Amanda Swafford in Survey of 2014 Senate campaign websites
On Budget & Economy:
End the Federal Reserve; explore alternative currency
We need to seriously consider ending the Federal Reserve and returning to a more sound and transparent monetary policy. Let's explore alternative currency systems and end the idea that banks and businesses are too big to fail.
Let's end the government's ability to artificially inflate, confuse, subsidize, protect, exclude, regulate and overall tamper with our markets.
Source: 2014 Georgia Senate campaign website, AmandaSwafford.net
Sep 30, 2014
On Civil Rights:
Marriage equality is an individual freedom
As long as an individual's choices or actions do not infringe on another person's liberties, we should not use our laws or government to force that individual to conform to our personal beliefs. The Constitution is about personal responsibility and
freedom, not government mandates forcing all to conform to one way of thought! On a federal level, individual freedom is an important foundation for issues like marriage equality, the War on Drugs, property rights and commerce.
Source: 2014 Georgia Senate campaign website, AmandaSwafford.net
Sep 30, 2014
On Drugs:
Replace War on Drugs with individual freedom
The primary responsibility of government is to protect our individual rights. That duty requires preservation of those rights which may include aspects of another person's beliefs that we don't personally agree with. However, as long as an individual's
choices or actions do not infringe on another person's liberties, we should not use government to force that individual to conform to our personal beliefs. On a federal level, individual freedom is an important foundation for issues like the War on Drugs
Source: 2014 Georgia Senate campaign website, AmandaSwafford.net
Sep 30, 2014
On Education:
Dismantle the Department of Education
It is time to dismantle the Department of Education and restore the responsibility of education to our local communities and Boards of Education.
A centralized Department of Education results in a one-size fits all approach that may or may not be appropriate for different regions in the country.
National standards have done precious little to actually improve education. Therefore, the closer our education decisions are made to home, the better we are able to compete and improve the quality of education.
And parents who home school or choose alternative education opportunities should not be penalized by not having access to all taxpayer funded educational facilities and services.
Source: 2014 Georgia Senate campaign website, AmandaSwafford.net
Sep 30, 2014
On Free Trade:
We need more transparency regarding trade agreements
Do you know what the P4 Trade agreement is? The Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement works to protect the biggest and wealthiest companies while setting up protectionism barriers that exclude smaller innovative ideas and
processes from entering certain markets. Expansion of the agreement by the United States has been one of the least transparent expansions in recent history.
Members of Congress who are authorized to decide trade issues are not being provided details on the substance of the negotiations despite calls for the trade documents to be released to them as early as 2012.
We need more transparency regarding trade agreements with multiple partners and in all our foreign transactions.
Source: 2014 Georgia Senate campaign website, AmandaSwafford.net
Sep 30, 2014
On Gun Control:
Sacrificing liberty for safety has never worked
Sacrificing liberty for safety and security has never worked in our history. Our right to defend ourselves from random acts of violence, some uncontrolled mental illness, and crimes against our property is guaranteed in the 2nd Amendment of the
US Constitution. Allowing adult gun owners to possess and carry firearms in the largest variety of circumstances possible is the strongest deterrent available to protecting our open and free society.
Source: 2014 Georgia Senate campaign website, AmandaSwafford.net
Sep 30, 2014
On Health Care:
Dramatically strengthen Health Savings Accounts
We can also bring more individuals back into the healthcare industry by deregulating physician's assistants and nurses. Not every ailment requires a visit to the doctor when it can be easily diagnosed and treated by trained and qualified professionals.
Alternative healthcare options, including medicinal marijuana, should also be allowed equal entry to the market. This gives the individual more power and responsibility for making healthcare decisions.
We should also dramatically strengthen Health Savings Accounts. Incentives for healthcare under the current tax code should not depend on meeting special gross income thresholds engineered by Congress.
And the FDA should be audited and possibly replaced with voluntary, free market groups made up of both industry and consumer driven organizations to monitor, protect and research what is actually demanded by those utilizing the goods & services produced.
Source: 2014 Georgia Senate campaign website, AmandaSwafford.net
Sep 30, 2014
On Immigration:
No caps on number of visas allowed
Our immigration laws do not reflect the way individuals and our labor markets actually work. Therefore we must:- Revise all guest worker programs into a single program with no caps on the number of visas allowed and no quotas based on country
of origin.
- For anyone already in the US found to be in violation of past or existing immigration laws assess fines, back taxes and a probationary term prior to entry into the guest worker program.
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Eliminate employer penalties and compliance burdens forced on businesses.
- Create a legal environment for all immigrants to transact business and participate in many other activities that require government
documents, such as the ability to buy and sell property, enter into contracts, use the court system for dispute resolution, etc. <.ul>
Source: 2014 Georgia Senate campaign website, AmandaSwafford.net
Sep 30, 2014
On Tax Reform:
Politicians use tax code to for social engineering
As a former tax professional in two different states, Amanda understands the punitive nature of our current tax laws and how politicians on every level use the current tax code to meet their specific goals and the social engineering projects they deem
worthy. With every new rule, regulation and tax, the power and responsibility of the individual to contribute to the local and regional economy is diminished. Every dollar taken out for income taxes on an individual is a dollar that cannot be used to
buy goods and services. We must restore the power and responsibility of the individual to invest in our economy in the ways they deem best for them. How do we do this?- Enact the Fair Tax right away
- Reduce spending to at least 1998 levels (but
1992 or earlier levels would be preferable)
- Repeal the 16th Amendment
- Eliminate any and all forms of double taxation
- Eliminate the anti-competitive corporate income tax
- Eliminate the punitive estate tax
Source: 2014 Georgia Senate campaign website, AmandaSwafford.net
Sep 30, 2014
Page last updated: Dec 07, 2018