Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/303912
APRIL 30 - MAY 6, 2014 UCW 25 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM The United States Congress has the lowest approval rate in recent history. What can be done to improve Congressional performance and oversight (and if you are currently sitting in the Congress … why is America so disappointed in you?) One of the main reasons Congres is held with such low esteem is because so many elected officials forget their oath of office to support and defend the Constitution. Once ensconced in Capitol Hill, they ignore the document that governs the way that they should operate and pass legislation that runs counter to the very freedoms that are ensured by the Constitution. And then Congress exempts themselves from those very laws. The American people are very patriotic at heart and I believe that they would really like to respect their elected leaders and government institutions. However, when Congress imposes Obamacare on the entire country and then exempts themselves and their staffs, is it any wonder that the American people are angry? When Congressmen and women become rich through what is tantamount to insider trading, is it any wonder that Americans are "Fed up" with the Feds? This happens over and over when Congressmen and women forget that they are there to serve the public and not the other way around. I am running for US Senate to be a public servant. No more, no less. I want to represent the best interests of North Carolinians within Constitutional boundaries and the protections of our God-given rights afforded to individuals and enshrined in the Constitution. While Mayor of Shelby, I was called the "People's Mayor" because citizens always knew that I would take the time to listen and help them with whatever issue they faced. I plan to use this same approach to go to Washington, roll up my sleeves, get to work and not become one of the establishment-types. Therefore I plan to stay in Washington only so far as is required to get the job done. I am not wealthy like so many other senators and I want to stay in touch with North Carolinians and not become entangled in the Washington society. I will always remember that the role of the US Senator is to be a servant of the public. What are your thoughts on term limits and would you vote for them? I believe in term limits and would vote for them. I have demonstrated this by example.I served as Mayor of Shelby for two terms and I enjoyed every minute of it. The second time I ran was without opposition.I believe I could easily have been elected to a third term; however, I term limited myself after eight years. I believed I had accomplished what I had set out to do and that it was time for someone else to have a chance to serve. Likewise, I believe in term limits for Congress. I do not believe the Founding Fathers intended for citizens to go to Washington and stay there the rest of their lives to become a ruling class. As happens so many times, people go to Washington and become part of the establishment and see the seat as an entitlement. I have no intentions to do so. I want to do what needs to be done in terms of repealing Obamacare, getting a Balanced Budget Amendment, strengthening our military,cutting wasteful spending, protecting the lives of innocent unborn babies, etc. If I am doing a good job and the public wanted me for one more term, that would be fine. However, I would serve no longer than two terms. It is important to help train others to step into that role. That is why reaching out to young people to help mentor them is so important to me. The Department of Defense has announced sweeping slashes to force size because of laws put in place by the Congress. Do you agree with these cuts and how do you feel they impact the security of our nation? I believe the current proposed cuts that would take us back to pre -World War II levels are absolutely and morally wrong and will impact the security of our nation and the stability of the world. I do not agree with these slashing cuts at all, and will as Senator actively work to make our military superior in every way. I will support and respect the men and women who are in uniform now as well as our veterans who have served us so faithfully. The first duty of our federal government is to "provide for the common defense." My sixth great grandfather fought in the Battle of Kings Mountain during the Revolutionary War. My great grandfather is believed to have been the oldest man to enlist from NC in World War I. My father served in the Navy and my sister is currently a Major in the Air Force. She has ably served for 20 years.So I am fully in support of making our military superior in every way. There are enemies in this world that hate the United States because we exist and because of what we represent. The only thing that they understand is strength and resolve. If our military is cut back; if we do not have the resolve to keep our promises to our own veterans and active military in terms of their retirement, educational and other benefits; if we do not keep our word, then these enemies will challenge us. We are already seeing this with Putin challenging us in the Ukraine. In addition, we see Iran going unchecked as they develop a nuclear bomb.They are doing so because they believe that we do not have the resolve to stop them. Should they finally achieve a nuclear bomb, then the effects will have long lasting and potentially devastating effects for generations. Obamacare has its problems. What is your opinion of the program (if you are currently sitting, did you vote for it?) And how can it be fixed? One of the saddest days in the life of our country, and certainly in my life, was the day that I watched on TV as Obamacare passed. I would not have voted for it had I been in Congress. I believe that it is hurting both our country and our people and that it must be repealed completely. Period. There is not a single part of the thousands of pages of this law that has cured, or will cure, anyone. It is simply about the natonal government controlling one sixth of our nation's economy. To date, approximately 470,000 North Carolinians have lost their health insurance policies as a result. Obamacare is harmful to the health care freedom of Americans and their families, reducing their choices in insurance plans, doctors, and medicine. In addition, it is not "affordable" at all. It is very costly to American families, businesses, and the economy at large.There are those who have eneterd into the program in good faith and because they were required to, and when repealing Obamacare we must make sure that these folks are not further hurt, but this bad law needs to be completely repealed. What is needed is for the federal government to begin the process of getting out of the way and allowing more consumer and market driven solutions. We need patient centered, consumer driven healthcare, not a health care sector distorted by more government egulations, taxation and subsidies. Insurance companies should be allowed to compete across state lines. Competition will drive costs down. There needs to be more transparency in terms of the actual costs of treatment. Health Savings Accounts should be encouraged, and once and for all we need to enact medical malpractice and legal reforms so that doctors do not have to continually practice defensive medicine. The deficit. What can be done, and how will you work to curb government spending? The deficit has grown to astronomical heights during the last six years. And our national debt has grown more in six years than the previous combined debt of the last two hundred plus years of our republic. Each American owes at least $50,000, probably more,as part of our national debt. As Senator I will work tirelessly to enact a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution. This will once and for all force a currently unwilling Congress to spend no more than they take in each year. I hate waste and will look for every opportunity to cut wasteful spending. While Mayor, every year from January to June we would sweat the $61 million budget, with 300 plus employees and four utilities, trying to determine what services would be kept and what had to be cut. It was a painful process.. We looked to cut waste and make things more efficient at every turn because it was required, and it is the correct way to run government. State governments, private businesses and families all must do this. Congress must do the same.I will also work for a Line Item Veto Amendment. In the meantime, I am a strong proponent of and will work for enacting the Penny Plan". This would essentilaly cut one penny from every dollar of spending every year. By doing so, the budget would be balanced at the end of five to seven years.. Immigration reform is a hot topic. What is your take on immigration reform and how do we address issues concerning illegal aliens in our country? While I am sympathetic to anyone who sees the United States as the beacon of hope, freedom and opportunity that it is, and desires to come here, it is important to remember that we are a nation built upon laws and order. These laws and orderly procedures must be respected. Providing for the common defense means that we must completely secure our borders to stop the procession of illegals entering our country. Not all of these illegals are coming to seek a better life, In fact, there is more and more evidence that illegals from other parts of the world -terrorists -are coming across our borders and they aim to do us harm. It does not help that the federal government is currently broadcasting ads across the border, promoting food stamp and other programs. This only further encourages people to come here illegally. We need to enforce the immigration laws we currently have. Otherewise it is an afront to all who have worked so hard to come here through the legal process. Illegals who are caught in crimes here must be deported. Ted Alexander PAID FOR BY THE COMMITTEE TO ELECT STEVE STOKES DISTRICT COURT JUDGE