Watch TV Land and Nick @ Nit
Source: From Hope to Higher Ground, by Mike Huckabee, p. 30
Jan 4, 2007
On Education:
Sends his kids to public school; says other officials should
While many elected officials pontificate proudly about their deep interest in and commitment to public education, so many put their own children in private schools. If the public schools are so deserving of their (and our) support, why aren’t they
deserving of the ultimate support--having confidence enough in them for their own children to be educated there?My three children were the first children of any Arkansas governor in at least 50 years who spent their first through senior high
education entirely in the public schools of Arkansas. My wife and I are ourselves products of public schools. For us, there was no option as we grew up in families that could not have afforded a private school had one even existed in our hometown.
As governor, although the teachers’ union in Arkansas never supported me (mainly because they have so long been controlled by the machinery of the Democratic Party), improving education in the public schools has understandably been a priority for me.
Source: From Hope to Higher Ground, by Mike Huckabee, p. 42-43
Jan 4, 2007
On Education:
Reformed AR education with Smart Start & Next Step
In 1998 I announced an initiative we called Smart Start, the first of several major reform efforts in Arkansas that were to focus on not only increasing funding but, more important, improved results. Later the K-4 Smart Start Initiative would be joined b
Smart Step for grades 5-8. Ultimately we launched Next Step, which was the full implementation of a reform strategy that included grades 9-12. It was a priority for me to develop more accessible and effective preschool programs and to make dramatic
changes in both access and affordability in higher education. We developed a seamless curriculum from pre-K through college so that there was coordination and continuity throughout the educational process. There are at least 5 elements essential to
improving schools:
- Mark the standards--with challenging goals
- Measure the progress--like with No Child Left Behind
- Meet the expectations--there must be accountability
- Mobilize the community
- Move the potential
Source: From Hope to Higher Ground, by Mike Huckabee, p. 43-45
Jan 4, 2007
On Education:
Incorporate character education into school curriculum
In my first few years in office we laid the foundation for many reforms related to genuine standards,
including incorporating character education into the school curriculum to teach good manners and basic elements of personal character and honor.
Source: From Hope to Higher Ground, by Mike Huckabee, p. 44-45
Jan 4, 2007
On Education:
Authorize & advance more charter schools
[As governor, we laid the foundation for] the authorization and advancement of charter schools. I have long advocated that charter schools are wonderful laboratories for educational reform.
Critics often complain that many charter schools fail, but that is precisely the point of a charter school and its difference from a traditional one. In a charter school, if it doesn’t succeed in meeting its agreed-upon goals, we simply close it.
Traditional public schools have failed for generations to adequately educate students, but they keep getting funded year after year.
Charter schools can bring innovative ideas to the marketplace with little long-term financial risk.
Source: From Hope to Higher Ground, by Mike Huckabee, p. 45-46
Jan 4, 2007
On Education:
Replace entire school board for failing schools
One of the most important pieces of legislation passed in Arkansas to achieve educational reform was the Omnibus Education Act of 2003. This bill empowered the state board of education to do more than issue warnings to under-performing schools; it gave
them the authority to step in and two consecutive years of fiscal or academic distress and, when appropriate, terminate the superintendent, fire and replace the entire school board, and assume all operations of the failing school.
While a drastic measure, it is inexcusable that schools which fail to efficiently, properly, or adequately spend taxpayer money continue to exist year after year. Those responsible for such mismanagement should be held accountable.
Only in public education have we typically allowed total failure to result in continued employment and automatic annual pay raises.
Source: From Hope to Higher Ground, by Mike Huckabee, p. 48
Jan 4, 2007
On Principles & Values:
Finished Little Rock marathon in 4:38 after 3 years training
March 6, 2005, is a day that will be as memorable to me as the date of my marriage and the birthdays of my children. It is the day that four hours and 38-minutes after the sound of the starting gun, I crossed the finish line. I had completed 26.2 miles
in the Little Rock Marathon.Three years earlier, running a marathon seemed as likely to me as piloting the Space Shuttle or performing brain surgery. But back then there had also been 110 pounds more of me. After I was freshly diagnosed as a type
2 diabetic, my doctor had sat me down and told me that without a lifestyle change, I would be dead within a decade. The news propelled me on a life-changing and life-saving pilgrimage that eventually led to the achievement of something I would have
thought unreasonable for a once nonathletic “sofa spud” like me. When people ask about the experience, I tell them that running the marathon was not difficult. But the discipline to prepare for the even was as challenging as anything I have ever done.
