After receiving numerous inquiries from presidential campaigns, the Independence Party decided to allow Presidential candidates to request an endorsement from the IP. This invitation was based on a requirement that each campaign review the IP Platform and demonstrate how closely their views align with ours. The following table is a summary of their responses.
Please note: the statements of Agree, Disagree and Partially Agree refer to the IP's evaluation of their response compared to the IP Platform. For example: The statement "Agree" means that the IP believes the candidate's position is substantially similar to the IP platform.
Chuck Baldwin
Darrell Castle
Constitution
Bob Barr
Wayne Allyn Root
Libertarian
John McCain
Sarah Palin
Republican
Cynthia McKinney
Rosa Clemente
Green
Ralph Nader
Matt Gonzalez
(independent)
We need to reduce and eliminate the debt in real dollars, not just as a percentage of the gross national product or other relative measure.
The Federal government has no authority to make most of the mandates in the first place. The Tenth amendment limits the power of the Federal government in areas that are better left to the States.
I completely agree with all of these principles, except for allowing other governmental units to "opt out" of unfunded mandates. I believe that government should fully fund mandates, and as a federalist I strongly oppose unfunded mandates. Moreover, my administration will pursue regulatory policies that devolve as much authority to local and state governments as possible. However, the goals that allowing governments to opt out of federal law can be achieved through other reforms that do not pose the constitutional challenges that such a policy would introduce.
The McKinney Campaign calls for a 50% immediate reduction in the part of the budget which is causing most of the debt and bloated, unmandated spending: The Military Industrial Complex.
Support the use of budget projections that honestly report the future costs of government programs, including future liabilities like public pensions.
Accurately report the national debt of the United States, including the sum of all debt owed to public bondholders and all debt owed to federal trust funds such as the Social Security Trust Fund.
Support government budgets that are structurally balanced and avoid shifting of expenses or borrowing to make them appear balanced.
Agree that it is a priority to gradually reduce the total national debt as a percentage of the gross national product.
Insist that the government fully fund the mandates it places on other units of government or otherwise allow governmental units to "opt out" of unfunded mandates.
The federal government's power to own property is limited to federal buildings and military bases. National parks, monuments, forests, and other types of reserve land should be sold to private entities or to the States, with the proceeds used to pay down the national debt.
Accountability should include impeachment and/or criminal investigation of the Bush Administration and Democratic and Republican co-conspirators.
Our reservation with Instant Runoff Voting is that it must be simple enough for the average voter to grasp, while offering protection from manipulation as candidates are eliminated and their votes reallocated.
Minnesota already has same-day registration. Rules must be enforced to ensure that those registering are citizens of the United States, and of the precinct where they cast their votes.
We oppose any public funding of elections, which forces taxpayers to fund candidates and movements which they may oppose.
New voting technology must be proven accurate and tamper proof, unlike the electronic voting machines in use today. It must produce or use a paper ballot, verified by the voter, and available for a manual recount or audit.
Believe in maximum possible transparency and disclosure, but not in arbitrary contribution restrictions like McCain-Finegold which violate the First Amendment.
Registration process should be simple but retain safeguards against error and fraud.
Citizens should not be forced to fund political views which they oppose.
I do not support the public financing of congressional campaigns. Public financing should be used only if no other means to control campaign spending exist. When no other available option exists, taxpayer financing of campaigns must be limited, drawn from existing funds, and clearly explained. I do not believe that public financing for all congressional campaigns is a fair use of taxpayer's money.
I support same day registration provided that adequate safeguards are in place to ensure that election fraud does not occur.
This is and has been the central issue for the Power To The People Campaign.
We also need to have fair and open debates, universal fair ballot access laws, proportional representation, binding none-of-the-above options.
Major changes are needed to ensure that every vote counts, elections are publicly financed, and the process is non-partisan.
Internet connections are a privilege, not a right. For government to assure a connection, it must either be a major customer or a competitor to private enterprise, distorting the free-market forces that encourage competition to contain costs and continually enhance service.
Land owners are entitled to use their land in the way that provides them the most benefit. If local planning boards restrict their use, the landowners must be compensated for the lost potential income from development.
Barriers to provision of advanced internet services should be removed. Government should not be in the internet provider business.
Government generally should rely on incentives rather than dictates to achieve its policy ends. But government should avoid setting artificial, non-economic objectives for land development
Do so by ending corporate welfare to big Ag groups such as Monsanto, ConAGRA and other corporate farm interests which are destroying family farms and the community values they produce.
Support policies that will allow rural businesses to compete effectively in the global economy, such as assuring that affordable and state-of-the-art internet connections are readily available to all citizens.
Agree that the federal government has been irresponsible in conducting an erratic, self-destructive, and illogical farm policy over the last eighty years. Support the development of a long-term, sustainable, market-driven farm economy and oppose pandering to the agricultural community with unsustainable policies.
Support the establishment of incentives to enable landowners to preserve farmland and open spaces while directing non-agricultural development to less productive land.
We would eliminate the Federal Department of Education, and rescind all mandates, allowing States and local districts to experiment with various programs to see what works. Successful initiatives would catch on with other districts, failures would be dropped.
