Interviews on 2016 presidential race and Senate races with OnTheIssues

EXPLANATORY NOTE by OnTheIssues.org:

We at OnTheIssues.org ask all candidates for answers to our 20 questions in our VoteMatch quiz. The following Senate candidates have responded in detail. Responding to press inquiries like ours shows a level of openness that augurs well for the candidate in office, regardless of party affiliation.

Almost always, the incumbent ignores our requests, indicating that they don't want their constituents to know their issue stances. We track their voting records accordingly, and infer their VoteMatch responses based on those. We also collect up public statements and book excerpts, and include those in our VoteMatch quiz results as well.

Below are the responses from this year's candidates.

-- Jesse Gordon, jesse@OnTheIssues.org

OnTheIssues.org excerpts:  (click on issues for details)

Abortion     Darrell Castle: Abortion isn't about a woman's choice.     Zoltan Istvan: Strongly supports abortion rights & Planned Parenthood.     Richard Longstreth: Personally against abortion but no government role to ban it.     Thomas Clements: Supreme Court has ruled on abortion.     Alex Merced: Prohibiting abortion creates a black market.     Phil Anderson: Prohibiting abortion creates a black market.     Lester Turilli: Every life is precious.     Derek Dextraze: Abortion is a woman's choice all the way.     Marcus Bowman: Life begins at conception.     Paul Adams: Real Choice: public funding to carry pregnancy to term.     Kevin Stine: No new federal law restricting access to abortion.     Marc Allan Feldman: No government role in restricting nor funding abortion.     Mark Stewart: Roe v Wade was a bad decision, legally & morally.     Duf Sundheim: Pro-life; but don't let some government official decide.     Ron Crumpton: Abortion is a woman's unrestricted right.     Jim Hedges: Abortion is a woman's unrestricted right.     Mark Perea: An unborn child is a person.     Everett Stern: Legal protection to unborn children.     Jon Lavoie: Private life is none of the government's business.

Budget & Economy     Darrell Castle: Market-led recovery better than stimulus.     Zoltan Istvan: Stimulus is necessary, but end federal intervention.     Richard Longstreth: Stimulus is what causes the free market to fail.     Alex Merced: Government stimulus prevents re-allocation of capital.     Phil Anderson: Stop printing/devaluing money to benefit big banks.     Lester Turilli: Only market-led recovery leads to long-term economic growth.     Derek Dextraze: Market-led recovery better than stimulus.     Marcus Bowman: Government should never be the driver of the economy.     Paul Adams: Stimulus to benefit people; break up 6 biggest banks.     Kevin Stine: Supports stimulus over market-led recovery.     Marc Allan Feldman: Increasing government spending doesn't improves the economy.     Marc Allan Feldman: Balance our budget by cutting spending.     Mark Stewart: Federal intervention causes longer recessions.     Mark Stewart: Market-led recovery bertter than stimulus.     Duf Sundheim: Government policies played key role in 2007 crash.     Jim Hedges: Market-led recovery avoids deficit spending.     Mark Perea: Government stimulus is repugnant in a free country.     Everett Stern: Market-led recovery better than federal stimulus.     Jon Lavoie: Stimulus is taking tax money and redistributing it.