Source: From Hope to Higher Ground, by Mike Huckabee, p. 57
Jan 4, 2007
On Health Care:
Focus on health & prevention, not just disease treatment
The health care system in this nation is irreparably broken, in part because it is only a “health care” system. We have failed to create a “health system.” We focus on spending money to treat chronic diseases, but seem oblivious to the urgent
need to focus on prevention of those diseases.Most government grants are given to research for treatment of disease and to find ways to aggressively treat illness. Preventive medicine, until recently, was almost considered a form of quackery.
Source: From Hope to Higher Ground, by Mike Huckabee, p. 58-59
Jan 4, 2007
On Health Care:
STOP the culture of chronic disease via self-discipline
- Do not smoke - PERIOD!
- Exercise a minimum of three times per week, at least 30 minutes per session.
- Set specific, challenging, but realistic fitness goals for the month and the year.
-
Eliminate processed sugar from your diet as much as possible, if not entirely.
- Do not eat anything with partially hydrogenated vegetable oil.
- Eat five servings a day minimum of fruits and vegetables.
-
Insist on only whole grain breads, pastas, cereals.
- Eliminate fried foods from your diet.
- Look for ways to become an empowered health consumer.
- Regularly read articles and books on health and fitness.
-
Do little things like taking the stairs instead of elevators, parking in the far end of parking lots, and walking to do errands.
- Sleep more!
Source: From Hope to Higher Ground, by Mike Huckabee, p. 69
Jan 4, 2007
On Energy & Oil:
Kyoto was a mistake, but “Earth in the Balance” is not
You do not have to hug a tree to appreciate one. It would have been a mistake to sign the Kyoto Treaty since it would have given foreign nations the power to impose standards on us. But Al Gore was not entirely wrong when he spoke of earth “in the
balance.” Balance is exactly what we need more of in this discussion. All of us need to have a healthy respect for our resources, a responsible level of use of those resources, and a comprehensive plan for either preserving or renewing those resources.
Source: From Hope to Higher Ground, by Mike Huckabee, p. 70
Jan 4, 2007
On Environment:
Conservatives believe in conservation
My position as a conservative Republican with a disdain for excessive taxation is well earned. My hosts were apprehensive about discussing the ballot initiative, which would have dedicated tax monies to conservation. I said, “Gentlemen, I can assure
you that I will not campaign against the proposal, and in fact, I am strongly in favor of it.”
There has been a perception that conservative Republicans do not care much for the environment or the protection and preservation of natural resources.
I remind people that the very word “conservative” means that we are all about conserving things that are valuable and dear. Few things are more valuable to us than the natural resources that God created and gave to us to carefully manage.
One of the proudest moments I have had as a governor is the passage of what became Amendment 75 to the Arkansas Constitution. It forever dedicates a small but vital revenue stream to the conservation of our state’s valuable and irreplaceable resources.
Source: From Hope to Higher Ground, by Mike Huckabee, p. 71-72
Jan 4, 2007
On Environment:
The earth is the Lord’s; we are merely its caretakers
My own personal faith reminds me that “the earth is the Lord’s” and that we are not its owners; merely its caretakers. From the very first pages of Genesis in the Old Testament we are reminded that
God is the Creator and we are responsible for tending to that which he created; to preserve it and to protect it.
We are indeed given the liberty and in fact the admonition to enjoy and utilize the resources, but use is not abuse and we have no right to pillage the planet unmercifully.
We should see to it that our care for the environment enhances not only its aesthetic value but preserves the resources themselves for future generations.