Higher education (university, college, or tech schools) are a privilege, not a right. There are private foundations that offer scholarships based on need or scholastic achievement.
Early childhood programs that take a child away from his parents can be detrimental to the child's development. Such programs should be funded by the private sector.
Agree. English literacy should be a requirement for citizenship or permanent resident status.
Educational excellence should be promoted, but funding and standards should be set by states and localities, not the federal government.
Such programs should be decided upon by states and localities, not Washington.
Promoted use of English while serving in Congress.
I otherwise support all of these principles, except for the provision which would allow school districts to opt-out of participating in such mandates. My educations reforms will empower local authorities with budgetary authority, thereby funding their efforts to meet federal standards. However, as stated above, I would pursue alternative reforms that would obviate the need for allowing opt outs.
We know that full, equitable funding of all educational communities will go to the root cause of many of societies ills.
Some federal mandates – like “No Child Left Behind” can be damaging and counter-productive, however, we should also ensure that states cannot opt out of mandates which ensure equal or proper education.
Universal coverage, as generally understood, means everyone is forced to obtain coverage, imposing government restrictions on individual citizens. The goal should be quality, availability and affordability.
Let private insurers offer plans with variable deductibles and lifestyle or preventive care incentives, as they do for automobiles. This is contrary to the current system of employer-paid group HMOs or the notion of universal coverage/single-payer plans.
Make all healthcare costs tax deductible, including insurance premiums (no more 7% minimum).
Competition for individually selected plans will force transparency.
Because the term "mature individuals" is subjective and does not categorically mean mature adults, it is problematic as to who would be making the determination of which individuals fell under that distinction to qualify for such services. This is not within the jurisdiction of the government.
I otherwise support all of these principles, except that I believe that abstinence only education must be the priority in addressing prevention of unintended pregnancies and the spread of sexually-transmitted diseases. Of course contraception can help, but we can't remove responsibility from the equation. Contraception isn't fail-proof. People must behave responsibly and make wise decisions. Government can help with prevention strategies, but all people must choose to take responsibility for their own health. I am strongly pro-life, and oppose any policy that would use taxpayer dollars to subsidize abortion. However, while I know that reasonable people can disagree on abortion; we can all agree that more can be done to promote adoption as a first option for women struggling with a crisis pregnancy.
We support full, single payer healthcare for all. Similar to the V.A. Healthcare System.
We need a universal single-payer healthcare for all system.
When comparing multi-modal systems, transportation initiatives must be evaluated on a cost per rider-mile basis. High occupancy modes are effective only when utilized. Mass transit could be provided by private enterprise, or a self-financed agency. Rail systems (light and high-speed commuter) are expensive to implement and operate, as well as being inflexible compared to busses and HOV lanes.
An efficient and diverse transportation system benefits any community, but decisions on public investment should be made by states and localities, and not by the federal government.
Emphasis on public transit and alternative energy.
We need to ensure a move away from fossil-fuel based methods of transport.
Emphasis on balance.
It is our responsibility to be prudent, productive, and efficient stewards of the natural resources we've been entrusted with. This requires a proper and continuing dynamic balance between development and conservation, between use and preservation. In keeping with this requirement, we support realistic efforts to preserve the environment and reduce pollution - air, water, and land.
Yes, people and businesses should be accountable for gross environmental impact.
Enforce existing law, and change or repeal laws that are too restrictive or lenient.
The test should be ensuring sufficient access for future generations, rather than maintaining any arbitrary quantity or quality that happens to exist today or in the past.
Laws that promote balanced use and good stewardship should be enforced. Laws which fail that test should be reformed.
We are the Green Party after all.
The best support for development of domestic oil, effective alternative fuels and "clean" energy technologies is to remove government subsidies and restrictions. Subsidies encourage political solutions, rather than practical or effective ones. Allow new experimental fuels and technology to enter the market without imposing new taxes.
Believe in the use of incentives through market pricing rather than government dictates to encourage conservation.
Believe in market development rather than setting artificial goals politically.
We are the Green Party. One major caveat. We say no to nuclear power and to the nuclear power industry.
Absolutely agree.
The federal government should not force a certain moral code nor subsidize religion through "Faith-Based Initiatives." Standards of morality should be reflected at the state and local levels. Ultimately, there must be some standard apart from man or we will see anarchy. Those who define morality according to current social norms cannot be trusted to protect life and liberty, nor can they be trusted not to attempt to manipulate the societal norms to justify any demeaning of individual value they so desire. Hence, there cannot be an abdication of responsibility at the proper jurisdictional levels, especially when one man's conduct becomes another man's tax burden.
High moral standards must first be practiced at home. Then required of our leaders through the ballot box.
Some jobs require physical attributes not present in both genders, or expect employees to perform tasks prohibited by some religions. Granting or denying employment in such circumstances is a matter of qualification, not discrimination.
To defend our country, we must first protect our borders from invasion.
Since leaving Congress has been a leading spokesman for defending civil liberties.
Defend the Constitution and Bill of Rights from all enemies, foreign and domestic. Impeach and indict now.