Voters need more information from candidates

To the Editor:

Running for office is a courageous act. It is critical constituents of the 25th District know the extent of a candidate’s courage in order for their vote to influence the local, regional, state and national destiny. It’s not a personality or even an achievement contest. It’s a battle for the future of freedom and liberty.

I’ve reviewed the Senate race in the 25th District and am encouraged by some of their website-depicted stances on issues and concerned by the absence of stances on other issues. All four candidates have prioritized the issues of the Second Amendment and Pro-Life. But from there, they tend to diversify in terms of prioritization. The typical array of issues such as better schools, agriculture, taxes and veterans are important enough for some candidates to prioritize, but not for others. These typical issues are all important, but aren’t necessarily reflective of some of the underlying issues that are at the heart of the politics that are diminishing freedom and liberty and expanding Socialism in other states.

What happens in other states doesn’t stay in other states. I would like to know where each candidate stands on the following issues.

Do you think “socialism” or “representative government” should be the principle form of government? 

Do you think the number of Supreme Court Justices should be expanded?

Would you support issuance of a “Universal Basic Income” (redistribution of wealth)?  

Under what circumstances do you think marijuana should be legalized in Missouri?

Under what circumstance should law enforcement be defunded in the 25th?

Do you think immigrants who have illegally entered the U.S. should be allowed to vote in the 25th?

Do you think a 16-year-old should be allowed to vote?

Should “hate speech” be defined and regulated in the 25th, even if it diminishes First Amendment rights? 

Under what circumstance do you think slavery reparations should be paid?  

Should Federal “Medicare for All” be implemented in the 25th?

Do you think the “war on drugs” should be abandoned in exchange for legalization and regulation as a source of revenue? 

Would you support establishment of Safe Injection Sites in the 25th for drug users?

Do you think the people of the 25th should return to work or stay home during the Pandemic?

Under what circumstance do you think students should return to the classroom in the Fall of 2020? 

Should those who have violated Federal law to enter the U.S. and who reside in the 25th, be rewarded through award of citizenship? 

Should any community in the 25th be allowed to designate itself as a “sanctuary city/community”? 

Would you support the legislature’s establishing Missouri as a “sanctuary state”? 

Do you think free health care should be provided for illegal immigrants in the 25th?

Do you think the Missouri legislature should issue Driver Licenses to illegal immigrants?

Would you support elimination of citizenship requirements?

Would you support “open borders” as it pertains to immigration?

Should constituents pay the tuition of those who don’t have the initiative to work to pay their own tuition in the first place? 

Should constituents pay for a college student’s voluntary, if not reckless, accrual of student debt? 

Should students be allowed to declare their gender to be opposite of their birth gender in order to participate in a sport that is gender segregated and which is not consistent with their birth gender? 

Remember, your vote is only as good as the information on which you base your vote and candidate silence on an issue in the interest of political correctness or minimizing exposure to criticism for their beliefs, is not acceptable.

Stan Smith

Butler County