I recently posted questions for the Presidential Candidates. Benjamin Linn supplied the following response. Mr. Linn’s answers are posted after each question.
He can be reached via email at benjamin.linn2012@hotmail.com
- Congress routinely passes bills that are hundreds of pages long and contain multiple unrelated sections. Some examples being the “indefinite detention provision” of the National Defense Authorization Act; a provision to ban online gambling added into the 2006 SAFE Port Act and REAL ID (which failed to pass on it’s own merit) added to a military spending bill. If elected President, would you urge Congress to stop this practice? Why or why not? If yes, would you urge Congress to pass the One Subject at a Time Act?
- Many bills – especially the “major legislation” – are hundreds of pages long and many are not finalized until hours before being brought up for a vote, thus giving Congressmen little time to read the bill. Do you believe that Congress should read the bills that they vote on? Why or why not? If yes; would you urge Congress to pass the Read the Bills Act, which would require bills to be read in full on the floor of both houses of Congress and posted online at least seven days before being brought up for a vote?
- The U.S. military currently has troops in 158 nations (not counting military personnel at Embassies) with undeclared “wars” in at least a half-dozen countries. Do you support the continued presence of military around the world? Why or why not? If yes; please explain how this ensures “freedom” (even though the Congress has passed laws that have destroyed the Bill of Rights) and does not create enemies?
- The Congress has been passing legislation to infringe on the individual rights of people for decades. Do you support a repeal the USA PATRIOT Act, Military Commissions Act & FISA? Do you support abolishing the NSA, TSA, CIA and any other federal agency that infringes on individual rights? Why or why not?
- Before the creation of the Federal Reserve, inflation was virtually non-existent in the United States; since it was created and given a monopoly on creation of currency, the value of the U.S. Dollar has declined 97%. Do you support abolishing legal tender laws that force people to use the Federal Reserve Note instead of a commodity backed currency of their choice? Do you support auditing and/or abolishing the Federal Reserve? Why or why not?
- Do you have a plan to balance the federal budget and reduce the size, scope & power of the federal government? If so, what is your plan? If not; why not? What is your opinion of repealing the 16th Amendment and thus repealing the federal income tax? If in favor, how do you propose funding the federal government?
- Do you support allowing citizens of the several territories of these United States of America to decide for themselves whether or not they wish to become a State or an independent country? Why or why not?
Do you support extending this right of self-determination to members of Native American Indian tribes? Why or why not? - Since Congress is authorized by Article IV Section 4 of the Constitution of these United States to create federal election law, would you urge Congress to pass a federal ballot access law which eases the requirements for placing a minor party and/or independent candidate on the ballot for Congress and President? Why or why not? If yes, what is your ideal ballot access requirement?
BL: Yes, when I become President I would definitely urge the US Congress of trying to add other things in a certain bill, and for them trying to pass something that the American people simply do not want. I would also urge the Congress to pass the bill One Subject at a Time Act. That way it is clear to everyone what we are voting for. We must have a more clear way of passing bills and doing business in Washington, DC!
BL: I do not think that is very fair for the Obama/Biden administration and their Democrat friends to try to stuff bad bills through Congress as quick as they can. The Congress should be able to have enough time to read the bills they are going to vote for. I love the idea to pass Read the Bills Act, so Congress can pass bills through that the people of this country really want!
BL: I believe that it is time to bring all of our military troops home! We do not need to play the role of being the police of the world. Let the countries around the world protect themselves like they are suppose to do in the first place. We could use the resources to help rebuild our country, instead of helping to rebuild other countries. You can spread the word of the greatness of America of being a strong economic presence in the world. We cannot stay a strong nation while always being at war!
BL: I would repeal the USA Patriot Act and Fisa. But I would keep the NSA, TSA, and the CIA. We do need some sort of protection for our country. Do you want your rights to be infringed upon? Or would you like a terrorist to get into America and murder your fellow citizens?
BL: I support to do an audit of the Federal Reserve, so Americans can see where their money has gone to, and what it has been spent on. To make more money from the money machine is not going to help our economy. I would eventually abolish the Federal Reserve altogether!
BL: If you want to balance the federal budget, then we need to elect new people to office, we need to stop spending more than what we take in, and we need to eliminate programs that are no longer beneficial(sic) to the American people. I would keep the federal income tax with the 16th Amendment, but I would not have it as high as the Democrats have it at the moment!
BL: I believe that the citizens of these US Territories have the right to vote whether or not they want to become a state or an independent country. But I would think that most of them would continue to be US Territories, because they like the benefits that come along with it. If they decided they wanted to become a state, then the next president would have to decide if that is in the best interest of our country! Yes, I support extending the right to Native Americans of self-determination. We must do all we can to help our fellow Americans. Remember they were here first!
BL: I would urge the US Congress to pass a federal ballot access law, because this country needs more than just to political parties making serious decisions for the rest of us. I am against a two party monopoly system that we have. I would like to see four major political parties someday in my lifetime. The Tea Party, The Constitution Party, The Independent Party, and the America First Party support me for president in 2012!