Linda Black's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)
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California State Legislative Election 2010 Political Courage Test
| Pro-life | a) Do you consider yourself pro-choice or pro-life? | ||
| Yes | b) Should abortion be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy? | ||
| Yes | c) Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape? | ||
| Yes | d) Should abortion be legal when the life of the woman is endangered? | ||
| Yes | e) Do you support requiring parental notification before an abortion is performed on a minor? | ||
| Yes | f) Do you support requiring parental consent before an abortion is performed on a minor? | ||
| Yes | g) Do you support sexual education programs that include information on abstinence, contraceptives, and HIV/STD prevention methods? | ||
| No | h) Do you support abstinence-only sexual education programs? | ||
| You may think the above answers are contradictory. I am pro-choice and anti-abortion. I wish abortions would cease, yet prohibiting abortions is NOT the way to achieve this end. This is a deeply personal/spiritual dilemma. I believe the combination of reproductive education and the understanding that an abortion is the ENDING OF A BEING'S LIFE would deter most abortions. Many treat them with the same respect as an ingrown toenail. This is truly a breakdown within our society. This issue should never have become a political one. Public funds should NEVER be used for performing abortions. Please Listen: http://www.thesurvivalpodcast.com/the-issues-test-where-why | |||
1) State SpendingIndicate what state funding levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category; you may use a number more than once.2) State TaxesIndicate what state tax levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category; you may use a number more than once.3) Budget StabilizationIndicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing California's budget.
| Maintain Status | a) Education (higher) | ||
| Maintain Status | b) Education (K-12) | ||
| Slightly Decrease | c) Environment | ||
| Slightly Decrease | d) Health care | ||
| Maintain Status | e) Law enforcement | ||
| Maintain Status | f) Transportation and highway infrastructure | ||
| Greatly Decrease | g) Welfare | ||
| Greatly Increase | h) Other or expanded categories | ||
| Slightly Decrease | a) Alcohol taxes | ||
| Slightly Decrease | b) Cigarette taxes | ||
| Slightly Decrease | c) Corporate taxes | ||
| Maintain Status | d) Gasoline taxes | ||
| Greatly Decrease | e) Property taxes | ||
| Slightly Decrease | f) Sales taxes | ||
| Greatly Decrease | g) Income taxes (low-income families) | ||
| Greatly Decrease | h) Income taxes (middle-income families) | ||
| Greatly Decrease | i) Income taxes (high-income families) | ||
| Greatly Increase | j) Other or expanded categories | ||
| No | a) Tapping into California's "rainy day" fund | ||
| Yes | b) Issuing the early release of certain non-violent offenders | ||
| Yes | c) Instituting mandatory furloughs and layoffs for state employees | ||
| No | d) Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients | ||
| Yes | e) Privatizing certain government services | ||
| I have strong faith in the spirit, ingenuity, and goodness of human nature. Please take the time to browse: Education: http://backintheblack2010.netboots.net/node/12 Environment: http://www.freedomadvocates.org/ Healthcare: http://current.com/news/91192153_john-mackeys-conscious-capitalism-full-interview-version.htm | |||
| With the increasingly common discovery of EXTREME corruption in every level of government it is essential that the working class of California be given more freedom as to how they spend their wages, BEFORE the bureaucrats get a hold of it: http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2010/08/03/california-post-local-government-salaries-online/ We also need to look at how our money is being spent once they get a hold of it. Sometimes even things that sound good are opportunities for the, ah, less fiscally adept to come up with some creative spending and accounting techniques: http://www.calchamber.com/headlines/pages/calchamberseeksdetailsonexpensesforairboardimplementationofab32.aspx | |||
| The first place I would look to solve the budget problem is cutting spending. The second place I would look to for balancing the budget is the Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports, California's second set of books. Learn more here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ellen-brown/the-mysterious-cafrs-how_b_585011.html http://cafrman.com/ http://www.cafr1.com/ Aside from that I would move for an eligibility review for individuals receiving government aid, and a discovery and removal process for wasteful government programs. | |||
e) Do you support limits on the following types of contributions to candidates for state government?
