Patrick Hisel

Patrick Hisel for U.S. House of Representatives, TX

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Patrick answers the Liberty Candidate questions below:

I) Re. the U.S. Financial System:
1. What is your view of the monetary system in the U.S. today?

Briefly, we currently live in a Keynesian system which is doomed for failure.  The Federal Reserve is responsible for the business cycle booms/busts and too many people do not understand why.  I endorse an Austrian School of Economics and study with the Mises Institute.

2. What corrective actions could we take right now to improve the economy?

Right now we should implement a full and unfettered independent audit of the Federal Reserve, hold the Fed accountable to Congress, require transparency of its meetings and availability of its minutes.  Ideally, we should return to a gold backed currency to give soundness to our currency and protect the savings of our middle class.

3. Do you agree with the actions the Federal Reserve has taken to solve the financial crisis? If not, what could the Fed have done differently?

The ability of the Federal Reserve to print money and extend easy credit is at the heart of our financial problem.  The answer to a debt problem is not more debt.  Wars and welfare are less likely to occur if the country actually has to pay for it with real money.  The Fed should have let the auto industries fail, let the debt be liquidated on the free market, rather than forcing taxpayers to pay for worthless assets.  Same for the housing crisis.  The answer is not more regulation of the market because we don’t really have a true free market, we have corporatism and crony capitalism.  We should have laissez faire capitalism.

4. Should the Federal Reserve be audited fully, no secrets, or does it need to keep some information under wraps?

It should be fully audited.  By secrets, yes, it should be allowed to keep some things “classified” and away from the general public, but not secret from the Congress, or at least from Congressional Committee.  And, when the Fed Chairman is asked direct questions, he should be required to answer.  So, no, I don’t think the Fed should have its meetings live on CSPAN, but its minutes should be available to Congress.  The Fed should have legitimate Congressional oversight, and be subject to periodic independent audits.

II) Re. Foreign Policy:
1. What is your opinion on current US foreign policy?

We are an overextended empire, with military presence in, I believe, 135 countries around the world.  Our government expects to fund our undeclared wars with taxpayer dollars, borrowed money, or printed money.  It is unsustainable.  I endorse a non-interventionalist foreign policy like our forefathers.

2. How should we fight a “war on terror”?

If the country is to go to war, the Congress should declare war.  We should have clear objectives, achieve those objectives, and leave.  Terrorists should be fought with our military, CIA, and intelligence sharing with our trading partners, but we should not build bases on the holy lands of other nations as this just breeds more aggression against us and makes us less safe.  Utilize covert ops, submarines, special forces, etc as opposed to full scale invasions of countries with subsequent nation building.

3. Should the U.S. occupy other countries? If not, would you push to close all bases? Are there any you would keep open?

We should respect the sovereignty of other nations and not occupy them.  I would push to close the bases and bring the troops home.  Our nation cannot afford to empire-build and police the world, and we should bring our troops home to protect our own borders.  I would consistently put America’s interests before other nations when it comes to our troops.  I am not aware of any base that is currently required for our national security, or if we face an imminent threat.

4. Should the U.S. maintain its standing army?

Yes, and stand it along the Rio Grand protecting our own country, not in Iraq or anywhere else.

5. Is the Patriot Act necessary to protect America? If not, would you vote to repeal it?

The Patriot Act is an unpatriotic and unconstitutional violation of American’s liberty.  I would vote to repeal it immediately.  It is not necessary, it is a product of war mongering and a tool to expand the reach of government into our lives.

III) Re. Personal Liberty:
1. What information may the U.S. government legally gather about its citizens? When would it be necessary to overstep those boundaries?

The government can legally gather information that is volunteered.  It is never ok to violate an individual’s liberty.  If an individual initiates force upon another, then they forfeit their liberty.

2. What limits, if any, should be placed on the U.S. government’s ability to search its citizens without a warrant?

We should pull out our Constitution and read it.  Local law enforcement officers have to follow rules about searches and probable cause, our Federal Government must be held to an equally high standard.

