Summary of political beliefs

[MHS2002]

Socially: Pro-life in virtually all cases, against euthenaisa, support the death penalty for the most heinous of crimes, against gay marriage but also against a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage such as the FMA, undecided on civil unions. Also against hate crimes legislation and affirmative action, oppose most FCC regulations on cable and other pay TV channels, in favor of some Internet censorship when it comes to K-12 public schools and libraries where computers are being used by children. Generally oppose prostitution and legalization of drugs but support gambling for the most part. Support the status quo for immigration. Support individual prayer in public schools and prayer before sporting and other major events. Support school vouchers and faith-based charities.

Economically: Proponent of the free market but there should be a small safety net for those who have fallen on hard times. Support free trade, welfare reform, tort reform, a slightly graduated income tax, and farm subsidies for small family farms. Against personal and corporate tax loopholes, corporate subsidies, and universal health care. Would like to see a more balanced budget and feel that Medicare and Medicaid spending are more pressing issues than Social Security (support privatization of SS).

Foreign policy: Supporter of the War on Terror, including Iraq and Afghanistan. Strong supporter of Israel.

[MHS2002]

I think I'll update this as well:

Social Issues

General philosophy: Lean Conservative

Abortion: Strongly oppose in all cirumstances.

Separation of Church and State: There should not be an established religion, however I don't support the total separation of church and state. A local city hall that has a nativity scene should be allowed to keep such a scene up.

Marriage: Oppose any changes to the definition of marriage as it stands today. Oppose FMA. Would consider civil unions for homosexual couples or government out of marriage altogether. Unsure on how to vote on VA constitutional amendment in November.

Affirmative Action: Oppose for the most part.

Gun Control: Oppose for the most part, support 2nd Amendment.

Death Penalty: Support keeping it legal but the death penalty should be administered in only the most serious of circumstances.

Censorship: Some restrictions on public TV/radio waves, little restriction on pay TV/radio. Support some filtering of the internet at public schools and libraries.

Flag burning: Opposed to a law/amendment to ban flag burning

Hate crimes: Opposed to hate crimes legislation.

Hate speech: Generally opposed to hate speech legislation, although if you get your a** kicked, it happens.

Smoking: Opposed to laws that restrict where and when a person can smoke. This is a decision to be left up to the owner and the consumer.

Alcohol consumption: Support lowering the age to 19.

Euthanasia: Oppose legalization of euthanasia.

Drugs: Oppose legalization in general, willing to accept legalization of marajuana but little else.

Gambling: Support its legalization.

Prostitution: Oppose its legalization.

Embryonic Stem Cell Research: Oppose for the most part, if someone makes a good argument I might change my mind.

Immigration: Support increasing the ease with which skilled and unskilled immigrants can enter the country, provided they have no criminal record. Those who enter illegally should be sent back.


Economic Issues

General Philosophy: Conservative for the most part

Taxes: Top rate should be about 35%. Make deficit cuts a priority before tax cuts right now.

Unions: Support right to work laws.

Free trade: Support in almost all circumstances.

Spending: Cut unnecessary/wasteful/pork-barrel spending, cut farm subsidies, cut Medicare drug benefit, reform Medicare and Medicaid as a whole before they get out of hand. Wouldn't mind starting the whole budgetary process from scratch to be honest.

Social Security: Support some privatization measures.

Workers' Rights: Oppose the government telling business who they can and can not hire and fire. If you're fired for any reason other than poor performance, your employers will inevitably suffer and the market will give them what they deserve.

Space Program: Would support funding the thing if it was shown there was some use from the program.

Welfare: Temporary safety net in place for those that inevitably fall on hard times. Anyone receiving welfare should either be working or looking for a job.

Healthcare: Support basic healthcare for the young (i.e. those that can't help their financial situation), support some sort of healthcare "safety net" for the elderly and the poor, opposed to Medicare drug benefit, opposed to spending money on things like Viagra.

Education: Support vouchers for low-income students, support educational decisions made at the local level, not by some bureaucrat in D.C.