Civil Rights     Darrell Castle: No government restrictions like affirmative actions.     Zoltan Istvan: Split federal government roles evenly between men & women.     Zoltan Istvan: Strongly supports same-sex marriage.     Richard Longstreth: No government role in diversity of private business.     Richard Longstreth: Comfortable with same-sex marriage.     Thomas Clements: Support Equal Rights Amendment.     Thomas Clements: Get government out of marriage business.     Alex Merced: Fund minority-owned businesses with charity, not government.     Alex Merced: Let consenting adults marry, regardless of gender.     Phil Anderson: No affirmative action.     Phil Anderson: Let consenting adults marry, regardless of gender.     Lester Turilli: Equal opportunity for women and minorities.     Derek Dextraze: I attended NH's first gay pride parade.     Marcus Bowman: Marriage defined as one man and one woman.     Paul Adams: Same-sex unions ok; but don't redefine marriage.     Paul Adams: Preference to women & minorities who perform equally.     Kevin Stine: Affirmative action is ok, bur don't enforce statistically.     Kevin Stine: Strongly supports same-sex marriage.     Marc Allan Feldman: No government role in hiring; no affirmative action.     Marc Allan Feldman: No government role in marriage, same-sex or traditional.     Mark Stewart: Private lawsuits ok for affirmative action; not government.     Mark Stewart: Benefits to same-sex partners, but marriage by churches only.     Duf Sundheim: Provide economic opportunity for women & minorities.     Duf Sundheim: Comfortable with same-sex marriage.     Ron Crumpton: Legally require hiring more women & minorities.     Ron Crumpton: Add gender identity to Civil Rights Act.     Jim Hedges: Not always practical to enforce affirmative action.     Jim Hedges: Comfortable with same-sex marriage.     Mark Perea: Government shouldn't correct social problems.     Mark Perea: Same-sex marriage is a private matter.     Everett Stern: Affirmative action is unconstitutional.     Everett Stern: Federal government out of gay rights issues.     Jon Lavoie: N.H. doesn't need affirmative action laws.     Jon Lavoie: Comfortable with same-sex marriage.     Jill Stein: No discrimination based on orientation whether it's LGB or T.     Jill Stein: "Religious Freedom" is surrogate for patriarchal domination.     Jill Stein: After marriage equality comes workplace equality.

Corporations     Thomas Clements: Eliminate corporate tax to create jobs & avoid more debt.     Marcus Bowman: Hire and fire based on business needs.     Paul Adams: Wealthy rigged the sub-prime mortgage collapse.     Kevin Stine: Cut corporate handouts & thus raise tax rates on the 1%.     Mark Stewart: Keep the corporate income tax, but reduce it.     Jill Stein: Privatization is an enormous step backwards.     Robert Steele: Protect against corporate misbehavior: but EPA isn't the way.

Crime     Darrell Castle: Stricter punishment doesn't reduce crime.     Zoltan Istvan: Use drones and robots instead of human police.     Richard Longstreth: Don't imprison people for victimless˙crimes.     Thomas Clements: Unconstitutionally strict punishment is˙a problem.     Alex Merced: Goal of criminal justice should be reform, not punishment.     Phil Anderson: 100% against the death penalty in all cases.     Lester Turilli: Stricter punishment does not always deter crime˙.     Derek Dextraze: 25-year minimum prison sentences are effective.     Marcus Bowman: Stricter punishment reduces crime.     Paul Adams: Re-educate people instead of punishing them more.     Kevin Stine: Give judges more leeway on sentencing.     Marc Allan Feldman: $50,000 per year for jail? Punishes taxpayers, not criminals.     Mark Stewart: Justice is compassionate when murderers are put to death.     Mark Stewart: Strict punishment may make ex-cons better humans.     Duf Sundheim: People who do bad things should be punished.     Ron Crumpton: End mandatory minimums & private prisons.     Jim Hedges: Stricter punishment reduces some crime.     Mark Perea: Stricter punishment depends on the crime.     Everett Stern: Focus on rehabilitation and prevention.     Jon Lavoie: Treatment for some criminal offences instead of jail.

Drugs     Darrell Castle: Marijuana is not a gateway drug.     Zoltan Istvan: Marijuana helps improve lives; end the Drug War.     Richard Longstreth: End the drug war & don't tell us what to do with our bodies.     Thomas Clements: Marijuana is a benefit to people's health.     Alex Merced: Marijuana is not a gateway drug; end the drug war.     Phil Anderson: End the war on drugs & legalize marijuana.     Lester Turilli: Opium is a dangerous˙epidemic˙˙.     Derek Dextraze: Marijuana users do not go on to harder drugs.     Marcus Bowman: Marijuana should be a local issue.     Paul Adams: Marijuana is an exit drug, not a gateway drug.     Kevin Stine: Fearful rhetoric about marijuana leads to waste, not safety.     Marc Allan Feldman: The Drug War must end.     Mark Stewart: Marijuana is not a gateway drug.     Mark Stewart: Marijuana is no more addictive than hot fudge sundaes.     Duf Sundheim: Marijuana can be incredibly destructive.     Ron Crumpton: Sensible approach to marijuana instead of prohibition.     Jim Hedges: Medical marijuana only.     Mark Perea: I am for marijuana legalization with modest regulation.     Everett Stern: Continue to fight the war on drugs federally.     Jon Lavoie: Marijuana legalization has worked in Colorado.

