"I'm encouraged by your platform, but wanted to ask a couple of questions that, to my mind, help demonstrate whether a candidate is similar to me in thinking. 'By their fruits ye shall know them,' after all.
My first question is a composite question: What do you think caused the current war in Ukraine? What, if anything, is the US to do about it?
My second question is more local. What is the proper role of a city and county government in regulating local business?"
My reply:
Good morning, xxxxx.
These are tough questions, but I will do my best to answer them in the small amount of time I have available to me this morning.
Like most wars, there are many causes. In the case of Ukraine, to put it as simply as I can, it's a combination of Russian aggression, Ukrainian corruption, and American and European lack of wisdom and foresight.
What are we to do about it?
Well, our options are very limited, especially in light of the muck everybody has already made of it. As the saying goes: "A man's got to know his limitations." The same goes for nations. About all we can do at this point is to try to use our leverage to make the moral, political, and economic cost of Russian aggression extremely high, while endeavoring to shore up whatever decent elements there might be in Ukraine.
But, above all, we should be demanding that the Europeans carry their own load. This is their backyard, not ours.
As to your second question, let me start at the top and work down.
About the only legitimate federal role is to regulate international and interstate commerce, a role they have, of course, greatly overstepped in their modern massive, unconstitutional regulation of INTRAstate commerce. We must change that.
But, the way our system developed, frankly, was to place most of the regulatory power at the state level. In fact, most states just assume they have virtually unlimited powers in this area, whether their state constitutions allow for it or not. Personally, I think it's past time that we begin to put strict limitations on the states; politically, by statute, and by constitutional amendment where necessary.
Which means, of course, that I think most of the governmental power should reside at the most local level possible.
But, that doesn't mean that I think that local government power should be unlimited either. Are zoning laws needed? Yes, in some instances, mostly in heavily built up areas. Are sanitary and public health laws necessary? Yes. Those are just a couple of examples of legitimate authority, exercised for the good of the people and the community. But, we should only enact ordinances and regulations that are moral, constitutional, and ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY, and no more. If we can't exercise restraint locally, where else will we ever muster the will and the wisdom to restrain government?
I realize that these are not completely in-depth answers to these complex questions. But I tried mightily to hit on what I think are the main points.
If you have further questions, get back to me, or join us on our twice-weekly town hall conference line. I'll be happy to go into much greater detail there. I'll post the information below.
Thanks.
For Life and Liberty,
Tom Hoefling
America's Summit, Restore the Republic
National Town Hall
Every Tuesday and Thursday evening
9 pm Eastern, 8 pm Central
712-432-3566
passcode: 340794#
All of good will are welcome!