A: We think the environment deserves an advocate, and if that advocate is not the government, then who would be its advocate? The Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act and other environmental legislation have provided a clear definition of "best practices." Chad's a farmer, and farms the same was his family did, applying those best practices. During the Dust Bowl, the then-current practices were bad conservation, which led to erosion and caused the Dust Bowl of the 1930s. The CCC, the Civilian Conservation Corps, changed those practices: they planted hedgerows; introduced natural irrigation. Chad has been doing that for 20 years, and considers farmers to be stewards of the land, with an environmental ethic.
A: The incumbent has had 18 years where he has not demonstrated leadership. He distrusts the United Nations; whereas we think there is nothing that can't be gained by having a conversation.
Q: Should we worry about maintaining US sovereignty under UN actions?
A: Sure, the US is sovereign from the UN, but we can still have conversations through the UN and other venues. Diplomatic solutions are always preferable.
A: Free trade has opened up and globalized our economy. Our friends in the labor community, however, are seeing their jobs exported to countries that don't maintain the same labor standards and pay standards. We are not sold on expanding trade further.
Q: What about existing trade agreements such as NAFTA and CAFTA?
A: There have been so many iterations on the details of those agreements that it's hard to comment out of context. We would respond to specific changes in the agreements when those changes are proposed.
A: Chad is a Catholic; but the issue of separation of church and state has not arisen in our discussions across the state during this campaign.
A: We do not support privatizing. Social Security is a commitment we have made; citizens have a right to get back their retirement investment. The federal government has a responsibility to keep this entitlement solvent.
Q: So what methods would you prefer for ensuring solvency? Raise the income cap? Raise the retirement age?
A: We don't have a particular solution in mind. When it came to agriculture policy, Chad went around the state seeking input from stakeholders at roundtable discussions. We would do the same for Social Security. Let's get the stakeholders together and discuss possible solutions; there is no danger in conversation. That conversation has not occurred for Social Security for a couple of decades now.
A: Taxes should be "simplified and transparent," where the purpose of transparency is to show how taxpayers' money is actually spent. Tax forms should be 2 pages: your tax form on one side, and how your taxes are spent on the other side.
Q: Some specific policy changes?
A: We would eliminate loopholes for special interests. We would create a tax holiday for repatriation of overseas corporate funds, if those funds are used for R&D, physical plant, pensions, or job creation
Q: The term "simplification" usually implies lowering taxes--is that what you mean?
A: Yes, that is a fair characterization, but "simplification" means that the tax code should not be 70,000 pages. Taxes should be easier to do for taxpayers, and should not require a paid professional to do them.
Q: Does "simplification" include schemes for reducing the number of tax rates?
A: No, we do not support policies like the FairTax, nor a national sales tax, nor any other policies like those.
A: Our foreign policy needs to be strong and firm. The first priority is safety and security, and that follows from being consistent and firm. The US cannot waffle back and forth.
Q: What does that mean specifically for Iran?
A: We should keep the current stringent sanctions because they appear to be working. Further military action is not currently needed.
A: As with Iran, our Syria policy is that the US needs to be consistent and firm. Getting involved in the Syria situation has not proven to provide any dividends. Any deeper US involvement would constitute an act of war. Patrolling by air, as we currently do, is ok; the current sanctions are ok; but consistency is the most important policy.
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The above quotations are from E-mail interview series: 2014 House and Senate races with OnTheIssues.org. Click here for other excerpts from E-mail interview series: 2014 House and Senate races with OnTheIssues.org. Click here for other excerpts by Chad Taylor. Click here for a profile of Chad Taylor.
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