Education     Darrell Castle: No federal vouchers because no federal role in education.     Zoltan Istvan: Vouchers for free education from pre-school to college.     Richard Longstreth: Individuals deserve choice in schools.     Thomas Clements: Supports homeschooling and vouchers.     Alex Merced: Allow parents more control of education choices.     Phil Anderson: Supports school vouchers.     Lester Turilli: Let local school districts responsibly determine curriculum.     Derek Dextraze: Public money should stay in public schools.     Marcus Bowman: Be mature enough to allow school prayer.     Marcus Bowman: Vouchers help achieve the best possible education.     Paul Adams: Supports school vouchers.     Kevin Stine: Opposes school vouchers.     Marc Allan Feldman: Vouchers for school choice, to increase parental control.     Mark Stewart: I'd prefer no public schools, but vouchers will do.     Mark Stewart: Privatize DC schools with vouchers under Congress' control.     Duf Sundheim: Strong proponent of school choice.     Ron Crumpton: Vouchers take from public education.     Jim Hedges: Vouchers for school choice.     Mark Perea: Vouchers with no strings attached.     Everett Stern: Let schools display the words "God Bless America".     Everett Stern: Freedom and choice of schools for parents & children.     Jon Lavoie: No vouchers: children should go to school where the live.     Jill Stein: Common Core empowers contractors over teachers.     Jill Stein: Charter schools assault the treasure of our public schools.

Energy & Oil     Darrell Castle: Don't prioritize green energy.     Zoltan Istvan: Radical technological innovation instead of green energy.     Thomas Clements: No cap and trade; no taxing carbon emissions.     Alex Merced: Government should not pick winners & losers in green energy.     Phil Anderson: Stop subsidizing & propping up traditional energy industry.     Lester Turilli: Clean coal, nuclear, natural gas, hydroelectric, AND solar.     Derek Dextraze: Prioritize green energy.     Marcus Bowman: Green energy should compete in the market.     Paul Adams: Encourage exploration for oil and gas in Alaska.     Kevin Stine: Prioritize green energy.     Marc Allan Feldman: Green energy will be prioritized with or without government.     Mark Stewart: Green energy through private companies, not government.     Mark Stewart: Anthropomorphic climate change is unproven, but let's reduce.     Mark Stewart: Fan of nuclear power.     Mark Stewart: I like Keystone.     Duf Sundheim: Prioritize sustainable, cost effective energy.     Ron Crumpton: Make real investments in green technology.     Jim Hedges: Prioritize green energy.     Mark Perea: Let free market determine green energy.     Everett Stern: Strongly opposes prioritizing green energy.     Jon Lavoie: Prioritize green energy.     Robert Steele: Climate change is a circus to distract from real issues.     Robert Steele: Corrupt government & industry retard renewable energy.

Environment     Darrell Castle: Society should not bear costs of pollution.     Zoltan Istvan: Radical technology will save the earth, not over-regulation.     Richard Longstreth: EPA regulations are too restrictive.     Thomas Clements: States should deal with water quality not federal EPA.     Alex Merced: Abolish the EPA; rely on technological innovation instead.     Phil Anderson: EPA should not pick winners & losers.     Lester Turilli: EPA has grown too large.     Derek Dextraze: EPA regulations aren't overly restrictive.     Marcus Bowman: Voluntary win-win solutions instead of EPA mandates.     Paul Adams: EPA regulations are too restrictive.     Kevin Stine: Common sense solutions to ensure environmental security.     Marc Allan Feldman: Environmental protection by private, voluntary organizations.     Mark Stewart: Make EPA into full cabinet level position.     Mark Stewart: Environmental advocates: divorce yourselves from Marxists.     Duf Sundheim: Americans are crushed by EPA regulations.     Ron Crumpton: A healthy environment is essential to a healthy America.     Jim Hedges: EPA regulations are usually necessary.     Mark Perea: Conservation is reserved to the states, not to the EPA.     Everett Stern: EPA regulations are too restrictive.     Jon Lavoie: Ok to use animals for important medical procedures.     Robert Steele: Provide true cost of products, including environmental cost.