3. Ought the U.S. government be allowed to protect its citizens’ health by outlawing foods it considers unsafe, or to force medicate (i.e., fluoridation) or force vaccinate citizens?

Our governments solution is always to grow itself.  No, the words “protect” and “force” are incompatible.  Foods should require accountability so that consumers are able to make an informed decision, but the choice belongs at the individual level, not the government level.  Fluorine and vaccines should be an option available, and provided within the free market, not by government.

4. What controls, if any, should be placed on the right to own a gun? Is there an effective way to keep guns out of the hands of madmen and criminals without encroaching on the rights of free, law-abiding citizens?

We should not extend gun laws.  This gets out of hand.  Just look at Florida last year, where pediatricians are punished for speaking to patients/families about gun safety.  The whole issue is politicized and government’s answer is to grow itself and extend itself.

IV) Re. U.S. Sovereignty:
1. Is our involvement in and subjugation to global organizations, such as WHO, NATO, the UN, etc., a benefit to U.S. citizens?

If we concede any decision making to other nations, we compromise our own sovereignty.  America should govern itself and let other nations govern themselves.

2. Would you work to repeal international agreements that purport to hold U.S. citizens and/or property under its jurisdiction, or do you think there might be times when benefits outweigh concessions?

Yes, I would work to repeal them.

3. Are trade agreements with other nations, i.e., NAFTA, CAFTA, good for U.S. citizens?

They are good for certain groups…this is a breeding ground for cronyism and corporatism.  They are not good for US citizens as a whole because the money is divyed up politically.  The government should not interfere with, try to guide, or control the market.  Trade in the market will dictate value and fairness.  US citizens benefit most from free market capitalism as a whole, compared to any other economic system.

4. Should the U.S. give foreign aid to other countries? If yes, for what purposes would it be justified? If not all countries, which would you continue to support?

Individual American citizens can and do give foreign aid every day, as is their choice.  But our government should not take money from poor Americans to give to rich people in poor countries.  I would not support any foreign aid.

V) Re. State Sovereignty:
1. When does state law take precedent over federal law?

Unless it is expressly permitted in the US Constitution, it should be deferred to the states.  Article I Section 8 is a good place to start.

2. Would you stand up to the federal government and demand that it stay within the bounds of its enumerated powers and out of state business?

Yes, I would.

3. Do federal officers have the right to arrest non-military citizens within the individual states for any crimes?

I am not aware of this authority in the Constitution.

VI) Illegal Immigration:
1. What do you see as the #1 problem with illegal immigration?

If you subsidize something, you get more of it.  We subsidize illegal immigration by allowing it and paying for all the services like school, healthcare, food, etc.  We should not force taxpayers to pay for non-US citizen welfare.

2. What actions could we take to stop illegal immigrants from taking advantage of social services?

Make it illegal and enforce it.  Even better, stop this whole nanny state business where the government has to take care of us from cradle to grave.  Take away the magnet altogether.

VII) Misc. Questions:
1. If you could make one amendment to the U.S. Constitution, what would it be?

Probably congressional term limits.  But honestly, I don’t want more laws.  We should stick to the ones we already have and honor our Constitution.

2. Would you vote to end government subsidies to private industry?

Yes.  Government-private partnership does not evolve towards more freedom, but rather towards statism.  Let the market decide which industries succeed or fail.

3. What should our government’s action be against Julian Assange, if any?

Our government is angry that he exposed them.  Unfortunately, American soldiers are placed in harms way everyday, but Julian Assange did not place them there, our government did.

4. Do you know what Agenda 21/Sustainable Development and the Communitarian agenda is? Do you support it? Why or why not?

I have heard of this, but am not familiar enough to say one way or the other.

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Your Name:  Patrick Hisel
Office you seek:   US House of Representatives
State:  Texas
District:  28
PRIMARY DATE:  Undecided as of yet
Email Address:  hisel13@hotmail.com
Website:  www.PatrickHiselForCongress.com