case-by-case basis with an eye towards the burden, those who can't defend themselves, might place upon society.

IV) Re. U.S. Sovereignty:

1. Is our involvement in and subjugation to global organizations, such as WHO (World Health Organization), NATO, the UN, etc., a benefit to U.S. citizens?

I don't think so.  I think any benefits we might derive are outweighed by any liabilities our membership imposes upon us.  Free citizens can decide to support those organizations individually if they choose but, our government should not cede sovereignty to any other group.

1. Would you work to repeal international agreements that purport to hold U.S. citizens and/or property under its jurisdiction, or do you think there might be times when benefits outweigh concessions?

I would work to repeal those agreements.  Our sovereignty is of utmost importance.

1. Are trade agreements with other nations, i.e., NAFTA, CAFTA, good for U.S. citizens?

Any encouragement of free trade is good.  The release of any restrictions, for ALL, citizens to freely trade, are good ideas.  Free trade agreements which grant favored status to some, while inhibiting others from trading, is not a good idea.

1. Should the U.S. give foreign aid to other countries? If yes, for what purposes would it be justified? If not all countries, which would you continue to support?

I would support an elimination of all foreign aid, to all nations.  Free citizens can donate their time or money to any nation unless it is engaged in war, or acts of war, against this country.

V) Re. State Sovereignty:

1. When does state law take precedent over federal law?

When the federal government operates outside of its contitutionally-authorized functions, state law should not only supercede an attempt by the federal government to arrogate power,  residents of that state are duty bound to resist that tyranny through a process called nullification.  If there is ambiguity about the federal government's authority, the 10th Amendment makes it quite clear that that authority resides with the States and People.

1. Would you stand up to the federal government and demand that it stay within the bounds of its enumerated powers and out of state business?

Absolutely and I seek to find candidiates who understand the concept of federalism and the nullification process.

1. Do federal officers have the right to arrest non-military citizens within the individual states for any crimes?

I think it's reasonable to expect a federal office to make an arrest within the states when: 

(1) probable cause exists to believe that a public offense, which poses an immediate to another citizens is being committed AND/OR  (2) when incidental to the performance of their federal duties as specified by a duly-sworn warrant by an independent judge.

VI) Illegal Immigration:

1. What do you see as the #1 problem with illegal immigration?

The welfare state is the biggest magnet for illegal immigration.  Eliminating or reducing the size and reach of the welfare state would solve most of our immigration problems.  Crime from illegal immigrants can't be ignored as a problem and just convictions should result in immediate deportation.  Serial offenses should result in lifelong incarceration.

1. What actions could we take to stop illegal immigrants from taking advantage of social services?

Eliminate the government run social services.  Absent that, if emergency services are given to illegal immigrants, deportation should be done as soon as possible.  Serial offenses should result in lifelong incarceration.

VII) Misc. Questions:

1. If you could make one amendment to the U.S. Constitution, what would it be?

Repeal the 17th Amendment.  Popular election of senators eliminated the States' representatives in Congress, encouraged a culture which "brings homes the bacon" rather than protecting individuals' rights, and reduced the power of state legislatures.

1. Would you vote to end government subsidies to private industry?

Immediately.  There is no legal nor moral authority for government to subsidize new businesses, bailout bad businesses, or pick winners over losers.

1. What should our government’s action be against Julian Assange, if any?

Nothing as it stands right now.  If Assange hacked into private or public property, or aided by way of funding the hackers, he should be tried and convicted of theft.

1. Do you know what Agenda 21/Sustainable Development and the Communitarian agenda is?

I am familiar with UN Agenda 21 and its attempts to relocate, through master zoning and land-use planning, citizens to urban areas and from rural lands, to control the population.

1. Do you support it? Why or why not?

I absolutely oppose Agenda 21.  This is a centralized planning scheme which violates the very American principle of private property rights.  The fact that it is being implemented, by local NGOs, at the behest of an international organization, amounnts to nothing less than treason.

 

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