Source: From Hope to Higher Ground, by Mike Huckabee, p. 73
Jan 4, 2007
On Environment:
Supported conserving Buffalo River in north AR against dams
While I understand that building dams on streams can sometimes be useful in flood control, the creation of water reservoirs necessary for sustaining life, or for the production of electricity, we must be careful to balance our use of those resources to
ensure that we do not lose all our natural treasures by altering them. In the 1960s and early 1970s conservationists in Arkansas successfully fought back attempts to build a dam on the Buffalo River in North Arkansas, the phenomenal stream that became
America’s first National River. To this day it is one of the most magnificently beautiful and vibrant natural streams on the continent. Every time I experience a canoe float down the Buffalo I realize I owe an extraordinary amount of gratitude to some
stubborn conservationist from a previous generation who kept the Buffalo River from becoming little more than a memory for old-timers to talk about.
Source: From Hope to Higher Ground, by Mike Huckabee, p. 76
Jan 4, 2007
On Energy & Oil:
Shouldn’t limit oil production while increasing consumption
It is time for us to stop our continued reliance on oil produced beyond our borders and by nations who are not our best friends. Even those who do act more cordially toward us are not producing oil with a benevolent spirit but are driven by their own
interests. From Dec. 2003 through 2005, OPEC nations spent more than $13 million lobbying the federal government. We should all be somewhat discomforted by the amount of money that are policymakers are having tossed their way to keep the addiction alive.
Even as we increase our consumption of energy, we dramatically limit our production, making us even more vulnerable to outside sources to fuel our cars and economy. We have not build a new refinery in 30 years. Politics has kept us from developing
potential exploration in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge, or along the Outer Continental Shelf, and the lack of leadership toward alternative forms of energy has left us with little more than higher prices and a growing anxiety.
Source: From Hope to Higher Ground, by Mike Huckabee, p. 78
Jan 4, 2007
On Energy & Oil:
Explore ways to harness nuclear power
Alternative energy sources such as solar or wind have great potential in that they occur naturally, are therefore environmentally friendly, and have an inexhaustible source. There are certainly limitations, particularly to sources such as wind energy
because of the intermittent nature of wind power. While many Americans still fear nuclear power, we would be wise to explore ways to harness it for purposes more peaceful and productive than the building of bombs.
The growing anxiety over the impact of suddenly spiking gasoline, nature gas, and electricity costs have created near panic in the homes of many Americans. Many small business owners are threatened out of existence because of the escalating costs from
uncontrollable energy expenses. People who are impoverished and on the brink of financial disaster can be pushed over the edge when they simply do not have the money to pay their electric bill and cannot afford to pay for transportation to work.
Source: From Hope to Higher Ground, by Mike Huckabee, p. 79-80
Jan 4, 2007
On Crime:
Commuted death penalty sentence due to problems at trial
The death penalty is the only decision that I make as a governor that is totally irrevocable. Once an execution is carried out, a life has ended. I kept a box of files near by desk to review them in the days prior to the execution. One unsettling part
of the evidence [in the Fretwell case] were interviews conducted with Fretwell & his brother. The description of their family life revealed a childhood of abuse, humiliation & degradation. I was moved to tears, but that did not alter the crime.
However, a juror said he had been told that if Fretwell was found guilty, he would get life in prison without parole and that was the reason he voted for a guilty verdict. The problem I then faced was that I was unwilling to be a man who had ignored late
evidence in a death penalty case to avoid the complications that come with clemency. If the justice system would not work for the “least of these among us,” then neither would it work for me or anyone else. I commuted the sentence to life in prison.
Source: From Hope to Higher Ground, by Mike Huckabee, p. 83
Jan 4, 2007
On Abortion:
Pro-life and pro-death penalty, & sees them as far different
Some wonder how a person so pro-life as me could accept the law of a death penalty. But a death sentence is a result of a lengthy and thorough judicial process applied to a person deemed guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. That’s far different from
one person singularly deciding to end the life of a totally innocent and helpless unborn child. In that case, there is no process of justice, no evidence of guilt presented, no defense for the condemned child, and no appeal.
