Kent Wilsey

Kent Wilsey for State House of Representatives, NC

✓  Kent’s website is here: Wilsey4YourLiberty.com
✓  Kent’s Meetup page
✓  Go here to support Kent’s Liberty run for office — click the orange donate button on the right!

Kent 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?

It is deeply flawed in that it is based on fiat currency. I believe the US has abused it’s status as the world reserve currency, and has put too many dollars in circulation.

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

Reduce or eliminate the minimum wage. Remove several federal bureaucracies. Allow competing currencies in the form of gold or silver denominated in troy ounces.

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?

If they had done less, the crisis, though more dramatic, would be over by now.

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

Don’t bother auditing.  Reclaim the gold, allow trade in gold and silver, and let the Federal Reserve note die.

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

We spend too much trying to do things we should not be doing, and have way too much presence in other countries.

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

Treat it as a police responsibility. If we are going to be the “policemen of the world”, stop using the military to fight criminals. Militaries are to fight wars against sovereign states, not criminal.

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

The US should occupy countries taken in a declared war. I recommend moving our military people home, and selling our bases to the local governments.

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

Yes. We need to be able to defend ourselves if attacked.

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

No.  Yes.

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?

Anything public or voluntarily given, which, in the days of Facebook, is a lot.

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

Anything that’s public is fair game.  Anything that requires intrusion requires an arrest first.

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?

No. But, anything fraudulently advertised as healthy should be punishable, or be open to lawsuit in civil court.

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?

The second amendment seems very straightforward.  However, if we made it illegal for federal or state employees to own weapons, that would help with your second point.

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

No.

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.

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

Generally, they are a benefit. Anything that reduces barriers to trade is good. Better would be across-the-board reductions in tariffs, particularly protective tariffs, such as tires.

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?

US citizens should be free to support any relief effort in any country they see fit.  Forcing us to do it through taxes I do not support.

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

If the federal government had stuck to the 10th amendment, this would not be an issue.  I guess the answer today is that state law will take precedent over federal law when the citizens of a state decide it’s worth losing federal highway money, or risk other repercussions, to take a stand.

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.

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

Crimes that states are not prosecuting, where a US citizen is willfully deprived of life, liberty, or property.

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

The worst is that we don’t let in decent people that want to make something of themselves more easily.  The second is that it’s inherently racist.  When most people hear the phrase “illegal immigrant”, we think of Mexican illegals.

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

Reduce social services for all.  Put charity back in the hands of charities, and not governments.

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

I would amend the federal governments monopoly on printing money.

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

Yes.

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

None.

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

I have read the UN Agenda 21.  I do not support it.  I would support a citizens right to follow it himself, but not to impose it on others.  It is a violation of a person’s right to use their property as they see fit.

Kent Wilsey is running for the North Carolina House of Representatives, 62nd district, on the Libertarian ticket.