Today, I will be releasing my answers to the Project Vote Smart Survey. They call it a "Political Courage Test." It is rather lengthy and complicated, and I may not get to all of it by the end of the day. I will edit this post later today. Check back for more updates. I should be finished with the answers by tomorrow.
PROJECT VOTE SMART : The Political Courage Test (2012 Congressional Edition)
1. Abortion: Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
Phil Jennerjahn: I am pro-life. From conception. No exemptions. I prefer adoptions and orphanages. I believe that abortion is not only a crime against the individual, but a crime against your own culture, also. It wipes out future generations who would otherwise become productive human beings.
2. Afghanistan: Do you support the United States' combat operations in Afghanistan? Do you support a timetable for withdrawal from Afghanistan?
Phil Jennerjahn: As a former member of the military, I support our troops and their mission in Afghanistan. I do not support a timetable for withdrawal/surrender. It is important that voters in America understand the existential threat that Islam poses to the rest of the world.
3. Campaign Finance: Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
Phil Jennerjahn: No. I hate McCain-Feingold. I don't believe the government should be meddling in people exercising their freedom to support political candidates or issues. If Sheldon Adelson wants to give $5 million dollars of his own money to support a particular candidate, he should be allowed to do so. Any rule to the contrary violates his freedom.
4. Capital Punishment: Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
Phil Jennerjahn: Yes. Some crimes deserve the ultimate punishment. Any other position basically gives criminals a "one free murder" opportunity.
5. Economy: 1) Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting growth? 2) Do you support providing tax incentives to businesses for the purpose of job creation? 3) Do you support spending on infrastructure projects for the purpose of job creation? 4) Do you support the temporary extension of unemployment benefits? 5) Do you support the 2010 temporary extension of tax relief?
Phil Jennerjahn: 1) In reference to the Obama "stimulus"... no, I do not support the government arbitrarily interfering in the free market in order to boost growth. It leads to massive waste like "Solyndra". 2) I believe we need to make it as easy and as simple as possible for the entrepreneurial class to create new businesses and new jobs. 3) I support spending on infrastructure where it is needed, not simply for the political stance of "creating jobs". Creating jobs is the responsibility of the free market. 4) I do not believe in unemployment benefits lasting longer than 2 years. At some point, you have to force people to become responsible for themselves. Our government cannot continue to infantilize adults. 5) I support the total replacement of our current tax structure with a flat or fair tax program.
6. Education: Do you support requiring states to implement education reforms in order to be eligible for Federal Grants?
Phil Jennerjahn: No. The Federal Government meddling in education is a violation of the Tenth Amendment. That power belongs to the States. If elected, I fully intend to dismantle the Department of Education.
7. Energy: Do you support reducing restrictions on offshore energy productions?
Phil Jennerjahn: Yes. Absolutely. I support oil exploration everywhere. The liberals are afraid of industrial accidents, but the oil companies have a very high success rate of operating without incidents.
8. Environment: 1) Do you believe that human activity is contributing to climate change? 2) Do you support the Federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?
Phil Jennerjahn: I believe that the earth goes through phases of heating and cooling on its own, and that humans are a statistically insignificant part of that process. I believe that the regulation of greenhouse gases in America is a waste of time because China and other countries continue to do what they wish, making our impacts negligible.
9. Guns: Do you support restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns?
Phil Jennerjahn: No. I am an NRA member and support the Second Amendment, which exists to protect us from tyranny.
10. Health Care: 1) Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Health Care Act? 2) Should individuals be required to purchase health insurance as mandated in the 2010 Affordable Health Care Act?
Phil Jennerjahn: One of my primary goals, if elected, is to destroy Obamacare. The Act is unconstitutional. Forcing citizens to purchase health insurance is an abuse of power. If the government doesn't like paying so much for healthcare, then STOP PAYING FOR IT! Part of the problem is the government socializing of medicine. Allow free markets to adjust and prices and services will reach an equilibrium on their own.