Source: From Hope to Higher Ground, by Mike Huckabee, p. 86
Jan 4, 2007
On Crime:
Supports death penalty, but only reluctantly
Whether we should even have a death penalty is a tough issue. I believe some crimes deserve it, but that does not mean I like it. I do believe it should be an option, but carrying out the death penalty was unquestionably the worst part of my job as
governor. 17 times I sat by a phone with an open line to the death chamber, and gave the verbal order for the lethal injection. I never slept well those nights. I did the job that the law prescribed for me to do, but I hated every minute of it.
Source: From Hope to Higher Ground, by Mike Huckabee, p. 86
Jan 4, 2007
On Crime:
Three Strikes based more on revenge than restoration
Americans went through a period of permissiveness in the 1970s. Some advocated that criminals really were not bad people, but just individuals who were themselves victims of either poverty or lack of education. Those who believed in such a view typically
favored counseling over incarceration, but rising crime rates and a demand of the public made it clear that “coddling criminals” is a terribly failed idea.In the 1990s, the pendulum swung harshly back in the opposite direction and very popular
policies such as “three strikes and you’re out” and “no parole provisions” were adopted.
Being tough on crime is certainly more popular than being soft, but America needs to be careful that in our attempt to stoutly enforce our laws and protect our
citizens, we do not end up with a system that is based more on revenge than restoration. A revenge-based criminal justice system seeks to measure out as harsh a judgement as is possible so as to satisfy the natural inclination to get even.
Source: From Hope to Higher Ground, by Mike Huckabee, p. 87
Jan 4, 2007
On Drugs:
Supports drug courts for non-violent drug offendors
80% of all those incarcerated were there because of drugs or alcohol; and were drunk or high when they committed their crime, or committed the crime in order to get drunk or high. We don’t have a crime problem; we have a drug and alcohol problem.
While those who deal drugs and entice others into enslaving addictions deserve prison sentences, we end up locking away many non-violent drug users, some of whom spend longer periods in prison than they would if they committed a violent crime.
A major reform in dealing with drug offenders in Arkansas was the establishment of drug courts, where a non-violent drug offender could be directed to enroll in drug treatment programs or heavily supervised community service.
The recidivism rate dropped to 31%. More significantly, the cost per day was lower than that of prison, while at the same time allowing the offender to regain his or her life.
Source: From Hope to Higher Ground, by Mike Huckabee, p. 89
Jan 4, 2007
On Crime:
Eliminating parole gives no incentive for rehabilitation
A popular but ill-conceived notion is the complete elimination of parole or accredited time for good behavior. Eliminating parole often has the opposite effect of its intention. People are in prison largely because they failed to understand how life
should work, with people being rewarded for responsible action, & suffering the consequences of irresponsible action. It is fair to say that people in prison got there due to their unwillingness to abide by simple rules of common courtesy. The concept of
parole is that an inmate can complete educational goals, be industrious, follow the rules, and get along with other inmates in order to earn his or her most precious commodity--time.
Imagine saying to an inmate, “If you learn a useful skill and act
respectfully toward others, you will still serve a full sentence.” What kind of incentive is that? Yes, I believe in “commit the crime and do the time,” but it is in society’s best interest to have a system that keeps hope alive in the minds of violators
Source: From Hope to Higher Ground, by Mike Huckabee, p. 90
Jan 4, 2007
On Tax Reform:
Eliminated AR marriage penalty & capital gains on home sales
During my tenure as governor, we: - Eliminated the income tax for families below the poverty line.
- Increased the standard deductions.
- Eliminated the marriage penalty.
- Eliminated bracket creep by indexing the income taxes to inflation,
thereby preventing taxpayers from moving into a higher bracket when their paychecks increase due to inflations.
- Doubled the child care tax credit.
- Eliminated capital gains tax on the sale of a home.
-
Passed the first broad-based tax cut in the state’s history.
- Signed a property taxpayer’s bill of rights establishing a uniform notice and due process procedure allowing taxpayers to appeal valuation and assessments.
