Interview: Jon Arnett (W) for 3rd U.S. House District for the State of Florida

By: Ky Starr 

1. What distinguishes you from your opponents?

I am not a politician or a bureaucrat.  I am registered to vote as "no
party" so I am not beholden to the Democratic/Republican power structure.

I have refused financial help from anyone other than individual voters in
the 3rd district and am therefore not obligated to anyone other than the
voters of the 3rd district.

2.   What is the greatest challenge of public service?

The most difficult aspect of serving in government will be dealing with the entrenchment of career politicians.  Far too often incumbents will forget their principles and make deals because they wish to remain in power. This is exactly what happened after the Republicans took control of Congress in 1995.  During the '94 election voters heard how the Republicans were going abolish this department and that, how they were going to cut spending and balance the budget and how we were going to have term limits.  Instead we got a government shutdown, and the freshmen of '95 are now the incumbents of '02.  Public office holders should always remember that their actions should always be for the good of the country even at the risk of their own personal power.

3.   What is the most important issue facing the 3rd District?

I believe that education is the most fundamental issue we face.  The ability of schools to turn out honest, hardworking and knowledgeable citizens has a direct bearing on the strength of our economy and the health of our democratic republic.  We must have a national curriculum with standardized exams and textbooks for all subjects and grades K-12.  We must have national standards for teacher education and qualifications and we must have a minimum teacher salary of $50,000 per year and a school year of 45 weeks. Conservatives have traditionally looked upon education as a state and local issue.  However, I see education as a matter of national security. The United States cannot remain a first rate power with third rate schools.

4.   What advice would you give someone thinking of running for public
office?

First of all I would suggest starting the process much earlier than I was
able to.  Circumstances dictated that I started when I did, but I wish I had
had more time to plan my campaign. Second I would suggest that a candidate prepare a comprehensive campaign platform and stick to it.  Single-issue candidates may get elected, but then the voters may get more than they bargained for once the office holder deals with the single issue.  I would much rather know what a candidate would do in office ahead of time than to be met with unwelcome surprises while he is in office.

5.   What is your favorite political book?

I can't say that I have one, except maybe Robert's Rules of Order.  Someone (I think it may have been Will Rogers or H. L. Menken) once said that there are two things a man should never see: How is laws are made and how his sausages are made.  I have always been fascinated by parliamentary procedure; it is something like choreographed chaos. Robert's manages to channel people's hopes and fears into a set of rules whereby decisions can be made and those hopes and fears can be resolved.  That is the essence of politics.

6.   What was your favorite political TV program?

I occasionally watch The West Wing, but this is only to identify where the show is likely wrong.  I used to watch The McLaughlin Group on a regular basis, but I don't anymore due to the occasional presence of Pat Buchanan. Before the 1992 election I had no idea about Buchanan's views on Israel. His inclusion on The McLaughlin Group has soured the program for me.

7.   Why did you decide to become a write-in?

When I first learned of the candidacy of Ishah Wright I contacted her and offered her some advice on dealing with Corrine Brown and the Jacksonville end of the 3rd CD.  When Ishah withdrew from the race I contacted every third party and grass roots organization I could find hoping to find a suitable candidate.  When I was unable to find a candidate I decided to run myself.  It was too late for a petition drive and I could not afford the qualifying fees of around $6000 so my only option was a write-in candidacy.

8.   Who are your political mentors?  What are some of your favorite
political quotes?

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety
deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Ben Franklin

Let us have faith that Right makes Might, and in that faith, let us, to the
end, dare to do our duty as we understand it. -Abraham Lincoln

Jimmy Carter was the first president whom I can well remember.  I remember living in daily fear of Carter's energy crisis, his inept handling of Russia and Iran and his double-digit inflation.  To this day I can remember reading about inflation in my 4th grade Weekly Reader; I can remember the black and white labels of generic groceries and seeing stock clerks putting new prices on groceries while my mother shopped.
Then Ronald Reagan took office and the difference was like night and day. Inflation was tamed.  The energy crisis ended.  And the Soviet Union was brought to its knees.  When the Berlin Wall came down I was dumbfounded.  I had expected Armageddon to happen before communism would collapse. George H. W. Bush was the first president I voted for.  Next I voted for Bob Dole and then George W. However, in hindsight I realize that the Reagan-Bush presidencies were not perfect.  I now realize that both Reagan and Bush were politicians more than statesmen.  Neither administration lived up to its full potential because neither would spend enough of the electorate's goodwill to combat Congress.  Reagan is credited with cutting welfare, but did the welfare rolls actually shrink during his term?  The elder Bush is credited with the Gulf War, but Saddam is still in power. No president will ever have a perfect administration.  While I am willing to praise Reagan and both Bushes for their accomplishments, I am not willing to recognize their shortcomings and will not give praise where praise is not due.