Families & Children     Darrell Castle: No federal role in defining marital relationships.     Lester Turilli: Encourage fathers to lead their families by example.     Mark Stewart: Encourage adoption and surrogate pregnancies.     Jill Stein: Kids in poverty can't go to school in condition to learn.     Jill Stein: Half-million in foster care means system is dysfunctional.     Jill Stein: Don't assume that mothers should always get custody.

Foreign Policy     Darrell Castle: Opposes American Exceptionalism.     Zoltan Istvan: American Exceptionalism via innovation, not military.     Thomas Clements: Foreign aid spending only to protect US interests.     Alex Merced: We are exceptional when we are free; lead by example.     Phil Anderson: American exceptionalism strays from original principles.     Lester Turilli: We are inherently different from other nations˙.     Derek Dextraze: Multilateralism is more effective than unilateralism.     Marcus Bowman: America has a long-standing role in preserving peace.     Paul Adams: We can no longer be a bully in the world.     Kevin Stine: Supports American Exceptionalism.     Kevin Stine: Avoid foreign entanglements.     Marc Allan Feldman: Liberty & enterprise, not American Exceptionalism.     Marc Allan Feldman: I support Israel personally, but end government foreign aid.     Mark Stewart: I absolutely support American Exceptionalism.     Mark Stewart: Facilitate "governments-in-exile" against repressive regimes.     Duf Sundheim: Trying to control trade doesn't work.     Duf Sundheim: Very lucky to have been born in such an exceptional place.     Ron Crumpton: Act multilaterally, but with America in military lead.     Ron Crumpton: Foreign involvement is appropriate.     Jim Hedges: Don't support American Exceptionalism.     Mark Perea: American exceptionalism is based on our founding principles.     Everett Stern: Strongly support American Exceptionalism.     Jill Stein: Work towards neutral Ukraine; don't arm them against Russia.     Jill Stein: China provides less heavy-handed foreign aid than does US.     Jill Stein: Lifting the Cuban embargo was long overdue.     Jill Stein: Expanding NATO threatens Russia and breaks our promise.     Jill Stein: Focus on human rights, international law, and diplomacy.     Robert Steele: End support to all regimes abroad, including Arabs & Israel.     Robert Steele: United Nations is incapacitated by lies from member states.

Free Trade     Darrell Castle: Support free trade, but rescind trade AGREEMENTS.     Zoltan Istvan: Support trade, but expect fewer jobs due to technology.     Richard Longstreth: Support & expand free trade.     Thomas Clements: No restrictions on trade, but no corporatism.     Alex Merced: Trade with other nations leads to peace & prosperity.     Phil Anderson: Free trade builds prosperity at home & peace abroad.     Lester Turilli: Too often, we are short-changed on international trade.     Derek Dextraze: Support & expand free trade.     Marcus Bowman: Free trade deals such as TPP are undermining America.     Paul Adams: Tariffs on all big ticket items entering the US.     Paul Adams: I am a protectionist, anti-TPP, anti-job exporter.     Kevin Stine: We need fair trade, not free trade.     Marc Allan Feldman: Trade with other nations is the best way to encourage peace.     Mark Stewart: The 1000+ page TPP can't possibly be free trade.     Mark Stewart: Don't be spooked by a trade deficit; it means great deals.     Ron Crumpton: Oppose free trade; outsourcing costs American jobs.     Jim Hedges: Generally oppose free trade.     Mark Perea: TPP and NAFTA lead to dissolution of national sovereignty.     Everett Stern: Strongly support & expand free trade.     Jon Lavoie: Support & expand free trade.     Jill Stein: TPP attacks our basic national sovereignty.     Jill Stein: Opposes Fast Track and executive action.     Jill Stein: TPP is like NAFTA on steroids.

