Virginia Libertarian

The News Leader - www.newsleader.com - Staunton, Va.

A new report shows that there has been record growth in “severe poverty.” How would you address this?George Allen

The economy has created more than 5.7 million jobs since August 2003 and more than 1.7 million jobs in just the past 12 months. Our economy has now added jobs for 36 straight months. The economy is strong but we can do even better. I will continue to fight to create more jobs for the people of Virginia and America. The successful tax relief that I’ve sponsored in Congress has been a tremendous boost for our economy and job growth. A strong economy provides more opportunity for all.

We also need to make sure that all Americans, regardless of race, gender or ethnicity, have the tools and opportunity to compete and succeed. That is why I introduced legislation to upgrade telecommunications infrastructures at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other minority serving institutions. I have also sponsored legislation to encourage more women and minorities in science and engineering fields. We need to make the United States the World Capital of Innovation. We have to do a much better job of encouraging and incenting young people to get interested and educated in science, engineering and technology. — and at an earlier age — because these jobs are the high-paying jobs of the 21st century. (202)

Gail Parker

By building Rail in Virginia. Create jobs for Virginians. Create free-market alternatives and incentives. Advance rail technology in Virginia. Enable future generations of Virginians to compete through innovation with rail. We need More Trains, Less Traffic now…in Virginia. We need more candidates on the ballot to advocate for Rail. Join us. Run for office as our candidate and advocate for Rail. We need to make Virginia safer for Virginia families.

Jim Webb

This country is splitting into three pieces. As a result of the internationalization of the economy, the people at the top have never had it so good. The middle class is continuing to get squeezed by stagnant wages and rising cost of living. And we are in danger of creating a permanent underclass. We must reexamine our tax and trade policies and reinstitute notions of fairness, and also enforce our existing trade laws so that free trade becomes fair trade.

We have a serious problem in America today in wage disparity. Corporate profits, as a percentage of gross domestic product, are at their highest level in history, while simultaneously wages, as a percentage of GDP are at their lowest level in history.

One step, which can be taken immediately, is to raise the minimum wage from its current level of $5.15 per hour. The federal minimum wage has not been increased since 1998. Since 1998 Senators have received pay increases totaling over $30,000. Yet George Allen who voted to raise his own pay four times has voted against raising the minimum wage 4 times.

Ok, I just have to comment on this one, and I have to thank The News Leader for providing these short Q and A essays from the candidates.  Now on with the shredding.

If George Allen’s opinion had ended with the first paragraph, he would have had it perfect, but he had to go and support what amounts to affirmative action.

Gail Parker and her mantra “Rail in Virginia” are really starting to annoy me.  One issue candidates just don’t cut it.  That, and she’s basically going to be creating more government jobs in order to build rail instead of allowing private industry to do it.

Where to start with Jim Webb.  One, there will always be people that succeed, people that get by, and people that fail.  You can cut population into as many classes as you like, but income runs the whole spectrum.  Mostly you get what you work for.

We must reexamine our tax and trade policies and reinstitute notions of fairness, and also enforce our existing trade laws so that free trade becomes fair trade.

This is the part that really bothers me.  When Mr. Webb talks about fairness, he means that unless everyone is bringing in the same amount of money, no matter how hard you do or don’t work for it, then something unfair is going on.  Hey, get a clue, someone who is only qualified to drive a forklift is not going to make as much money as a neurosurgeon, nor should they, unless driving the forklift is more valued by the market.  There just tend to be a lot more people that can drive a forklift than can perform brain surgery. Now on the second sentance, what needs to happen is that we need to change and enforce our existing trade laws so that what is called free trade becomes free trade, not the mockery that we have now that is called free trade.

One step, which can be taken immediately, is to raise the minimum wage from its current level of $5.15 per hour. The federal minimum wage has not been increased since 1998. Since 1998 Senators have received pay increases totaling over $30,000.

Now, this plan is just totally stupid.  The right solution is to reduce the Senators pay, and increase it only by inflation rates (if we didn’t have a fiat currency, inflation wouldn’t be a problem).  Instead, Webb advocates the exact opposite, increasing everyone elses wages.  Does anyone really think this will improve those that will still be making the minimum?  Here’s an analogy for you, if you jack up the floor of your house, does that give you any more room, either underneath or over you?  No, in order to get higher in the room you’re standing in, you have to climb a ladder, i.e., get a better job, or better yet, go into business for yourself.

The News Leader - www.newsleader.com - Staunton, Va.

How confident are you in the current official threat estimates regarding Iran? (150 words)

George Allen

The intelligence community and the international community believed Iraq had WMD.

