For Fair Use/Educational Purposes Only
THE LIBERTY POLL
by Alan Korwin
The political conventions and primaries are behind us, the candidates are no longer "presumptive," and the elections loom on the horizon. It's time now to start asking tough questions that media pundits typically overlook, and find out what sort of leaders we are about to elect.
Although news outlets often appear to play hardball with candidates, truly fundamental questions are rarely part of the mix. The Liberty Poll makes this dramatically clear -- it is a fresh approach designed to examine candidates' knowledge and views of:
1 - The United States constitutional form of government,
2 - The separate powers of federal and state government, and
3 - Constitutionally guaranteed civil and human rights.
Politicians have tended to express shock, or to simply stammer when asked about such things. Some suddenly find they're late for a meeting, and hurriedly duck out. But they can help us better understand their views of the Constitutions they will take an oath to preserve, protect and defend if they are elected to public office, by taking The Liberty Poll. Reporters do the public a great service by injecting these revealing questions into the national forum.
You should ask your local news media to use questions from The Liberty Poll. Next time you see a "newsmaker" yourself, instead of asking about corruption, or progress on project X, try asking some of these questions instead, and see what happens.
In these days of expensive sound bites and slogan campaigning, this is an eye-popping opportunity for voters to see their future representatives' views on the public offices up for grabs, and to avoid the wedge issues and glossy funding promises that politicos are eminently more comfortable with.
POLICY QUESTIONS
1 - If you are elected to the office you seek:
a) what laws will you repeal;
b) what taxes will you reduce or eliminate;
c) what government agencies will you shrink or close?
2 - Would you support criminal penalties:
a) for politicians who violate their oath of office;
b) for bureaucrats who act outside the powers delegated to them?
3 - When did you last read the state and federal Constitutions?
4 - Should someone who has sworn an oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution, but who then votes to allocate tax funds to programs or departments not authorized by that Constitution, be removed from office?
5 - Can you name any current areas of government operations that are outside the authority delegated to government?
6 - Can you name areas where government might serve the public interest, but where it has no authority to act? If not, is it still accurate to say we have "government of limited powers"? Does this matter?
7 - As a candidate for a state or federal office, can you think of any ways to improve enforcement of the 10th Amendment (the states and the people retain powers not delegated to the federal government)?
ISSUE QUESTIONS
8 - With regard to jury trials, should judges be required to inform jurors that they have the power, in the sanctity of the jury room, to decide whether a law in question is just, or constitutional? Should schools teach this?
9 - With regard to due process, should judges be allowed to prevent defendants from presenting a defense on constitutional grounds if they so choose?
10 - With regard to the war on drugs, is the war succeeding? When could it be declared a success, the expense of waging it cease, and the tax-based infrastructure surrounding it be decreased or dismantled? If it can't be declared a success, when might it be declared a failure and brought to a close?
11 - With regard to law enforcement, are you in favor of police being allowed to use deadly force when absolutely necessary to protect innocent lives from criminal attack? Do you believe that people, even people with no training of any kind, have less right to defend themselves than the authorities do?
12 - With regard to the right to keep and bear arms, would you support gun laws that would specifically disarm religious individuals, either on the way to or at religious services?
13 - With regard to establishing a federal ID number for every American, would you vote to enable or block such legislation if it were proposed? Which part of the Constitution would authorize such controls?
14 - With regard to asset forfeiture laws and policies, describe how these are permissible under the Constitution. If elected, would you do anything to change current asset forfeiture law?
15 - If elected to the office you seek, would you support legislation to license writers or register printing presses? Would you support legislation to license publishers to help control "hate speech?" Why would an honest writer or publisher object to such a program?
The Liberty Poll was developed by attorney Michael P. Anthony, author Alan Korwin and syndicated columnist Vin Suprynowicz.
Contact:
Alan Korwin
BLOOMFIELD PRESS
12629 N. Tatum #440
Phoenix, AZ 85032
602-996-4020 Day phone
602-494-9320 Evening phone
602-494-0679 Fax
Source:
http://www.keepandbeararms.com/information/XcIBViewItem.asp?ID=1340