Daniel E. Edmonds

These are my views...I welcome yours!  Email me daniel@danieledmonds.org

The first and foremost priority of the federal government is to protect its citizens.  The federal government has taken many of the rights and powers granted to the people and to the states.  We as citizens need to stand up and let the federal government know that we will not tolerate this behavior anymore.  It’s time that we take our powers and rights back as the citizens of the United States of America and return the federal government to its rightful place as a limited government, but one that truly protects its citizens!

Statement on Issues

Topic: Abortion

I’m pro-life.  We should always support, protect, and embrace the sanctity of all innocent human life.  The unborn child has the fundamental right to life.  This right cannot be infringed upon.  In addition, I’m opposed to public funds being used to perform abortions.

 Twenty-two percent of all pregnancies (excluding miscarriages) are terminated with abortion ^[1].  The majority of all abortions (95%) are performed as a means of birth control; only one percent is performed because of rape/incest, one percent because of fetal abnormalities, and three percent because of health problems with the mother. Thus, for every two babies born, another baby dies in an abortion.  As a result, more than 1.5 million abortions occur each year in the United States, with approximately 50 million having occurred since 1973 ^[2].

Topic: Marriage

Marriage is the union between one man and one woman.  This institution was established by God, not man, and it pre-exists the institution of government. 

The fact remains that the union of one man and one woman is apparent and manifest in the most basic and evident truths of human nature.  On the basis of experience, tradition, and legal precedent, and for thousands of years, every society and every major religious faith have upheld marriage as a unique relationship by which a man and a woman are joined together for the primary purpose of forming and maintaining a family ^[3].

Topic: 2^nd Amendment

We have the right to bear arms.  The amendment specifically states that the people have the right to keep and bear arms.  George Washington once said that the only keepers of the Constitution of the United States were the people.  As such, it is necessary that we keep this fundamental right for ourselves and for generations to come.  As a member of the National Rifles Association (NRA) and a lifetime member of the Gun Owners of America (GOA), I encourage you to also stand up for your rights as a citizen.

The second amendment states “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” ^[4] The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that an outright ban by the federal government on home possession of an operable firearm violates the second amendment.  Furthermore, early Americans viewed the right to arms as important for 1) deterring undemocratic government; 2) auxiliary to a natural right of self-defense; and 3) maintaining an organized militia system ^[5].  These are still very practical for today.

Topic: Taxes

Taxes are too high and we pay too many of them.  Taxes should be lowered, which can be done by cutting wasteful spending by the federal government.  Our incomes should not be taxed – taxing someone’s productivity as an individual is hypocritical (the government wants more people to be successful financially, but then penalizes them for being so by taxing their income at a higher rate). Additionally, staple food items should not be taxed.  Our current tax code (more than 44,000 pages) should be abolished and a new, simple one put in its place.  Taxes should be placed on the things that we buy and at a fair, flat rate.  The Fair Tax is the best way to achieve this.  Initially this rate may need to be near 20 percent, but with time it should be lowered to near 10 percent.

The first federal statutes imposing a federal income tax were adopted by Congress in 1861-62 to pay for the Civil War.  However, the tax was repealed in 1872.  In 1894, a new income tax statute was enacted. In 1909, Congress proposed the sixteenth amendment, which became part of the Constitution in 1913.  Federal income tax percentages have been as high as 94 percent (occurred in 1945) ^[6].  Federal income taxes are not the only taxes though; there are state and local income taxes, sales taxes, social security and Medicaid taxes, corporate taxes, property taxes, fuel taxes, etc.  As a result, the average American citizen’s total tax percentage paid is approximately 50 percent ^[7].  Thus, the average Oklahoma taxpayer had to work until April 4^th just to pay their total tax bill ^[8].

Topic: Health Care

We do not need a government ran health care program.  Instead, we should have a private health care system that is affordable, flexible, and reliable.  We need to cut the costs of health care. Employees should be allowed to obtain insurance, at no penalty, outside of that provided by their employer.  This can be accomplished through the market place and competition.

When comparing Medicare to private insurances, the private sector has become more generous in covering health care costs associated with hospital and physician services since 1970.  In essence, private insurance grew more than 18 percent faster than comparable Medicare spending ^[9].

Topic: Education

Education is extremely important.  Parents have the right, and should always retain the right, of whether they wish to place their children in public education, private education, or home-school.  

Topic: Economy

The economy is currently in a downward slump.  To revitalize the economy, it is important that we reduce taxes, both for individuals and for corporations.  When the tax burden is lessened, the revenues brought in are greater.  Why?  People spend more money on the things they wish to have.  As a result, the revenue is increased.  Seventy percent of our economy is based on consumer spending.  To restore our manufacturing in this country would also help our economy.  This can be accomplished by drastically reducing, or eliminating corporate taxes all together.

Topic: Environment

Being an environmental steward is important.  We should use our resources wisely and efficiently.  The environment has natural cycles of cooling and heating – the impact that humans play on this natural phenomenon is very minimal.  We can be both environmental stewards and energy independent at the same time.  We have vast resources of natural gas, oil, and coal available in this country to meet our energy demands for centuries to come.  Additionally, we should look into nuclear energy as well (it’s the most efficient).  Alternative energy sources can be looked at (solar, wind, etc.), but many come at a higher cost of producing than do the energy sources already in place. 

Topic: Poverty

Poverty will always remain an issue and will always be present at some level.  Taking measures such as lowering the tax burden, reviving the economy, and creating jobs will aid in reducing those at or below the poverty level.

Topic: Immigration

Immigration is not a problem.  Illegal immigration is!  On the issue of illegal immigration, the borders have to be secured and the influx of illegal immigration mitigated before we can begin addressing those that are already here.  What do we do with those already in this country?  I’m not sure exactly, but I do know that we have to stop the influx first, and then we can begin addressing those that are already here.

References

[Guttmacher]. 2008. Facts on induced abortion in the United States. Guttmacher Institute.

[CIRTL]. 2009. Do you know the hard facts about abortion in America? Central Illinois Right to Life. http://www.cirtl.org/abfacts.htm

Spalding, M. 2004. A defining moment: marriage, the courts, and the constitution. Backgrounder 1759:1-9.

[NCCS]. 2005. The Constitution of the United States. National Center for Constitutional Studies.

[WIKI]. 2009. Second amendment to the United States Constitution. Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution

[WIKI]. 2009. Taxation in the United States. Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxation_in_the_United_States

[NF]. 2009. How much tax do we really pay? NowAndFutures.com. http://www.nowandfutures.com/taxes.html

[TF]. 2009. Tax research areas – Oklahoma. The Tax Foundation.  http://www.taxfoundation.org/research/topic/51.html

[HERITAGE]. 2003. Comparing Medicare and Private Health Insurance Spending. The Heritage Foundation. http://www.heritage.org/research/healthcare

 PAID FOR BY EDMONDS 2 CONGRESS