Going forward, we still must depend on the research and analysis of our intelligence community. I have confidence that the Executive Branch and the specific agencies have taken steps to better corroborate intelligence and that in the future estimates will be more rigorously debated and clarified.

The Senate Intelligence Report and the subsequent recommendations by the 9-11 Commission provide our Nation with a framework of improvement in the intelligence community’s ability to gather, share and report information, ensuring that all agencies are notified and appropriate action taken.

Gail Parker

Hindsight is often better that foresight. Folks do the best they can, particularly when what they do is measured. That is why we need to install an auditable accounting system at the Pentagon and cut out those no-bid, uncontested contract awards. I have faith that we can get back to a state of Peace with positive solutions.

Jim Webb

The problem with our pre-war intelligence in Iraq was largely based on our reaction to that information. I do not think we should have used this intelligence to justify an invasion of Iraq. I wrote an article in 2002, 6 months before the invasion of Iraq that cautioned against the war. I do believe that Iran is a security threat to the United States, but I do not believe that we can solve this problem by invading Iran. We should use all the diplomatic tools at our disposal to resolve the situation in Iran. Ironically the invasion of Iraq actually increased Iran’s influence and power in the Middle East.

The News Leader

Fuel Mileage Candidates in the U.S. Senate race answer the question:      What timeline would you advocate for those changes? (200 words)

George Allen

Like many, I am concerned with our nation’s dependency on foreign, hostile and unstable nations for sources of energy. I agree that our nation should produce more efficient vehicles and that is why I support the development of new technologies such as fuel cells, hybrids, and alternative-fuel vehicles. As a father of three, like every American, I want to take every precaution to ensure our families are safe. Families should be allowed to choose what type of vehicle they trust their family to drive based on safety and durability, not by government mandate. We need to ensure that experts are involved in the decision making process and that the effects on jobs, industry, consumers and the environment are taken into account.

Gail Parker

Build high-speed Rail and this issue becomes less significant. The consumer will have a choice in how to travel and the auto industry will have market incentives to improve mileage standards. Our goal is to get 20 — 25% of the traffic off the roads so we can have clean air, clean water and cut our dependency on foreign oil. Because Rail is safer. Every year, every year 40,000 Americans are killed on our highways. 300,000 Americans are injured in automobile accidents every year. This year 628 Virginians have already died on Virginia roadways. By the end of the year the number is expected to rise to 1,000 killed. Rail is safer and it cuts dependency on foreign oil.

Jim Webb

I support raising fuel economy standards. I think the technology exists to make our automobile fleet more efficient. Progress in this area would help reduce our dependence on foreign sources of oil.

States get a break on health costs - Yahoo! News
WASHINGTON - States are finally getting relief when it comes to providing health care for the poor.

Ok, the obvious question to be raised here is, why is this the responsibilty of the state (and thus the taxpayers)?  We all have family obligations, and community obligations.  What we are doing here is allowing the distancing of families and communities.  This allows the thinking that “I don’t have to worry that Uncle Bob lost his job, the state will take care of him.”  It is not the job of the state to be a safety net for anyone.  It is the states job to see that we are all allowed the freedom to pursue happiness, not the guarantee of happiness.  No matter what you do, not everyone is going to be happy.  Part of being human is the pursuit of what you want.  If you are given everything on a platter, nothing is ever enough, and you still aren’t happy.

Teaching Brief® - MedPage Today
Dr. Furberg and colleagues recommended that Congress:

• Give the FDA direct legal authority to pursue violations.
• Authorize adoption of a conditional drug approval policy for selected drugs.
• Provide additional financial resources to support safety operations.
• Mandate a reorganization of the FDA with emphasis on strengthening the evaluation and proactive monitoring of drug safety.
• Require boarder representation of safety experts on the FDA advisory committees.

Damn, I thought when I read the title for this article that it was going to be good news. I should know better by now. Instead we get this atrocious list of recommendations.  How about this list:

1. Completely remove funding for the FDA and do away with it

There, isn’t that a much easer list to implement?  And it won’t cost taxpayers any more money either.  In fact, it might even cost less.  I know, who is going to police the drug companies?  Well, how about private watchdog groups, like Consumer Labs does for supplements?  I’ve been a happy member for years.  I don’t see why this can’t replace the bureaucratic nightmare that is the FDA.  Hell, drug companies may even actually be able to get things from concept to market during one person’s lifetime then.  Now the astute observer may ask “What about drug companies bribing the watchdog groups?”  To that I have to say, do you really think the FDA is less susceptable to that?  If you do, you are a fool.