Government Reform     Darrell Castle: Voter registration should be as simple as possible.     Zoltan Istvan: Supports electronic voting from home.     Richard Longstreth: Make voter registration easier.     Thomas Clements: Term limits for Congress; but voter ID too.     Alex Merced: I'm for online voting.     Phil Anderson: Make voter registration easier.     Lester Turilli: The right to vote should be quick and uncumbersome.     Derek Dextraze: Online voter registration, plus ID at the polls.     Marcus Bowman: Common sense to require voters to show ID.     Paul Adams: Reform term limits & campaign finance.     Paul Adams: Online Citizen Account: we vote; repeal the House of Reps.     Kevin Stine: Allow absentee ballots for all; extend early voting.     Marc Allan Feldman: A large portion of our population feel disenfranchised.     Mark Stewart: Let's make it HARDER to vote: testing at polls.     Duf Sundheim: Every citizen who wants to vote should be able to do so.     Ron Crumpton: Make voter registration easier.     Jim Hedges: No need to make voter registration easier.     Mark Perea: No need to make voter registration easier.     Everett Stern: Strongly support making voter registration easier.     Jon Lavoie: Corporations are buying seats for candidates.     Jill Stein: Term limits end guaranteed re-election & lifetime incumbency.     Jill Stein: Confederate flag should be removed from all public locations.     Jill Stein: Earmarks grease the skids for corruption.     Robert Steele: Economic stimulus won't work under current corrupt system.     Robert Steele: Seek national ballot consensus on all issues.     Robert Steele: We need electoral reforms to elect an honest government.

Gun Control     Darrell Castle: Absolute right to gun ownership.     Zoltan Istvan: Gun ownership ok, but not multiple automatic firearms.     Richard Longstreth: Absolute right to gun ownership.     Thomas Clements: Second Amendment is the law of the land.     Alex Merced: Gun control makes us less safe.     Phil Anderson: Right to gun ownership except after committing gun crime.     Lester Turilli: Constitution is clear, so just encourage responsibility.     Derek Dextraze: More thorough background checks, but guns are fine.     Marcus Bowman: Right to keep guns shall not be infringed.     Paul Adams: Invigorate the 2nd Amendment with more firepower.     Kevin Stine: Gun lobby has redefined 2nd Amendment in a perverse way.     Marc Allan Feldman: Second Amendment is supremacy of citizens over the State.     Mark Stewart: Best defense against bad guys? Good guys with guns.     Duf Sundheim: I believe in the 2nd Amendment.     Ron Crumpton: Absolute right to gun ownership, with exceptions.     Jim Hedges: Absolute right to gun ownership for small arms.     Mark Perea: Absolute right to gun ownership.     Everett Stern: High capacity magazines ok; decreasing waiting periods ok.     Jon Lavoie: Current background check is sufficient.

Health Care     Darrell Castle: Strongly opposes ObamaCare expansion.     Zoltan Istvan: Expand ObamaCare to include anti-aging therapy.     Richard Longstreth: Government should not be involved in healthcare.     Thomas Clements: Cost is the only thing that has expanded under ObamaCare.     Alex Merced: Most of ObamaCare moves in the wrong direction.     Phil Anderson: Replace ObamaCare with health subscriptions.     Lester Turilli: Loopholes in ObamaCare strain our citizens.     Derek Dextraze: ObamaCare is a crap shoot.     Marcus Bowman: ObamaCare threatens status of best health care in the world.     Paul Adams: Repeal ObamaCare in favor of one-payer system.     Kevin Stine: We need real healthcare reform, like single-payer.     Marc Allan Feldman: ObamaCare supports a growing, inefficient & expensive system.     Mark Stewart: Heavens no, we can't expand ObamaCare.     Mark Stewart: ObamaCare has "death panels," but so do private HMOs.     Duf Sundheim: Healthcare doesn't need a new 1930s-era bureaucracy.     Ron Crumpton: Move to a single-payer/ Medicare for all system.     Jim Hedges: ObamaCare is ok; single-payer would be better.     Mark Perea: ObamaCare should be repealed in favor of free market.     Everett Stern: Give choices and power to patients.     Jon Lavoie: Free market & competition instead of ObamaCare.     Jill Stein: Tort reform becomes unneeded under Medicare-for-All.     Jill Stein: Threats like Ebola are threats to public health worldwide.