11. Immigration: 1) Do you support requiring illegal immigrants to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship? 2) Do you support allowing illegal immigrants, who were brought to the United States as minors, to pursue citizenship without returning to their country of origin? 3) Do you support the enforcement of Federal Immigration law by state and local police?
Phil Jennerjahn: I believe that illegal immigration threatens our nations future. The United States cannot possibly accommodate the vast numbers of people who wish to become American citizens. We have to have limited legal immigration. Those who come without permission need to be sent back. I understand the liberal desire for exemptions, like minors, but I feel that coddling people dependent on circumstances sends the wrong message. I also agree with local law enforcement carrying out arrests, but the judicial cases and deportation hearings should be Federal matters.
12. Marriage: Do you support same-sex marriage?
Phil Jennerjahn: No. I believe that gays should have legal rights to inherit property, visit a loved one in a hospital, be allowed to share an insurance plan...etc...etc... in fact, I believe the gays have every right but one. They do not have the right to interfere in religious traditions and redefine the 5,000 year-old Judeo-Chrisitian definition of marriage simply to accommodate their own personal desires.
13. National Security: 1) Do you support targeting suspected terrorists outside of official theaters of conflict? 2) Should the U.S. use military force in order to prevent Iran from possessing a nuclear weapon?
Phil Jennerjahn: Yes, I think the U.S. should be allowed to destroy its enemies wherever they might exist on the planet. The Seal team that killed Bin Laden did the world a favor. I also think that the United States may have to use force with Iran. Ahmadinejad is a genocidal maniac who has openly expressed his intentions to destroy Israel. I take him at his word.
14. Social Security: Do you support allowing individuals to divert a portion of their Social Security taxes into personal retirement accounts?
Phil Jennerjahn: Absolutely. In fact, if elected I will work for an option that allows citizens to "opt-out"... no withholding from their pay for Social Security if they agree not to collect it in the future. The way that this incredibly incompetent government is heading, all our social programs/entitlements will eventually be bankrupt in the near future. This is the main problem with trusting the government to do the right thing with your money -- they usually don't. It would be immoral for our government to force people to participate in a program like Social Security that they realize will not be financially viable in the future.
15. Spending and Taxes: Indicate what spending levels you support for the following general categories.
Spending:
Agriculture ---- Eliminate
Arts ------------ Eliminate
Defense ------- Maintain Status
Education ------ Eliminate
Environment --- Eliminate
Homeland Security -- Greatly Decrease
International Aid ---- Greatly Decrease
Medical Research -- Greatly Decrease
Scientific Research -- Greatly Decrease
Space Exploration -- Maintain Status
United Nations ----- Eliminate
Welfare --- Greatly Decrease
Taxes:
Capital Gains Taxes -- Greatly Decrease
Corporate Taxes ----- Greatly Decrease
Excise Taxes (alcohol) ----- Greatly Decrease
Excise taxes (cigarettes) --- Greatly Decrease
Excise Taxes (transportation fuel) --Greatly Decrease
Income Taxes (low income families) -- Slightly Increase
Income Taxes (middle income families) -- Slightly Decrease
Income taxes (high-income families) -- Greatly Decrease
16. Administrative Priorities
If elected, I want to:
1. Help defeat Obama in 2012
2. Repeal Obamacare
3. Protect the Tenth Amendment
4. Protect the Constitution.
5. Uphold my oath to defend my country from all enemies -- foreign and domestic.
6. Stop Socialism by enacting a flat tax or fair tax.
7. Dismantle the Department of Education
8. Dismantle the Department of Agriculture
9. Dismantle the Department of Energy
10. Dismantle the Department of Labor
11. Dismantle the Department of Transportation
12. Dismantle the Department of Commerce
13. Dismantle the Department of Interior
14. Eliminate Fannie/Freddie
15. Eliminate the NEA/NEH