-
Provided an income tax credit for companies that provide or reimburse for training and education programs for employees.
- Cut the capital gains tax for individuals and business to encourage investment.
Source: From Hope to Higher Ground, by Mike Huckabee, p.102-103
Jan 4, 2007
On Tax Reform:
Illustrated hypocrisy with “Tax Me More Fund”
I responded to those who thought the time was right to raise taxes. I announced that I had established a fund for those who felt they were not paying enough in taxes. I created the Tax Me More Fund.Arkansas citizens who felt they were not contributing
enough of their personal or business income could write checks and the state would be more than happy to receive their contributions.
I carried envelopes for the Tax Me More Fund. I must have carried them to dozens of speeches and yet not one time did
anyone ask for an envelope. From 2001 to 2005, a total of 56 people made contributions to the Tax Me More Fund totaling $2,077. It was a potent way of pointing out the hypocrisy of the insincere vocal minority who proved by their failure to write a check
that they wanted more taxes to be paid, but they wanted them to be paid by someone other than themselves. In Dec. 2001, the Americans for Tax Reform named me as a Friend of the Taxpayer for exposing the phoniness of the more tax arguments.
Source: From Hope to Higher Ground, by Mike Huckabee, p.105
Jan 4, 2007
On Tax Reform:
Supports national flat tax to keep up with globalization
During the 2000 presidential race, Steve Forbes advocated simplification of the tax code and the implementation of a flat tax. While far from perfect, moving toward a tax that is both flatter and fairer is a goal we should adopt. One of the arguments
for a flat tax is to address a world economy that has radically changed in the last decade. Capital, and even labor, are fluid & mobile. A tax structure that is more predictable, consistent, flatter, and fairer not only represents greater accountability
in government but may well be a key element of economic survival as we continue to play on a global stage. Governments unwilling to respond with lower rates and broader tax bases are tempting fate and could continue to see erosion of investment & jobs.
Some argue that a flat tax is especially oppressive to those at the bottom of the economy because they currently pay little of their income to taxes. Making sure that a tax system is fair means we should not ignore the needs of the poor.
Source: From Hope to Higher Ground, by Mike Huckabee, p.109-110
Jan 4, 2007
On Immigration:
Path to citizenship if illegals admit guilt & pay fine
What we cannot do is allow our laws to be flagrantly broken, acting as if the economic benefits to consumers justify their utter disregard for not only our laws, but potentially our security. In the case of immigration, our laws are clearly out of sync
with the economic realities of our global marketplace. It would be sheer folly to attempt to suddenly impose strict enforcement of existing laws, round up 12 million people, march them across the border, and expect them to stay.What does make sense is
a revision of our laws, one giving those here illegally a process through which they pay a reasonable fine in admission of their guilt for the past infraction of violating our border laws and agree to adhere to a pathway toward legal status and
citizenship. In exchange, our government gains the capacity to know who is here, why they are here, where they are, and whether they carry a communicable disease. But much of the debate has become mired more in definitions than in a real solution.
Source: From Hope to Higher Ground, by Mike Huckabee, p.117-118
Jan 4, 2007
On Abortion:
Even Americans who are pro-choice are pro-life
It would be fair to say that I am in politics because I am pro-life. By no means am I a single-issue person, but on that single issue I am steadfastly consistent. The abortion issue goes to the very heart of what I believe and it is consistent with the
American tradition of giving voice to the voiceless. The record I am proudest of is having signed numerous pieces of pro-life legislation., including a ban on partial-birth abortion. Another bill established a woman’s right to know, ensuring her
consent to an abortion is an informed one, based on the same information she would be given if she were removing her tonsils instead of her baby. Equally important was legislation mandating parents be informed and provide consent before the serious
surgical procedure of an abortion could be performed on a minor. We also pushed through legislation requiring doctors to inform the mother that the unborn child will feel pain, and provide the option to anesthetize the baby prior to abortion.