Foreign Issues

General Philosophy: #1 goal should be the protection of American citizens. However, U.S. should make efforts to assist other countries when it is feasible.

Democracy and Trade: Democracies that engage in economic trade rarely go to war with one another, would support efforts to make this a reality.

Anti (fill in the blank) Treaty: Support for chemical/biological, oppose for nuclear

United Nations: Reform, don't leave the United Nations. U.N. is a fairly inefficient body as well.

Iraq: Support then, support now. Don't leave until the job is 100% complete.

Israel: Strong supporter of Israel.

[MHS2002]

I think I'll update this as well (topics are from beginning of thread):

Social Issues

General philosophy: Lean Conservative

Abortion: Strongly oppose in all cirumstances.

Separation of Church and State: There should not be an established religion, however I don't support the total separation of church and state. A local city hall that has a nativity scene should be allowed to keep such a scene up.

Marriage: Oppose any changes to the definition of marriage as it stands today. Oppose FMA. Would consider civil unions for homosexual couples or government out of marriage altogether. Unsure on how to vote on VA constitutional amendment in November.

Affirmative Action: Oppose for the most part.

Gun Control: Oppose for the most part, support 2nd Amendment.

Death Penalty: Support keeping it legal but the death penalty should be administered in only the most serious of circumstances.

Censorship: Some restrictions on public TV/radio waves, little restriction on pay TV/radio. Support some filtering of the internet at public schools and libraries.

Flag burning: Opposed to a law/amendment to ban flag burning

Hate crimes: Opposed to hate crimes legislation.

Hate speech: Generally opposed to hate speech legislation, although if you get your a** kicked, it happens.

Smoking: Opposed to laws that restrict where and when a person can smoke. This is a decision to be left up to the owner and the consumer.

Alcohol consumption: Support lowering the age to 19.

Euthanasia: Oppose legalization of euthanasia.

Drugs: Oppose legalization in general, willing to accept legalization of marajuana but little else.

Gambling: Support its legalization.

Prostitution: Oppose its legalization.

Embryonic Stem Cell Research: Oppose for the most part, if someone makes a good argument I might change my mind.

Immigration: Support increasing the ease with which skilled and unskilled immigrants can enter the country, provided they have no criminal record. Those who enter illegally should be sent back.


Economic Issues

General Philosophy: Conservative for the most part

Taxes: Top rate should be about 35%. Make deficit cuts a priority before tax cuts right now.

Unions: Support right to work laws.

Free trade: Support in almost all circumstances.

Spending: Cut unnecessary/wasteful/pork-barrel spending, cut farm subsidies, cut Medicare drug benefit, reform Medicare and Medicaid as a whole before they get out of hand. Wouldn't mind starting the whole budgetary process from scratch to be honest.

Social Security: Support some privatization measures.

Workers' Rights: Oppose the government telling business who they can and can not hire and fire. If you're fired for any reason other than poor performance, your employers will inevitably suffer and the market will give them what they deserve.

Space Program: Would support funding the thing if it was shown there was some use from the program.

Welfare: Temporary safety net in place for those that inevitably fall on hard times. Anyone receiving welfare should either be working or looking for a job.

Healthcare: Support basic healthcare for the young (i.e. those that can't help their financial situation), support some sort of healthcare "safety net" for the elderly and the poor, opposed to Medicare drug benefit, opposed to spending money on things like Viagra.

Education: Support vouchers for low-income students, support educational decisions made at the local level, not by some bureaucrat in D.C.


Foreign Issues

General Philosophy: #1 goal should be the protection of American citizens. However, U.S. should make efforts to assist other countries when it is feasible.

Democracy and Trade: Democracies that engage in economic trade rarely go to war with one another, would support efforts to make this a reality.

Anti (fill in the blank) Treaty: Support for chemical/biological, oppose for nuclear

United Nations: Reform, don't leave the United Nations. U.N. is a fairly inefficient body as well.

Iraq: Support then, support now. Don't leave until the job is 100% complete.

Israel: Strong supporter of Israel.