Homeland Security     Darrell Castle: Reluctantly expand the military.     Zoltan Istvan: Cut defense from 20% of budget to 11% & give it to R&D.     Richard Longstreth: Let's cut the military & close bases.     Thomas Clements: Why do we need military bases in the Phillipines?     Alex Merced: Scrutinize military spending vigorously to prevent abuses.     Phil Anderson: Bring troops home & eliminate war profiteering.     Lester Turilli: Military strength deters˙foreign conflict & domestic attack.     Derek Dextraze: Expand the military; it is just getting to small for me.     Marcus Bowman: We need to spend money for best-equipped military.     Paul Adams: Cut military spending by 50%.     Barack Obama: We spend more on military than next 8 nations combined.     Kevin Stine: Wasteful defense spending is rampant.     Marc Allan Feldman: We cannot afford to be the policeman of the world.     Mark Stewart: I err on the side of more for the military.     Duf Sundheim: We need a strong national defense, plus cyber security.     Ron Crumpton: Oppose expanding the military.     Jim Hedges: Don't expand the military.     Mark Perea: Military has been decimated; reinstate fired generals.     Everett Stern: Our country must have the strongest defense in the world.     Jill Stein: Military-industrial complex shows woes of privatization.     Jill Stein: Disarm North Korea as part of worldwide nuclear disarmament.     Jill Stein: Edward Snowden is a hero for exposing mass spying.     Jill Stein: Bring troops home from 800 bases abroad.     Robert Steele: ISIS and al Qaeda are joint creations of Saudi Arabia & CIA.

Immigration     Darrell Castle: No pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens.     Zoltan Istvan: Grant citizenship to illegals after waiting period & taxes.     Richard Longstreth: We already have a pathway to citizenship.     Thomas Clements: Annex Mexico economically to avoid immigration issues.     Alex Merced: Robust and generous legal immigration.     Phil Anderson: Pathway to legal status now, and citizenship later.     Lester Turilli: Supports immigration with more extensive background checks.     Derek Dextraze: Come in the legal way.     Marcus Bowman: There is no room for anyone breaking rules.     Paul Adams: Fenced Orchard: hard rules leads to self-deportation.     Paul Adams: Path to citizenship after two years of asylum.     Jill Stein: FactCheck: 2.5M deportations counts removals, not returns.     Kevin Stine: Any reasonable reform includes a pathway to citizenship.     Marc Allan Feldman: There are illegal activities but there are no illegal people.     Mark Stewart: Illegal immigration costs us our sovereignty AND our culture.     Mark Stewart: Pathway to citizenship? An escort home!     Duf Sundheim: Pathway to legal status.     Ron Crumpton: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens.     Jim Hedges: Citizenship for illegal aliens only under some circumstances.     Mark Perea: Illegal aliens should be deported.     Everett Stern: Practical solutions to illegal immigration.     Jon Lavoie: Enforce the laws & send back those here illegally.

Jobs     Derek Dextraze: Hire whoever is best, without affirmative action.     Paul Adams: $15 minimum wage won't help our entry-level workers.     Barack Obama: We've cut unemployment in half during my term.     Mark Stewart: If your employer is racist, then quit & boycott.

Principles & Values     Darrell Castle: Keep God in the public sphere.     Zoltan Istvan: God and faith are private matters; we support reason.     Richard Longstreth: No endorsement of religion, but don't remove references.     Thomas Clements: Why not keep God in the public sphere?     Alex Merced: Laws should not force practicing values of any religion.     Phil Anderson: Laws should not force practicing values of any religion.     Lester Turilli: We live in a nation founded on Christian freedom.     Derek Dextraze: God should be left at church, not state.     Paul Adams: Celebrate various religious feast days at national level.     Kevin Stine: Separate church & state, but some leeway for societal norms.     Marc Allan Feldman: No government prohibition on religion, including publicly.     Mark Stewart: A creche displayed at City Hall should not offend.     Mark Stewart: The Resistance: warriors for better democracy.     Duf Sundheim: Showing respect for God ok, if not imposed by religious test.     Ron Crumpton: Constitution forbids God in the public sphere.     Jim Hedges: Talking about God is ok personally, but not officially.     Mark Perea: People in government should speak freely about religion.     Jon Lavoie: Indifferent on whether God applies to public sphere.     Jill Stein: Moral foundation for society good; religious basis bad.     Jill Stein: Raised Jewish; married to a Protestant atheist.