Source: From Hope to Higher Ground, by Mike Huckabee, p.123-124
Jan 4, 2007
On Gun Control:
Owns firearms; enjoys hunting; supports 2nd amendment
My position on the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution is as clear for me as the position held by most journalists toward the 1st Amendment. While I do not consider myself a “gun nut,” I proudly own a variety of firearms and enjoy hunting as well as sports
shooting. But even if I were not a hunter or did not enjoy shooting, I would still be a firm believer in the 2nd Amendment right of Americans to own firearms for self-protection and as a matter of principle.There are 700,000 physicians in the US and
the number of accidental deaths caused by them per year is 120,000, making the accidental death rate per physician 17%. Using the same logic, there are about 80 million gun owners, and the number of accidental gun deaths per year among all age groups is
1,500. The same calculation reveals the number of accidental deaths per gun owner to be 0.00188%. In other words, statistically, doctors are approximately 9,000 more times more dangerous than gun owners. Yet, I hear no one suggesting we ban doctors.
Source: From Hope to Higher Ground, by Mike Huckabee, p.126-127
Jan 4, 2007
On Homeland Security:
Strength is more effective deterrent to war than weakness
A true leader shares his power rather than shows his power. True greatness is revealed by humility rather than hubris. Fear can be obtained by a gun, but true respect can only be earned by using one’s strength for unselfish service. Jesus reminded us
that if we really want to be great, we must be willing to serve rather than to be served, and that the spirit of our actions is as important as the actions themselves. I would never want to sacrifice one particle of America’s power. Ronald
Reagan had it right when he led this country to unprecedented military strength. Our best defense is a military so well equipped and so well trained that no one wants to challenge it. Strength is a far more effective deterrent to war than is weakness,
and the US should never be apologetic for the development of the strongest military forces on the face of the earth. But with the development of strength and unprecedented power there must also be unprecedented restraint.
Source: From Hope to Higher Ground, by Mike Huckabee, p.133
Jan 4, 2007
On War & Peace:
Make sure we finish the job in Iraq and finish it right
There has been plenty of second-guessing as to whether the US should have invaded Iraq. Regardless of where members of Congress now stand, in the days leading to our invasion of Iraq, there was a consensus from both Democrats & Republicans that Saddam di
have weapons of mass destruction. There was a wholesale belief that he would unhesitatingly use them against the US if he had the opportunity, and would gladly assist terrorists who sought to repeat the horrific attacks of Sep. 11.It may well be that
the intelligence on which the decision was made was incomplete or flawed, but had we failed to topple Saddam’s empire and he had utilized WMDs against us, there would have been an even greater anger that we failed to act.
Now that we have gone to
Iraq, one thing is certain--we need to make sure that we finish the job and finish it right. If we were to pull out prematurely and allow tyranny to be restored to that nation, the ripple effect throughout the Middle East and the world would be profound.
Source: From Hope to Higher Ground, by Mike Huckabee, p.134-136
Jan 4, 2007
On Foreign Policy:
Support Israel as strategic ally, but respect Palestine
I’ve visited Israel 9 times, and strongly believe in its right to exist & the important example it has set forth in its seriousness toward its own security as well as the admirable expectation it has of its people to be stakeholders in its preservation.
Even though I support Israel, its boundaries, and its future, and believe its alliance with the US is one of great strategic value, a conversation with a Palestinian reminded me that the issue is not simple.The Palestinian was relocated had been told
one day that he would be relocated to a Palestinian camp and that his neighborhood would be occupied by Israelis. It was always easy to me to understand why the Jews, having been displaced for thousands of years, would feel a divine right to return to
the land promised to their forefathers and previously taken from them. But Palestinians are still human beings who deserve to be treated respectfully since they personally have not done wrong and now are being forced from what has been their home.
Source: From Hope to Higher Ground, by Mike Huckabee, p.137
Jan 4, 2007
On Welfare & Poverty:
First Amendment never intended to shut out voices of faith
The First Amendment is often used illegitimately as a way to shut out the voice of faith in the public square when it was in fact intended to do the opposite. The first Amendment declares that “Congress shall pass no law which respects the establishment”
of a specific religion or prohibits the free exercise thereof. Essentially it can be defined in this simple summation: “Government is not to prohibit or prefer a particular religion or faith.”
