Thomas Ravenel in Survey of 2014 Senate campaign websites
On Budget & Economy:
Government over-reacted to Great Recession: enough is enough
It's no secret government spending is out of control--and has been for decades. Enough is enough: If we don't turn things around now future generations are going to be unable to support themselves. In fact it's getting harder with each passing day--
as government's overreaction to the "Great Recession" has ushered in an era of sustained joblessness and economic lethargy. Cutting government is vital to restoring the competitive balance in our system--and empowering job makers and job seekers in our
consumer economy.My default setting will be to take a machete to Washington's waste, duplication, inefficiency and unnecessary programs. I'll also make you this promise: Any one coming to my office with a plan to spend one additional dime of your tax
money on a new government program better also come with a plan to get rid of an equal amount. We cannot afford to let government to continue its mindless growth.
Source: 2014 S.C. Senate campaign website, RavenelForSenate.com
Sep 1, 2014
On Corporations:
Crony capitalism is not true free market capitalism
Crony capitalism--our current system in which special interests line the campaign coffers of politicians such as Lindsey Graham in an effort to cut off competition from upstarts through government subsidies and increased regulation--is not true free
market capitalism. A perfect example of such cronyism is the Export-Import bank, which serves as a slush fund, doling out taxpayer-guaranteed loans to a select few foreign corporations that then purchase goods from a select few American corporations.
The benefits of these subsidies go overwhelmingly to the shareholders of those few companies and their top executives, not to the American people. This is not true capitalism, in which no such specialized subsidies exist. Cronyism is a command economic
boondoggle benefiting a select few while leading to reduced competition and higher prices for the rest of us. Such government-funded schemes undermine the invisible hand of the free market and must end.
Source: 2014 S.C. Senate campaign website, RavenelForSenate.com
Sep 1, 2014
On Drugs:
Mexican border problems come from failed War on Drugs
With respect to the current borders crossings by Mexican youth, let me say this: The effects of our disastrous drug policy are now spilling over onto U.S. soil. As Ron Paul has said, this problem is a direct result of our failed 'War on Drugs', which by
one estimate puts $300 billion per year into the hands of the most violent criminals on the face of the earth. On the other side, we give the Mexican government money to wage war with the drug cartels--and now children are being killed in the crossfire.
Many Mexican policemen are given the choice between "plata o plomo," which means "silver or lead." In other words they can either accept hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes--or they can refuse and be killed or
have a member of their family killed. And speaking of killing--who can forget the U.S. Justice Department's botched gun-running operation--"Fast and Furious?"
Source: 2014 S.C. Senate campaign website, RavenelForSenate.com
Sep 1, 2014
On Energy & Oil:
Don't divert resources for folly of global warming
I support the vigorous defense and national security of the United States. The Obama administration is decimating critical aspects of our military while diverting resources vital to national security for research on global warming and other political
follies. With a smarter approach to national security, it is possible to reduce the Defense budget. We are currently spending money on many of the wrong things.
Source: 2014 S.C. Senate campaign website, RavenelForSenate.com
Sep 1, 2014
On Free Trade:
Tariffs & other protectionist policies cost Americans jobs
Expanding our participation in the global economy has played an important role in moving all Americans upward on the economic ladder. To promote further progress, we must pursue policies that increase the ability of all to participate in global markets
through the buying and selling of goods. Present barriers to free trade such as tariffs and other protectionist policies not only increase the price of the goods we purchase, they also cost Americans high-paying, highly-specialized jobs. Our current
President has been a terrible negotiator on trade deals, but Congressional Republicans haven't helped by threatening to sink important agreements based on petty political spats.Crony capitalism, our current system by which special interests line the
campaign coffers of politicians in an effort to cut off competition through protectionist legislation, must end. Free trade increases employment and living standards for all Americans and allows American dollars to purchase more products at lower prices.
Source: 2014 S.C. Senate campaign website, RavenelForSenate.com
Sep 1, 2014
On Gun Control:
Second Amendment is the only gun law needed
There is only one gun law that law-abiding Americans need to follow: The Second Amendment. It's always amazed me that government was so gung-ho to restrict our constitutionally guaranteed right to bear arms. After all, the government's own statistics
conclusively prove my point that increased gun ownership among the law-abiding public leads to a safer society.
