Paul Adams in OnTheIssues interviews with presidential candidates


On Abortion: Real Choice: public funding to carry pregnancy to term

Q: Do you support or oppose the policy, "Abortion is a woman's unrestricted right"?

A: I go a step further. I believe in introducing Real Choice for women. A woman should have the choice of obtaining a publicly-funded abortion or take her pregnancy to term and obtain a publicly funded delivery, with a view of giving up the baby for adoption. That would be true choice.

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

On Budget & Economy: Stimulus to benefit people; break up 6 biggest banks

Q: Do you support or oppose the policy, "Stimulus better than market-led recovery"?

A: I believe that drastic times take drastic measures. America is in the Critical Care Unit. That means a recovery is best stimulated by implementing a two-pronged approach. First, capital must be made available at the grassroots level to stimulate the start-up of small businesses. That means lowering the capital requirements for community banks, and lowering the interest rates on business loans - that would allow for a market-led recovery. It also means the need to break up the big 6 banks. We can't have another too-big-to fail crash, although as we look towards the horizon, as the QE gravy-train comes to a halt we will see much pain again, If the economy tanks completely, we need to nullify the odious debt that was incurred without the People's approval - a debt which never benefitted the People. Then, we need to stimulate the economy by creating jobs that come from overhauling our infrastructure

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

On Civil Rights: Same-sex unions ok; but don't redefine marriage

Q: Your opinion of same-sex marriage"?

A: I am opposed to redefining the definition of marriage every five years as new minorities seek equal rights. However, I am for giving same sex unions, and any other type of union by consenting adults, equal rights under the umbrella of civil unions. I am a traditionalist when it comes to the definition of marriage. I see heterosexual marriage as the best model for the propagation of our species. It reflects the natural order of things in the animal kingdom, and coincides with the definition of marriage in the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights. I also believe children should have a say in what kind of family they want to be raised. We have completely ignored children. (I have both gay and transgender friends, by the way, and I don't consider myself a bigot). Ultimately, I think that social issues that profoundly impact our society should be held to referendums, and not left to the interpretation of SCOTUS Justices.

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

On Civil Rights: Preference to women & minorities who perform equally

Q: Do you support or oppose the policy, "Legally require hiring more women/minorities"?

A: I am for giving preference to women and minorities provided they can perform equally well as the applicants coming from a majority hub.

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

On Corporations: Wealthy rigged the sub-prime mortgage collapse

Q: Do you support or oppose the policy, "Higher taxes on the wealthy"?

A: That is a necessity in our predicament. Had they not tanked the economy by rigging the sub-prime mortgage collapse, had they not exported jobs and asked to be bailed out, perhaps my hammer would not be coming down so hard on them. A nation is like a household. When we don't have an income, when we can't find work, we tighten our belts and make do, but also we make those who took us down pay for our recovery. In courts, we would be suing for damages. When we are flush, we can go to town and afford to take more risks, and not rely anymore on bail-outs. The middle class bailed out the banks; it's time now to settle accounts and have the banks and the wealthy bail out the middle class.

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

On Crime: Re-educate people instead of punishing them more

Q: Do you support or oppose the policy, "Stricter punishment reduces crime"?

A: I don't believe we have evolved enough spiritually as a species. We need to re-educate people not punish them more. An African tribe, so I am told, will sequester a member who has violated the tribe's rules in a camp surrounded by the elders who will, for two weeks, remind him of all his kind acts and good deeds and accomplishments since he was a child, in order to re-instill in him a desire to behave civilly. We need that kind of empathy for those who lose their way.

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

On Drugs: Marijuana is an exit drug, not a gateway drug

Q: Do you support or oppose the policy, "Marijuana is a gateway drug"?

A: I disagree. I believe it is an exit drug that needs to be legalized in order to empty private prisons that are profit motivated and end the war on drugs. In the same breath, I am for packaging that alerts to the possible side effects of any drug.

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

On Education: Supports school vouchers

Q: Do you support or oppose the policy, "Vouchers for school choice"?

A: I am for it. I am also for paid family leave.

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

On Energy & Oil: Encourage exploration for oil and gas in Alaska

Q: Do you support or oppose the policy, "Prioritize green energy"?

A: I'm totally in favor of promoting wave, wind, solar, Tesla, clean coal, and nuclear energy. At the same time a competing fossil fuel energy needs to be competitively priced, and that means encouraging exploration for oil and gas in Alaska, offshore and the Bakken. We must become energy self-sufficient and not rely as much on OPEC energy.

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

On Environment: EPA regulations are too restrictive

Q: Do you support or oppose the policy, "EPA regulations are too restrictive"?

A: They are. The Climate Change hoax is propagated by engineered climatic events.

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

On Foreign Policy: We can no longer be a bully in the world

Q: Do you support or oppose the policy, "Support American Exceptionalism"?

A: I do not. We can no longer be the police (some would argue 'the bully') in the world. we must retrace our steps and become neutral. But, I do support the idea of a bigger and stronger America which would some day see the annexation of Canada, which now potentially poses a threat to our security with its longest unprotected border in the world.

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

On Free Trade: Tariffs on all big ticket items entering the US

We do need to place tariffs on all big ticket items entering the US. We must make it so that it is not economically sound for our consumers to buy products made abroad. We must think in terms of buy "Made in America".first, not only because the price is right, but because the quality is superior.
Source: Email interview on 2016 presidential race by OnTheIssues.org Jan 21, 2016

On Free Trade: I am a protectionist, anti-TPP, anti-job exporter

Q: Do you support or oppose the policy, "Support & expand free trade"?

A: I'm totally against it. I am a protectionist, isolationist, anti-TPP, anti-job exporter. We will not survive as a nation if we have no jobs for our people.