| No | a) Should California hold a constitutional convention to rewrite the state constitution? | ||
| No | b) Do you support changing the requirement for state budget passage from a two-thirds vote to a majority vote? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support limits on the number of terms for California governors? | ||
| Yes | d) Do you support limits on the number of terms for California state legislators? | ||
| No | 1) Individual | ||
| No | 2) Political Action Committee | ||
| No | 3) Corporate | ||
| No | 4) Political Party | ||
| No | f) Should candidates for state office be encouraged to meet voluntary spending limits? | ||
| Yes | g) Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information? | ||
| I think all political candidates should only be able to receive contributions from individuals, and individuals should be limited to an amount they are allowed to contribute per candidate. This way all candidates would have to rely on their constituents rather than PACs, unions, and large corporations. Regarding a): I think we need to work within the parameters of what we have first. Things are not being run properly as it is, if things were running the way they were supposed to and still not working then would be a time to consider a constitutional convention, not before. | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support alternatives to incarceration for certain non-violent offenders, such as mandatory counseling or substance abuse treatment? | ||
| Yes | c) Should the possession of small amounts of marijuana be decriminalized? | ||
| Yes | d) Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult? | ||
| No | e) Should a minor who sends sexually-explicit or nude photos by cell phone face criminal charges? | ||
| Yes | f) Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police? | ||
| Regarding d: This is rarely a black and white situation. I think in many situations the age is not a factor and the minor can be considered as liable as an adult. Not all though, and I do think non-biased psychological reviews are essential to make this decision. | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support reducing government regulations on the private sector? | ||
| No | b) Do you support increased state funding for job-training programs that re-train displaced workers? | ||
| No | c) Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits? | ||
| No | d) Do you support providing financial incentives to the private sector for the purpose of job creation? | ||
| No | e) Do you support increased spending on infrastructure projects for the purpose of job creation? | ||
| No | f) Do you support providing direct financial assistance to homeowners facing foreclosure? | ||
| No | g) Do you support suspending the sale of bonds that would finance the California high-speed rail? | ||
| To understand my standing on these issues please reference "Economics in One Lesson" by Henry Hazlitt. Regarding g): The highspeed rail project is a remnant from a boom time in our economy, we need to drop it and put those resources towards any number of other areas such as schools, fire departments, law enforcement, libraries, etc. | |||
| No | a) Do you support national education standards? | ||
| No | b) Do you support requiring public schools to administer high school exit exams? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support using a merit pay system for teachers? | ||
| Yes | d) Do you support state funding for charter schools? | ||
| No | e) Do you support the state government providing college students with financial aid? | ||
| No | f) Should illegal immigrants who graduate from California high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities? | ||
| See this short video on education: http://backintheblack2010.com/node/12 Education in this country has some serious problems. By approaching the issue with common sense I think we can once again rise to the top- but it will take dedication and hard work. | |||
| No | a) Do you support state funding for the development of alternative energy? | ||
| No | b) Do you support state funding for the development of traditional domestic energy sources (e.g. coal, natural gas, oil)? | ||
| No | c) Do you support providing financial incentives to farms that produce biofuel crops? | ||
| No | d) Do you support state funding for improvements to California's energy infrastructure? | ||
| No | e) Do you support state funding for open space preservation? | ||
| No | f) Do you support enacting environmental regulations aimed at reducing the effects of climate change? | ||
| See "Economics in One Lesson" by Henry Hazlitt. These are all things best handled by the private sector. I do not support government subsidies. | |||
| No | a) Do you support restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns? | ||
| No | b) Do you support requiring background checks on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support allowing individuals to carry concealed guns? | ||
| No | d) Do you support requiring a license for gun possession? | ||
| In scenarios where a citizen has forfeited their rights by committing certain violent crimes they should not be allowed the right to possess firearms. Other than that I am a strong supporter of the second amendment of the constitution. The founders of this country intended that the people always have a means of defense. I will always defend the second amendment, from direct attacks as well as undercover such as ammunition regulations. I support firearm education for the purpose of self defense, especially for women. | |||
| No | a) Do you support the establishment of a single-payer, publicly-administered health care system for California? | ||
| No | b) Do you support a universally-accessible, publicly-administered health insurance option? | ||
| No | c) Do you support expanding access to health care through commercial health insurance reform? | ||
| Yes | d) Do you support interstate health insurance compacts? | ||
| No | e) Should individuals be required to purchase health care insurance? | ||
| Yes | f) Do you support monetary limits on damages that can be collected in malpractice lawsuits? | ||
| Yes | g) Do you support legalizing physician-assisted suicide in California? | ||
| Yes | h) Do you support allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes? | ||
| We must protect our right to choice as to how we care for our health. Under no circumstances should anyone be FORCED to purchase health insurance. The private sector is the proper place for healthcare. http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Stossel/story?id=3602579&page=1 See this interview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlNtWy8TX_Y | |||
| No | a) Should marriage only be between one man and one woman? | ||
| Yes | b) Should California allow same-sex couples to form domestic partnerships? | ||
| No | c) Do you support state funding for stem cell research? | ||
| No | d) Do you support state funding for embryonic stem cell research? | ||
| No | e) Do you support the state's use of affirmative action? | ||
| Yes | f) Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in California's anti-discrimination laws? | ||
| Yes | g) Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in California's anti-discrimination laws? | ||
| Get the Government out of our private life: minds, bodies, and emotions. Regarding a): Get the government out of the business of love. Marriage should not be controlled by the government, it should be a personal and private contract between individuals. Legal agreements to protect assets, etc. should be made just like any other partnership. | |||
| I will use my experience in business, budgeting, finance and management to find and weed out wasteful spending in government programs and restore transparency and common sense to the legislature. I will encourage private sector business growth by working towards lowering taxes and reducing regulations (this will in turn provide jobs). I will work to protect our environment including access to safe drinking water and food by fighting Agenda 21 to protect property rights, fighting the water fluoridation mandate, and resisting any attempted entry of Codex Alimentarius into our State. |
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