Social Security     Darrell Castle: Privatize system after returning money to those in system.     Zoltan Istvan: Replace all entitlements with Universal Basic Income.     Richard Longstreth: Privatize Social Security.     Thomas Clements: Privatize Social Security at birth for newborns today.     Alex Merced: Our current system discourages private savings.     Phil Anderson: Gradually privatize Social Security.     Lester Turilli: Privatization poses more problems than it solves.     Derek Dextraze: Oppose privatizing Social Security.     Marcus Bowman: Explore all solutions for younger generations.     Paul Adams: Never relegate Social Security to the private sector.     Kevin Stine: Opposes privatizing Social Security.     Marc Allan Feldman: Social Security is now neither social nor secure.     Mark Stewart: Allow Americans to opt out of Social Security.     Mark Stewart: Blacks should be irate about forced Social Security.     Duf Sundheim: Don't privatize Social Security.     Ron Crumpton: Eliminate the cap on the social security tax.     Jim Hedges: Never privatize Social Security.     Mark Perea: A deal is a deal, Social Security should be preserved.     Everett Stern: Create personal retirement accounts.     Jon Lavoie: Money will dry up if nothing is done for Social Security.

Tax Reform     Darrell Castle: Reduce taxes on the wealthy.     Zoltan Istvan: Wealthy should bear a burden, to prevent a dystopic state.     Richard Longstreth: Why should we punish success with higher taxes?     Thomas Clements: Flat rate tax with across-the-board reduction.     Alex Merced: Less taxes for everyone.     Phil Anderson: Lower taxes on everyone, including corporations.     Lester Turilli: Freeze state income tax; but Jesus paid His taxes.     Derek Dextraze: Has no tax policy because no income tax in NH.     Marcus Bowman: Income taxes are not a solution; reduce spending.     Mark Stewart: A progressive tax system to me seems unfair.     Duf Sundheim: Get rid of gimmicks and tax breaks the wealthy have.     Ron Crumpton: Higher taxes on the wealthy.     Jim Hedges: Higher taxes on the wealthy.     Mark Perea: Opposes higher taxes on the wealthy.     Everett Stern: I do not believe in spreading the wealth.     Jon Lavoie: Flat percentage tax, same for rich and poor.

Technology     Paul Adams: Stimulate economy by overhauling our infrastructure.

War & Peace     Darrell Castle: Avoid foreign entanglements.     Zoltan Istvan: Stop fighting far-off wars and spending billions to do so.     Richard Longstreth: Avoid foreign entanglements.     Thomas Clements: Help prevent genocide abroad, but not with U.S. lives.     Alex Merced: Foreign intervention destabilizes the world.     Lester Turilli: Don't engage in traditional military predicaments overseas.     Derek Dextraze: Finish what we got ourselves into, and get the hell out.     Marcus Bowman: We must, must remain vigilant against terrorism.     Paul Adams: We cannot be the enablers of instability in the Mideast.     Marc Allan Feldman: Drop philanthropy on other countries instead of bombs.     Mark Stewart: I firmly believe that Right makes Might.     Mark Stewart: Declare war on Boko Haram in northern Nigeria.     Duf Sundheim: Avoid foreign entanglements.     Jim Hedges: Avoid foreign entanglements.     Mark Perea: Avoid foreign entanglements, except for emergencies.     Everett Stern: Prevention instead of containment on Iranian nukes.     Jon Lavoie: I support staying out of the Middle East.

Welfare & Poverty     Ron Crumpton: Fight poverty instead of fighting people in poverty.

Click for quotations from other sources by: Alex Merced Libertarian for Senate New York Barack Obama Democratic President (elected 2008) Darrell Castle Consitution Party candidate for President Derek Dextraze New Hampshire Independent 2016 Gubernatorial candidate Duf Sundheim Republican Senate challenger California Everett Stern Republican Senate candidate Pennsylvania Jill Stein Green Challenger Jim Hedges Prohibition Party presidential nominee Jon Lavoie New Hampshire Republican 2016 Gubernatorial candidate Kevin Stine Democratic Senate candidate Oregon Lester Turilli Marc Allan Feldman Libertarian 2016 Presidential candidate Marcus Bowman Republican Senate candidate Alabama Mark Perea Montana Republican 2016 Gubernatorial candidate Mark Stewart Democratic challenger for President Paul Adams Independent 2016 Presidential candidate Phil Anderson Wisconsin Libertarian candidate for governor o Richard Longstreth Libertarian U.S. Rep Colorado-2 Robert Steele Reform Party Presidential Candidate Ron Crumpton Democratic Senate Challenger Alabama Thomas Clements Libertarian candidate for Senate Louisiana Zoltan Istvan California Transhumanist Party nominee for Governor