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

On Government Reform: 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

On Government Reform: 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

On Gun Control: Invigorate the 2nd Amendment with more firepower

Q: Do you support or oppose the policy, "Absolute right to gun ownership"?

A: Absolutely. I would invigorate the 2nd Amendment by giving gun owners (who pass mental health and criminal background checks) the same firepower issued to an Army Private, so as to be at par with a possible rogue government takeover. I am for Concealed carry permits and for no gun-free zones, especially in schools. 1.35 million young people have serious sports injuries. We don't outlaw sports.

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

On Health Care: Repeal ObamaCare in favor of one-payer system

Q: Do you support or oppose the policy, "Expand ObamaCare"?

A: I would repeal Obamacare and replace it with a One Payer system publicly funded and privately provided, primarily by taxing the casino economy of Wall Street. The Declaration of Independence underscores our unalienable right to 'life'. It is rather hard to enjoy life with poor health or no access to health care. Life and Health are one and the same and should be equally enshrined in our Constitution..

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

On Homeland Security: Cut military spending by 50%

Q: Do you support or oppose the policy, "Expand the military"?

A: Make the military more efficient, but cut military spending by 50%. The hawks would have us believe we are defenseless. We have enough power to obliterate the entire planet six times over.

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

On Immigration: Fenced Orchard: hard rules leads to self-deportation

Q: Do you support or oppose the policy, "Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens"?

A: I foster the 'fenced orchard' analogy. If your orchard is unfenced and no guard is standing by the tree, then don't complain if passersby pick your trees. The onus to build a fence and guard the tree is on you. Do we need a fence? Yes. Could it be bypassed? Yes. We need to think really carefully about fences. Self-deportation would be a better option, provided the States chose to make it hard for undocumented labor to assimilate. What we have now is similar condition we had in pre-civil war America, when the south was economically dependent on cheap labor for its survival. The same holds true today of States like California.

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

On Immigration: Path to citizenship after two years of asylum

When a State has given asylum to an undocumented alien for at least two years, and that individual has demonstrated good character and has not benefited from government programs fraudulently, then a pathway to citizenship should be made available. Taking it one step further, when a State has offered to enter into adhesion agreements with an undocumented alien - such as a driver's license or state health insurance - at any time during that person's stay on US soil, then that person is a de facto citizen of that State and should be given a pathway to US citizenship. A two-year asylum window is the time I would put on how long it takes for someone to establish roots. And, I would argue that it is inhumane to up-root someone who has made roots. The onus is on the State to make it as easy or as hard for undocumented immigrants to reside in their State, and the Federal Government should stay out of the equation.
Source: Email interview on 2016 presidential race by OnTheIssues.org Jan 21, 2016

On Jobs: $15 minimum wage won't help our entry-level workers

As far as a $15 minimum wage, I am very skeptical it would help our entry-level workers. It could backfire on us if suddenly the undocumented aliens learn that there are entry level jobs at only $8-$10/hr. It could also spur automation in restaurants that would introduce touch-screens for ordering, with the net effect of creating more unemployment.
Source: Email interview on 2016 presidential race by OnTheIssues.org Jan 21, 2016

On Principles & Values: Celebrate various religious feast days at national level

Q: Do you support or oppose the policy, "Keep God in the public sphere"?

A: America was born under the auspices of Judeo-Christian principles. The national anthem alludes to God and heaven. Our pledge of allegiance speaks of God. I am opposed to prayers in public schools, There should be a clear separation between the public good and individual religious leanings. The First amendment guarantees us the Freedom to worship as we see fit. I believe in equal billing, no matter if one believes in Krishna, Buddha, or Jesus. People who seek to foster their religion in their children should enroll their children in private schools. I am for celebrating various religious feast days at a national level to give us a sense of cohesion.

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

On Social Security: Never relegate Social Security to the private sector

Q: Do you support or oppose the policy, "Privatize Social Security"?

A: Never. This is an obligation which the State can never relegate to the private sector. The same applies to Medicaid and Medicare. I would go a step further and subsidize caregivers.

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

On Technology: Stimulate economy by overhauling our infrastructure

We need to stimulate the economy by creating jobs that come from overhauling our infrastructure (highways, bridges, terminals, railways, etc.). We must also cut personal taxes to zero for incomes up to $100,000/yr, and then, 6% for amounts over that amount. Business taxes would be scaled back to 15% right across the board. Along with what I call the American Prosperity Tax on Wall Street, which will be an excise tax on every trade of stocks, bonds, currencies, commodities, swaps, and their derivatives, and the 50% cut on military spending, we should have a balanced budget within five years.

I am also for 0% interest mortgage loans for the first five years, and 0% student loans with the provision of decreasing up to 50% of the amount owed, if the loan is prepaid early. Once we are in surplus territory, I would want to re-introduce Glass-Steagall to put an end to casino-banking.

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

On War & Peace: We cannot be the enablers of instability in the Mideast

Q: Do you support or oppose the policy, "Avoid foreign entanglements"?

A: I agree. We can no longer afford it. We can't be meddling in other countries affairs. Israel should seek to make Jerusalem its unpartitioned capital. Palestinians should have their own homeland, anywhere, as long as peace in the region will be ensured. We cannot be the enablers of instability in the region.

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

The above quotations are from Email interview series:
Presidential candidates interviewed by OnTheIssues.org.
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Paul Adams on other issues:
Abortion
Budget/Economy
Civil Rights
Corporations
Crime
Drugs
Education
Energy/Oil
Environment
Families
Foreign Policy
Free Trade
Govt. Reform
Gun Control
Health Care
Homeland Security
Immigration
Jobs
Principles/Values
Social Security
Tax Reform
Technology/Infrastructure
War/Iraq/Mideast
Welfare/Poverty
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Page last updated: Dec 02, 2021