OnTheIssues interviews with presidential candidates: on Government Reform


Paul Adams: Reform term limits & campaign finance

Q: Do you support the policy of campaign finance reform?

A: Most definitely, in the way elections are funded, the format and scope of campaigns, the qualifications of candidates, term limits, and the implementation of the Online Citizen's Account which would replace the House of Representatives. That, of course, would require the People's ratifying power (not to be confused with an Article V Convention of States) as provided to them by the 9th and 10th Amendments, and grandfathered in the Declaration of Independence, the ways and means left open for discussion. Along with election reform, there are other issues which require Constitutional reform..

Source: Email interview on 2016 presidential race by OnTheIssues.org Jan 21, 2016

Paul Adams: Online Citizen Account: we vote; repeal the House of Reps

Q: Do you support or oppose the policy, "Make voter registration easier"?

A: Yes. But, I want to take democracy (which we bleed and fight for overseas) a step further. I am the first and only voice that seeks to introduce an ONLINE CITIZEN ACCOUNT and repeal the House of Reps. I want to see the day when the People have the ability to vote in and recall rogue Presidents and Senators, ratify Constitutional Amendments, vote in referendums and on Bills. That is my primary motivation.

Source: Email interview on 2016 presidential race by OnTheIssues.org Jan 21, 2016

Marc Allan Feldman: A large portion of our population feel disenfranchised

Q: Do you support or oppose making voter registration easier?

A: Strongly support. Voter fraud is statistically insignificant. The real problem is the large portion of our population that feel disenfranchised. They do not vote, because they do not feel there is anyone for them to vote for. We have a representative government. It just does not represent us. We should make it as easy to vote as possible, and make it easier for independent and new party candidates to get on the ballot.

Source: Email interview on 2016 presidential race by OnTheIssues.org Dec 12, 2015

Mark Stewart: Let's make it HARDER to vote: testing at polls

Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Make voter registration easier"?

A: This is a joke. It's as easy to register to vote as it is to get a library card. The people wanting to reform voter registration by and large want non-citizens to vote. They should be laughed out of town. If anything, it should be HARDER to vote. I support an assessment every decade or so (it could be a WORTHY part of the mostly-unworthy dicennial census) whether a would-be voter knows English, and has basic reasoning capacities. If so, and for some reason you were denied the right to vote, we;ll help you get it straight. If not, stay home. Let others vote.

Source: Email interview on 2016 presidential race by OnTheIssues.org Dec 3, 2015

Jim Hedges: No need to make voter registration easier

Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Make voter registration easier"?

A: no

Source: Email interview on 2016 presidential race by OnTheIssues.org Nov 6, 2015

Jill Stein: Term limits end guaranteed re-election & lifetime incumbency

OnTheIssues:What about term Limits for Congress?

Stein: The issue here is that Congress barely has a 10% approval rating yet it is re-elected with a 95% probability. Something is wrong with this picture. One of the problems is that incumbency provides enormous advantages--we need to overturn this system of automatic re-election. Insuring that there will be turnover is one way to help the American people achieve a more democratic result.

OnTheIssues:And what about the number of years? One popular proposal is 12 years in either legislative chamber, which would mean 2 Senate terms or 6 House terms.

Stein: Well, the limit should be somewhere above 1 or 2 terms, but not lifetime incumbency--decades of incumbency is a problem.

Source: Phone interview on 2016 presidential race by OnTheIssues.org Jul 6, 2015

Jill Stein: Confederate flag should be removed from all public locations

OnTheIssues: What's your opinion of the Confederate flag controversy? Should it be taken down from state houses?

Stein: The Confederate flag is a terrible symbol of white supremacy and slavery. It should be removed from all public locations. But this is only a symbol. We need to go deeper to erase the institutional racism that lives on post-slavery--we've had lynchings and the Drug War and discrimination--we should address the incredible legacy of the criminal slave culture, from the criminal institution of slavery. We need to take action beyond changing flags---we need to take action on [racial disparities in] employment and housing, and an end to healthcare disparity. When you add up the impacts of those disparities, the average African American has 14 years taken off their lives. The average African American family had 10 cents on dollar wealth [compared to white families]--and under Obama that dropped to even lower.

Source: Phone interview on 2016 presidential race by OnTheIssues.org Jul 6, 2015

Jill Stein: Earmarks grease the skids for corruption

OnTheIssues: What is your opinion on legislative earmarks?

Stein: Earmarks grease the skids for corruption and for returning favors to campaign donors.

OnTheIssues: Is full disclosure enough?

Stein: They should be federally overturned; not only disclosed but easily challenged and removed. Currently it's very hard to find out about earmarks.--you have to be a full-time political junkie to figure it out. Earmarks should be disclosed, but there should be a simple procedure to challenge them.

Source: Phone interview on 2016 presidential race by OnTheIssues.org Jul 6, 2015

Roseanne Barr: Stricter limits on political campaign funds

Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Stricter limits on political campaign funds"?

Q: Support

Source: Email interview on presidential race with OnTheIssues.org Sep 24, 2012

Virgil Goode: Stricter limits on political campaign funds

Q: Do you support stricter limits on political campaign funds?

A: Yes.

Source: Email interview on presidential race with OnTheIssues.org May 16, 2012

David Walker: Constitutional Amendment to limit campaign finance

Q: Do you support stricter limits on political campaign funds?

A: Yes, as well as additional transparency in connection with Super PACs and other types of organizations. I'm for Constitutional Amendment on campaign finance reform--the system is absolutely out of control. The only way is a Constitutional Amendment given the Supreme Court decision. I'm for an Amendment to rationalize the current political campaign system.

Q: You're referring to Citizens United, which allowed unlimited donations to PACs?

A: Yes, it was a mistake. I understand corporations are "persons" for contract purposes--but the definition of "person" for campaigns should be "persons who can vote." Corporations and unions cannot vote. And we need more transparency over 501(c)(4) SuperPACs. More campaign contributions with total transparency is good--more so than limits with loopholes--but what we have now it the worst of all worlds.

Source: Phone interview on presidential race with OnTheIssues.org Mar 30, 2012

Rocky Anderson: Stricter limits on political campaign funds

Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Stricter limits on political campaign funds"?

A: Strongly Support

Source: Email interview on presidential race with OnTheIssues.org Feb 10, 2012

Andre Barnett: Stricter limits on political campaign funds

Q: Do you agree or disagree with the statement, "Stricter limits on political campaign funds"?

A: Agree.

Source: Email interview on presidential race with OnTheIssues.org Jan 2, 2012

Robert Steele: Bush and Obama White Houses both ruled by secrecy

Source: Email interview on presidential race with OnTheIssues.org Jan 2, 2012

Robert Steele: Citizens United is a national disgrace