Thomas Cramer's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)
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Thomas Cramer has demonstrated Political Courage by telling citizens where he stands on the issues he may face if elected.
Mississippi Congressional Election 2012 Political Courage Test
| Pro-life | Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation? | ||
| Life begins at conception. Conception even in case of rape or incest is still Conception and should not be terminated. In case where both mother's and unborn child's lives are in danger and attending physician can only save one the decision must be left to the physician to save the one most viable. | |||
| No | Do you support United States' combat operations in Afghanistan? | ||
| No | Do you support a timetable for withdrawal from Afghanistan? | ||
| I believe it is time to withdraw in the least dangerous and most expeditious fashion with no timetable given. It is time to bring all of our troops home, issue "no travel" recommendations for current regions of violence and except where Ambassadors are in active peace negotiations bring home embassy staff. | |||
Indicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing the federal budget.In order to balance the budget,
| No | do you support reducing defense spending? | ||
| No | do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket? | ||
| Yes | do you support reducing Medicaid spending? | ||
| Yes | do you support reducing Medicare spending? | ||
| Yes | Is balancing the budget a legislative priority? | ||
| Eliminate current discriminatory and punitive tax code. Reactivate an apportioned tax system allowing States to establish best method for each to collect their apportioned taxes. Eliminate or reduce federal agencies performing unconstitutional functions allowing States and the People to keep funds at home to perform essential and humanitarian services. | |||
| Yes | Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions? | ||
| As long as individual contributors have a voice in where their voluntary contributions are spent. | |||
| Yes | Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes? | ||
| Punishment should fit the crime. (Particularly heinous voluntary taking of life without ones self being in imminent danger.) | |||
| No | Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth? | ||
| No | Do you support providing tax incentives to businesses for the purpose of job creation? | ||
| No | Do you support spending on infrastructure projects for the purpose of job creation? | ||
| No | Do you support the temporary extension of unemployment benefits? | ||
| No | Do you support the 2010 temporary extension of tax relief? | ||
| None of the above create full time jobs or stimulate the economy. If tax breaks can be offered it means the tax rate is too high which may account for economic slow down. These measures only create deficits and increase debt. These are just methods for politicians to buy votes and expand control. | |||
| No | Do you support requiring states to implement education reforms in order to be eligible for competitive federal grants? | ||
| The federal government has no Constitutional authority to be involved in education. If federal government can "grant" funds to the States they are collecting excessive taxes or creating excess debt Soley for the purpose of expanding control over the States and People. | |||
| Yes | Do you support reducing restrictions on offshore energy production? | ||
| This is a must to gain energy independance and to stimulate economic growth. Releasing restrictions on national energy production while limiting exports will reduce energy prices and improve our international standing. | |||
| No | Do you believe that human activity is contributing to climate change? | ||
| No | Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions? | ||
| The gases currently classified as "greenhouse" gases actually contribute to environmental stability. Local pollution levels of particulates can be controlled at local and/or State level. | |||
| No | Do you support restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns? | ||
| Individual possession and bearing of arms is not just a right but a responsibility of law abiding and responsible people. Individuals who abuse such responsibility by commission of otherwise criminal activity should be punished as the courts direct including loss of individual responsibility for the period determined. | |||
| Yes | Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act? | ||
| No | Should individuals be required to purchase health insurance, as mandated in the 2010 Affordable Care Act? | ||
| Responsible individuals will choose to maintain appropriate coverage. Irresponsible individuals will have to be held responsible for medical bills. Should such bills exceed their ability to pay then the bills must be adjudicated in bankruptcy court. | |||
| Yes | Do you support requiring illegal immigrants to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship? | ||
| No | 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? | ||
| Yes | Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration law by state and local police? | ||
| Any deviation from the law must be considered on a case by case basis and ruled upon by a federal court. | |||
| No | Do you support same-sex marriage? | ||
| Marriage is a religious practice and as such can only be performed by a person who is authorized by a religious institution. Government has no authority to define marriage, however, all individuals have the right to contract and if any individuals chose to enter into a contract to share their loyalty and world possessions through a civil union it must be recognized as a legal partnership with all rights and privilages in law. | |||
| Yes | Do you support targeting suspected terrorists outside of official theaters of conflict? | ||
| No | Should the U.S use military force in order to prevent Iran from possessing a nuclear weapon? | ||
| The "Official Theater" of terrorism extends to the ends of the Earth. Terrorist activities must be addressed where they occur by the intended victim government in accordance with the laws of the land. Enmass physical assaults must be treated as combat actions and dealt with as such. Terrorist activities carried out or conspired by individuals or small groups of individuals must be treated as individual crimes and punished according to the laws of the victim nation. | |||
| Yes | Do you support allowing individuals to divert a portion of their Social Security taxes into personal retirement accounts? | ||
| SSI is an unsustainable and unconstitutional system. Those who have been victimized by it must be justly compensated by our currently productive citizens for the errors of their predecessors however these same citizens must also be able to provide for their future needs. The only way to do both is to establish a cut-off point for receiving SSI benefits and when all beneficiaries have passed terminate the system. | |||
SpendingIndicate what federal spending levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category; you can use a number more than once.TaxesIndicate what federal tax levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category; you can use a number more than once.
| Eliminate | a) Agriculture | ||
| Eliminate | b) Arts | ||
| Maintain Status | c) Defense | ||
| Eliminate | d) Education | ||
| Greatly Decrease | e) Environment | ||
| Slightly Decrease | f) Homeland Security | ||
| Eliminate | g) International aid | ||
| Eliminate | h) Medical Research | ||
| Eliminate | i) Scientific Research | ||
| Eliminate | j) Space exploration | ||
| Eliminate | k) United Nations | ||
| Eliminate | l) Welfare | ||
| Eliminate | a) Capital gains taxes | ||
| Eliminate | b) Corporate taxes | ||
| Maintain Status | c) Excise taxes (alcohol) | ||
| Maintain Status | d) Excise taxes (cigarettes) | ||
| Eliminate | e) Excise taxes (transportation fuel) | ||
| Eliminate | f) Income taxes (low-income families) | ||
| Eliminate | g) Income taxes (middle-income families) | ||
| Eliminate | h) Income taxes (high-income families) | ||
| Eliminate | i) Inheritance taxes | ||
| Eliminate | j) Payroll taxes | ||
| Items identified for elimination are not federal government responsibilities and should be eliminated or left to the States or the People. | |||
| Federal taxes must be apportioned to the States based upon the budget required to operate government in accordance with the Constitution. The States should then determine the best means to raise revenue to operate State government and pay their share of federal taxes. One hat doesn't fit all. | |||
| 1. Stop military involvement in other countries, close foreign bases, close embassies in unfriendly nations and stop aid to our enemies including United Nations. (Funding decrease) 2. Eliminate unconstitutional federal spending and de-fund unnecessary agencies (Funding decrease) 3. Realign defense budget to increase naval allowance and decrease Air Force and Army allowances. (No increase.) 4. Replace current tax code with an apportioned system. (Revenue increase without tax increase) |
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