It's a simple equation: Higher gun ownership among our citizens means a safer society. The government knows this.
They know this debate isn't about safety--it's about power. In 1938, the Nazis banned Jewish citizens from owning weapons of any kind or participating in the arms' manufacturing industry. We all know what happened next. I'm not suggesting our leaders are
Nazis, but I am suggesting it's a lot easier to take people's freedoms away when they can't fight back--and if you think Washington is out of control now, just wait until they succeed in advancing their radical "gun control" agenda.
Source: 2014 S.C. Senate campaign website, RavenelForSenate.com
Sep 1, 2014
On Health Care:
We can't afford any more socialized medicine
Premiums for the average family with an employer-provided plan actually increased by $2,400 a year at the end of Obama's first term. And they are still going up. We can't afford any more socialized medicine. That's why ObamaCare should be immediately
repealed and replaced with a free market system that allows interstate competition among insurers and equal tax treatment between individual purchasers and corporations. Federal red tape that kills innovation and efficiency should be slashed.
Source: 2014 S.C. Senate campaign website, RavenelForSenate.com
Sep 1, 2014
On Immigration:
Finding bad guys among 11M illegals is needles in a haystack
Another problem with our current policy (or lack thereof) is it makes it harder to find terrorists and other dangerous criminals. When you're looking for the bad guys,
you're looking for needles in a haystack. Having over 11 million undocumented workers creates millions of forged documents, which provide cover for the bad guys.
Source: 2014 S.C. Senate campaign website, RavenelForSenate.com
Sep 1, 2014
On Social Security:
Opt out of Medicare without forfeiting Social Security
For Medicare, I believe premiums should be means-tested for seniors based on their lifetime income. There should be less government coercion and more individual freedom in Medicare. For example, if a senior opted out of Medicare that senior would
automatically forfeit all of his or her Social Security benefits! Also, if a doctor were to accept a senior patient who is not a Medicare enrollee, that doctor would automatically forfeit all of his or her Medicare patients. This is patently wrong,
especially in a country that claims to be the "Land of the Free."Seniors should be able to opt out of Medicare and instead receive "means tested" vouchers to purchase private insurance. If they want a more expensive private plan they can always
supplement their vouchers with private funds, just as they do now with Medigap plans.
Medicare vouchers would let the market--not central planners in Washington--determine prices, payment systems, delivery systems, and how to reward quality.
Source: 2014 S.C. Senate campaign website, RavenelForSenate.com
Sep 1, 2014
On Tax Reform:
Cut wage taxes, death taxes, & corporate taxes
Lower taxes and less government interference in the marketplace--essential components of true capitalism--improve the quality of life for every sector of American society. It is only through the free exchange of ideas and capital that our economy will
truly prosper.I support a complete overhaul of our current tax policy. Today, the government taxes Americans at every turn. We're taxed on our wages, when we make purchases with what's left of those wages, when we make gains on after-tax dollars,
and even when we die.
We must also cut corporate taxes. The US has the highest corporate tax rate in the world at 40%. This places us at a severe disadvantage when competing globally. Additionally, instead of having a territorial tax system like most
developed nations, the US has a world-wide tax system. This means our government taxes companies headquartered in the US if they earned income in other countries--even though those companies already paid taxes where the income was originally generated.
Source: 2014 S.C. Senate campaign website, RavenelForSenate.com
Sep 1, 2014
On Welfare & Poverty:
No welfare benefits for illegal immigrants
I adamantly oppose welfare benefits for illegal immigrants for two reasons: It's bad for the American taxpayers and bad for the recipients. The welfare state is not only bankrupting this country, it also leads to widespread dependency and deprives
workers of the opportunity to feel proud of themselves as a result of their labor and ingenuity. Also, worker visa recipients should not have the right to vote as they are not American citizens.
Source: 2014 S.C. Senate campaign website, RavenelForSenate.com
Sep 1, 2014
Page last updated: Dec 07, 2018