Mike Peterson: Liberty Candidate for State House, North Dakota

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Mike 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?

We cannot effectively halt rampant corruption in D.C. without putting brakes on the “unlimited money machine”, and that is the Federal Reserve. As long as the private corporation goes unchecked, it will continue to hand billions and billions of dollars to not only Wall Street bankers, but corrupt politicians as well.

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

We need to force the Fed’s hand and give a full audit. We also need to dramatically cut spending, cut five federal departments as per Ron Paul’s “Plan to Restore America.”

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?

Absolutely not. Everything began going downhill in 1971 when they removed gold from the dollar. At the very least, a Federal Reserve without gold does not have to pump more dollar bills into the system. This ramps up inflation, even hyper-inflation, and destroys the value of our dollar as well as distorting the market. What do you expect, though, with no “cap” on the amount of money one can print? We are dealing with corrupt human nature itself.

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, which would hopefully lead to an alternative system of currency which endorses “honest weights and measures”, as mandated by our Constitution.

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

We give the world a reason and excuse for terrorism by bombing the rest of the world. We need to stop acting like the world’s policeman, stop engaging in pre-emptive warfare and cut foreign aid.

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

We could possibly have very limited special operation missions, maybe as an alternative to our endless wars. But by under no circumstances do we consider sacraficing personal liberties in the name of safety. That is so far from our American ideals. The Patriot Act and all “anti-terrorism” laws following ought to be abolished. The government’s role is to protect individual liberty, not squander it in the name of safety.

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

Absolutely not. We ought to close down all bases, and return home immediately. We won’t have to cut a dime on our national defense and it would be robust and strong.

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

We need only have an army to defend against invasion, but we have to be ready for such an event at any given time. In an ideal world, I’d prefer no standing army. But with the U.S’s very pro-military culture, it would render almost impossible to cut our standing army.

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

I would vote to repeal it. As a State House candidate, I might also invoke the Tenth Amendment against it because it is completely unconstitutional.

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?

Again, the federal government’s role is to protect individual liberty, not squander it. Perhaps in a time of foreign invasion, the rules might change. However, at any time, we must be aware that any step away from liberty is one possible step towards tyranny. We also must address human nature itself, in that power often never recedes.

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

The U.S. Government should never be allowed to search its citizens without warrant.

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. The government has no business in deciding what foods we can or cannot eat, which is a way to protect us from ourselves. I believe in education over enforcement. Often times, government may endorse food which is unsafe, and outlaw food that is safe. We see this today with the Feds raiding organic farms, pouring bleach on natural food.

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?

Violent criminals should not be allowed to have guns. The Constitution gives individuals the right to bear arms. The only limit and controls ought to be on violent criminals and perhaps children. I am for open-carry gun laws everywhere.

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?

Our government has no business being involved in global organizations and should pull out immediately. Let us form no tangling alliances and only endorse open trade and friendship with all nations.

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?

The U.S. Constitution is the supreme law of the land, and no law, not even so-called international law is above it.

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

These particular trade agreements are not good because they erode national sovereignty. I would support trade agreements that allow the exchange of certain goods, such as oil and sugar, but never those that erode national sovereignty.

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?

No. We should never give foreign aid out. If private citizens want to help foreign countries, then they should be allowed to do so, i.e, the Red Cross. But there are too many complications, too many variables overseas, and we cannot possible account for all of them and cover all the gaps. Naturally, our understanding of the rest of the world is limited in comparison to understanding of our own country and our own way of life. Today, we see many Americans struggling to stay afloat in a rugged economy. If anything, I would prefer money would go to help suffering individuals here rather than to dictators, tyrants and terrorists abroad.

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

Anything not explicitly authorized by the U.S. Constitution goes to state laws.

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?

Absolutely. The Constitution only gives permission to the Federal Government “to do eighteen things.” Today, we have a Federal Government “that does over 18,000 things” so to speak.

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

I would much rather see states working together in chasing criminals. However, I feel we live in a very authoritarian environment. I’m not sure we can get away with abolishing the FBI even if we wanted to. We can, however, rescind its unbelievable amount of power and give more sovereignty to the states. I also feel we can have a sound intelligence operation without the Central Intelligence Agency.

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

Our welfare state. We give illegal immigrants a hoard of benefits, and make it a more attractive method of coming here than going through the long and driven-out process of becoming a legal citizen. As soon as we halt our services, illegal immigration will at least slow down.

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

We can halt our services to illegal immigrants. We can also reform our legal immigration laws. It’s far easier for illegal immigrants to come here and get a free ride versus again, the long and driven out legal immigration process. Let’s end the welfare state, and make it less of a process for legal immigration. We need only keep foreign threats, such as established terrorists and violent criminals out.

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

I would repeal the Sixteenth Amendment because it legalizes government theft off our own labor.

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

Absolutely. The government has no business interfering in the market and distorting it by favoring one company over another. There is also zero Constitutional basis to do so.

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

Mr. Assange has exposed the terrible war state that we now are. Not only should we not take action against him, we should perhaps take a look the data he has exposed and examine our own actions here and abroad, because most of them truly are self-inflicted wounds.

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

I am familiar with Agenda 21. Several states have introduced laws outlawing Agenda 21, and I believe there’s also a possibility the national Republican Party might condemn it as well in its own Party platform. I have several issues and problems with it, but don’t even have to mention it simply on the reasoning that we have no business getting involved in international organizations and their regulations, which often do not have the best interests of the United States in mind. Such is the case here.

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Your Name: Mike Peterson
Office you seek: State House of Representatives
State: North Dakota
District: 42
PRIMARY DATE: June 12th, 2012
Email Address: mikepeterson42@live.com
Website: www.Peterson42.com