It is not the government’s role, responsibility, or its right to prohibit the expression of one’s faith. Those of us with faith know that government should guarantee that those expressions will not be prohibited.
At the same time, we should be warned that they will not be preferred over another in some official capacity.
The First Amendment was intended to ensure that the voice of government did not drown out the voices of faith.
Source: From Hope to Higher Ground, by Mike Huckabee, p.154
Jan 4, 2007
On Free Trade:
Marketplace pushes innovation to top & prices to bottom
I believe in free trade and allowing the marketplace to push innovative ideas to the top & prices to the bottom. Perhaps the most compelling challenge is ensuring that a free trade correspondingly represents a fair trade. Three dominant factors in the
American economy make it increasingly difficult for jobs to remain here: excess LITIGATION, excess TAXATION, and excess REGULATION combine to ultimately result in the MIGRATION of American jobs to marketplaces beyond our borders.
Source: From Hope to Higher Ground, by Mike Huckabee, p.161
Jan 4, 2007
On Corporations:
Wal-Mart is case study in genius of American marketplace
Though often demonized because of its immense size and extraordinary growth, Arkansas-based Wal-Mart is a case study in the genius of the American marketplace. As governor of the state that Wal-Mart calls home, I often found myself in the position of
defending it against uninformed and often ill-willed critics. Wal-Mart has become the largest private sector employer in approximately 49 of our 50 states. And somebody apparently likes this company, since 150 million people a week enter its door.
Labor unions in particular have sought to disparage Wal-Mart as a workplace, despite the fact that the average wage paid to its 46,000-strong Arkansas workforce is some $4.50 higher per hour than the minimum wage. A new store in Chicago scheduled
to employ 325 people watched as 25,000 applied.
Allow me to list three reasons for this retailing behemoths extraordinary success: - Wal-Mart empowers the consumer
- An efficient cost structure
- An exemplary corporate structure.
Source: From Hope to Higher Ground, by Mike Huckabee, p.166-167
Jan 4, 2007
On Free Trade:
Farm subsidies ok because Europe & Asia do same
It has been policy to pay farmers a stipend for their crops to ensure the farmers will receive a guaranteed minimum price. Some conservatives believe that all agricultural subsidies should be discontinued and allow the market to function.
In an ideal world, this would be good practice, but American farmers are competing with subsidized farmers in Europe and Asia, and the fixed costs faced by farmers involving land, equipment, seed, and supplies means that even if they do not sell a single
stalk of corn, they will have significant expenses. Keeping American farmers in business is also good for the consumer. The theory behind subsidies is that production is maintained at a higher level, driving food costs lower.
This empowers consumers and generates stability in the farming economy so that America remains a producing rather than consuming nation.
Subsidies also help insulate farmers from natural disasters and spikes in the cost of fuel, feed, and fertilizer.
Source: From Hope to Higher Ground, by Mike Huckabee, p.172-173
Jan 4, 2007
On Principles & Values:
Thermometer leaders just read room; thermostats adjusts room
There are two kinds of leaders, thermometers and thermostats. A thermometer can read the temperature of the room and report it. Some politicians are like thermometers. They conduct opinion polls and take positions that mirror the temperature.
That’s not what America needs. Thermostat leadership is different. A thermostat can read and report the temperature, but it also adjusts the temperature to what it should be. Thermostat leadership is aware of poll numbers but is even more aware of the
principles worth living for and dying for.
There is a difference between a person’s values and recognizing the “value” of very person. Many political debates center around whose “values” are superior as they relate to the family, the economy, health
care, etc. I am convinced that even those of us who are conservatives have missed that the true issue is not creating a must believe set of values but rather adhering to the notion that the worth of each human being should drive our public policies.
Source: From Hope to Higher Ground, by Mike Huckabee, p.186-187
Jan 4, 2007