|
Some Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have any experience in politics?
I've had some. I held appointed positions with the Navy and with the Army from 1958 until 1964. I've also had close professional contact with government agencies such as NASA, Harris County Texas, the City of Houston Texas, The State of Texas, branches of the military, etc.
I was a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in District 1 in Louisiana in 1994. What was very significant is the fact that I'd only been a resident of Louisiana for a little over two years.
Clark, How familiar are you with the people in this District 31?
I've lived in the district for much of my life. My late grandfather carried the U.S. Mail on a Rural Route from the Lexington Post Office and was later Appointed Postmaster. One of my aunts worked in Lee County government from about 1941 until she retired. I have many ties there.
What are some of the major issues that you think need to be addressed?
I've seen government grow to gargantuan proportions in my lifetime. The duplication of effort between federal and state governments has caused an unbearable tax burden, and the efficiency has deteriorated immensely. The increase in services is not in line with the increase in taxation.
Don't you think the federal government should be involved in the problems facing us? Notably the epidemic of illegal drugs?
Yes, I do. But their efforts should be directed at the importation of illegal narcotics. State and local governments should have the responsibility of dealing with drug problems on the street.
History has shown that the military may be used in keeping our borders safe. After all, that's the primary purpose of the military.
What about education? Shouldn't the federal government subsidize education?
No. It is a fact that some people have brought themselves up from poverty levels through government subsidized education, but the cost makes that option inadvisable and other students are penalized. Many kinds of tasks tasks must be performed. And we need persons capable of carrying out all tasks.
State and local school districts are perfectly capable of providing a basic education for those who cannot otherwise afford it.
Students who show excellence should be provided the opportunity for higher education.
How about Social Security?
Social Security is poorly administered. A recent study by the Cato Institute indicates that the returns from the individual's investment falls far short of what it should be. Click on the Cato Institute icon to find out what you'll get, and what you should get.
What about the right to keep and bear arms?
Article II of the Bill of Rights of the Constitution is very clear. It's purpose is to prevent tyranny by ambitious government officials. I would suggest that all law abiding citizens retain the right to keep and bear combat types of arms on an individual basis. Weapons of mass destruction should be controlled, however. It is an individual right, not a collective one.
What's your take on immigration?
Illegal immigration costs American taxpayers billions of dollars each year. Efforts must be made to protect the borders, and to allow immigration for useful purposes, to the benefit of both the legal immigrant, and to the nation. Click in the TFFI link for some statistics on immigration, and to links to still other information.
Do you think that the United States should get out of the United Nations, and if so, why?
The United Nations is the precursor to a one world oligarchy along a socialist ideology. The trend to rely on an organization such as the UN to maintain world peace is very dangerous. Any government powerful enough to enforce peace is also powerful enough to make war, and to conquer. World conquest should not be an option.
The United States should certainly consider leaving the world body in the interest of preventing world tyranny.
Click on the icon to read the United Nations Charter on line. Please pay particular attention to Chapter VII.
Where do you stand on a Term Limits Amendment?
I feel that there's no real need to limit the choices that a voter has at the polls. Congress has the power of impeachment and should use it. If they fail to do so, the voter has the option of choosing a replacement for any elected official at the next election. Even federal judges can only hold their offices during good behaviour. The Constitution says so.
How about a Balanced Budget Amendment?
A Balanced Budget Amendment would give Congress the authority to go outside the limitations already placed on it in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution of the United States. If Congress can't abide by what's already in the Constitution, additional Constitutional mandate certainly won't have any effect. There're only two ways to balance the budget. Cut spending or raise taxes. I'm afraid a forced balance would serve to raise taxes. The only viable option is to reduce spending.
Clark, you sound too conservative. Why is this?
I like to think of myself as a liberal at heart. Government works best when it's closest to home. And that means conservatism at the federal level, and progressively more liberal towards lower levels of government.
I consider myself as more of a Constitutionalist than anything. So much so that I maintain a mirror of The Constitution Society Web Site. It consists of texts and images of several thousand historical documents. A link is provided.
I notice that you use the Internet quite a bit. Should censorship be imposed on it?
There is a wealth of information to be gleaned from the Internet. To restrict portions of it would probably lead to unwarranted control. I marvel at the fact that an individual such as I could take a five year old computer and some free software, and can have the same presence on the net as the President of the United States.
|