9.  Will the U.S. invade Iraq by December 2002?  Should they invade?
In all likelihood the United States will invade Iraq because a ground
invasion is the only way to remove Saddam from power.  But I doubt if the invasion will come as soon as December 2002.
Not being privy to the intelligence available to the President and congressional incumbents I cannot say whether or not I would support a
ground invasion of Iraq.  President Bush seems to have a schizophrenic
foreign policy.  He attacks al Quaida in Afghanistan, but is apparently
doing nothing to Pakistan for the murder of Richard Pearl.  Bush said we
would war against terrorism everywhere, but he expects Israel to make peace with the Palestinians.  Bush want to war against Iraq because he thinks Saddam may be trying to development nuclear weapons, but he wants to negotiate with North Korea, a country that admits it has been trying to develop nuclear weapons.  Bush's foreign policy seems to be principled only when it is convenient.

10.  If you were in Congress today, what would be your first bill to
sponsor?
I would immediately sponsor legislation that would set in motion the
machinery necessary for implementing an overhaul of the nation's public
schools.

11. Why should the citizens of the State of FLelect you on Nov. 5th, 2002?
I do not particularly want the votes of people who simply don't like the
incumbent and the Republican challenger.  I would prefer to have the votes of people that sincerely support my campaign platform.  However, for the sake of striking a blow at the two-party power structure I would welcome any votes that come my way.

12. What are three legislative bills in the U.S. House that you support and why?

Permanent Marriage Penalty Tax Relief Act of 2002
Marriage is the foundation for society.  When the divorce rate skyrocketed thirty years ago so did illegitimacy and juvenile delinquency.  Furthermore the breakup of American families has contributed greatly to the establishment of the nation's welfare state.  Government policy must always strive to strengthen marriage.  It is therefore unconscionable that a couple should pay higher taxes simply because they are married.

First Amendment Restoration Act
This bill will remove cases involving religious freedom from the
jurisdiction of the federal courts.  The removal extends both to federal and state statutes.  Federal courts have routinely demonstrated an inability to understand that the intent of the First Amendment was to prevent the national establishment of one sect over another and to treat all religions as equals.  It did not create a "wall of separation".  The courts routinely rule against any public observance or display on the part of Christians while members of other religions generally go unhindered. Until judges can interpret the Constitution as the framers designed it and until they apply
the law equally to all religions they should not interpret or apply at all.

Education for Democracy Act
America's low voter turnout and the quality of some elected officials make it painfully obvious that most Americans do not understand, or worse still do not care, how their government operates.  The root of this problem lies with the nation's school system, a system that graduates students who do not understand America's history as a democratic republic.  The Education for Democracy Act may not be designed as best it could, and it only reforms a small segment of the public school system, but at least it is a start.

13. What is your view on the recent Enron debacle? Will the new federal law be effective?

Following the bankruptcy of Enron and Worldcom many people called for more stringent bookkeeping laws.  However, stringent laws are already on the books.  Laws are simply in place to keep honest people honest.  Corporate executives who would do what Enron's executives did are inherently dishonest.  But, then when such people saw what the nation's chief executive got away with in the '90s is there any wonder?
Additional legislation governing accounting procedures will likely have no affect.  We must, therefore, have laws that make corporate executives
personally liable for their theft and intentional mismanagement.  We must
also change bankruptcy laws so that a bankrupt corporation must meet its obligations to its employees and retirees before it pays its creditors.

14. Do you support the current Tax cuts passed by the House?

I doubt if I would ever vote no for a tax cut.  However, I would like to see
a constitutional amendment that would expressly describe the taxing
authority of the federal, state and local governments- what can be taxed and at what rate.

15. How do you improve education in FL and around the U.S?

By imposing national standards that all schools must abide by.

16. What type of Health care reform will you be a proponent for in D.C.?

I am inclined to believe that health care should not be an issue for the
federal government.  But, the nation is in a health care crisis that must be
dealt with.  I will never support any program to implement socialized
medicine, but I think we must deal with profiteering on the part of
insurance and pharmaceutical companies.
First of all federal law must prohibit insurance companies from determining what medications and procedures a medical provider may prescribe under an existing insurance policy.  Allowing insurance companies to decide what medications and procedures they will cover is ludicrous since it negates the responsibility of doctors.
Federal law must also prevent the cancellation of medical insurance policies or the increasing of premiums without one year's notice to the
policyholder.  We must not allow insurance companies to engage in
profiteering.  Requiring a year's notice will allow consumers ample time to
shop around without having to make an immediate decision when their existing policy is canceled.

Congress should provide income tax credits to employers who contribute to medical savings accounts established for their employees.  These accounts must be transferable from one employer to another.  In addition to health insurance and medical services these accounts should be available to cover the cost of such things as health club memberships when exercise can be as effective as medication.

I do not support government subsidies for prescription medication.  Any
such program will simply become another entitlement and will do nothing to lower the cost of medication.  Congress must implement a tax system that will encourage patent holders to allow multiple companies to produce their medications.  This will raise supply and lower prices.  Federal law must also prohibit the advertising of prescription medications.  This will further reduce prices and will prevent pharmaceutical companies from pressuring consumers to use their products when no medical reason exists.