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Eric Olson's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

Key

Official Position: Candidate addressed this issue directly by taking the Political Courage Test.

Inferred Position: Candidate refused to address this issue, but Vote Smart inferred this issue based on the candidate's public record, including statements, voting record, and special interest group endorsements.

Unknown Position: Candidate refused to address this issue, or we could not infer an answer for this candidate despite exhaustive research of their public record.

Additional Information: Click on this icon to reveal more information about this candidate's position, from their answers or Vote Smart's research.

Other or Expanded Principles & Legislative Priorities are entered exactly as candidates submit them. Vote Smart does not edit for misspelled words, punctuation or grammar.

Eric Olson has demonstrated Political Courage by telling citizens where he stands on the issues he may face if elected.

What is the Political Courage Test?

North Dakota Congressional Election 2012 Political Courage Test

Abortion

Unknown Position		Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate’s position.

Afghanistan

		Do you support a timetable for withdrawal from Afghanistan?
No		Do you support United States' combat operations in Afghanistan?
Eric Olson. In Forum: 2012 U.S. House (North Dakota) Voter Guide. Responded, "1. Immediate recall of military forces occupying other nations," to the question: "In order to reduce federal spending, what are three specific government programs or operations you would trim, and where/how would you make those cuts?" (c3.thevoterguide.org) Eric Olson. Issue Position: War. 1 January 2012. "I support an immediate withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan, and a dramatic reduction in our world wide military presence. I would oppose any unnecessary involvement in military conflicts, especially when we can not afford to fund them." (votesmart.org) Eric Olson. In Forum: 2012 U.S. House (North Dakota) Voter Guide. Responded, "I would demand an immediate end to ongoing military conflicts," to the question: "What issue would be your first priority in the U.S. House and what specific action would you propose to address it?" (c3.thevoterguide.org)

Budget

Indicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing the federal budget.In order to balance the budget,

Yes		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?
I support massive cuts of offensive military spending (usually titled 'defense spending'). I believe more taxes will just lead to more spending. I support gradual reduction of government programs that clearly operate outside of constitutional authority. I would do this by allowing opt out, and opposing the robing of funds for other expenses.

Campaign Finance

Yes		Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
I would ban organizational contributions. This is a nation for the people, by the people. Corporations and Unions are not people. Individual human beings are people.

Capital Punishment

No		Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
It is a waist of money and can not be undone in the event of a mistake.

Economy

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?
I would not apply legislation meant to pick winners and losers in the economy. I would like to see taxes for small business (under $50K a year) reduced to zero, and reduce their paperwork to a simple statement of income showing they are under $50K. I would also seek to remove any payroll reporting requirements for employees who are paid less than $10,000 in a year. We should make it as easy as possible for new business to be created.

Education

No		Do you support requiring states to implement education reforms in order to be eligible for competitive federal grants?
Eric Olson. Video: 2012 Candidate Close-Up: Eric Olson (libertarian). 22 December 2011. "We don't have the same education problems as California or Texas, and we live in a small state with one representative. Our interests in North Dakota are never going to be represented as a whole by a federalist system. It's always going to represent the major population centers, or the major economic centers, and we're going to get, there are instances where that will favor us when it comes to farming, or possibly oil, but by in large, we're not going to get the benefit of that. Anytime we do, it's going to be at the expense of another state. It's my feeling that we're far better off managing those things on our own, at the local level." (youtu.be)

Energy

Unknown Position		Do you support reducing restrictions on offshore energy production?
Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate’s position.

Environment

		Do you believe that human activity is contributing to climate change?
Unknown Position		Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?
Eric Olson. Video: 2012 Candidate Close-Up: Eric Olson (libertarian). 22 December 2011. "We don't have the same environmental problems as California. We don't have the same education problems as California or Texas, and we live in a small state with one representative. Our interests in North Dakota are never going to be represented as a whole by a federalist system. It's always going to represent the major population centers, or the major economic centers, and we're going to get, there are instances where that will favor us when it comes to farming, or possibly oil, but by in large, we're not going to get the benefit of that. Anytime we do, it's going to be at the expense of another state. It's my feeling that we're far better off managing those things on our own, at the local level." (youtu.be)

Guns

Yes		Do you support restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns?
Eric Olson. Liberty Candidates: 2012 Eric Olson: Liberty Candidate for U.S. House of Representatives, North Dakota. Responded "The only limit I would find acceptable would be for people who are convicted of violent crimes, or suffer severe mental illness. (I say severe because it seems like every personality quark is regarded as an illness with a corresponding medication these days.)" to the question, "What controls, if any, should be placed on the right to own a gun? Is there an effective way to keep guns out of the hands of madmen and criminals without encroaching on the rights of free, law-abiding citizens?" (libertycandidates.com)

Health Care

		Should individuals be required to purchase health insurance, as mandated in the 2010 Affordable Care Act?
Unknown Position		Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act?
Eric Olson. North Dakota's Right-Wing Straw Polls: Comment. 11 November 2011. "I generally oppose any intervention by the federal government in business, retirement, or health care." (www.northdecoder.com) Eric Olson. Facebook: Timeline. 28 June 2012. "On 'Obama Care': [¦] The expense is scary, but the more important issue here is the idea that a government can FORCE us to to purchase a product or service, and in an area that is clearly outside of what it's constitutional powers are supposed to be used for." (www.facebook.com)

Immigration

		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?
		Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration law by state and local police?
Unknown Position		Do you support requiring illegal immigrants to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship?
Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate’s position.

Marriage

Unknown Position		Do you support same-sex marriage?
Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate’s position.

National Security

		Should the U.S use military force in order to prevent Iran from possessing a nuclear weapon?
Unknown Position		Do you support targeting suspected terrorists outside of official theaters of conflict?
Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate’s position.

Social Security

Unknown Position		Do you support allowing individuals to divert a portion of their Social Security taxes into personal retirement accounts?
Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate’s position.

Spending and Taxes

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.

		a) Agriculture
		b) Arts
		c) Defense
		d) Education
		e) Environment
		f) Homeland Security
		g) International aid
		h) Medical Research
		i) Scientific Research
		j) Space exploration
		k) United Nations
		l) Welfare
		m) Other or expanded categories
		a) Capital gains taxes
		b) Corporate taxes
		c) Excise taxes (alcohol)
		d) Excise taxes (cigarettes)
		e) Excise taxes (transportation fuel)
		f) Income taxes (low-income families)
		g) Income taxes (middle-income families)
		h) Income taxes (high-income families)
		i) Inheritance taxes
		j) Payroll taxes
		k) Other or expanded categories

Administrative Priorities

Cutting federal spending: (no funding, money saved not spent) Cutting unconstitutional federal departments (no funding, money saved not spent) Protecting individual liberty by opposing legislation that compromises it (no funding, money saved not spent)

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