1. What distinguishes you from your opponents?
Number 1 - I'm a Libertarian. I also believe my motives for
running for this office are considerably different then that
of my opponents. I do not desire to be a politician and do
not look at this as a career move. If elected, I would do
my duty and represent the people of Kansas and to secure
their liberties to the best of my abilities for no more than
two terms. AT the end of that time, I would turn that duty
over to next elected official
and return to my home and family and return to my chosen
career in technology.
2. How long have you been involved in politics? Do you
remember the first
time you voted?
I was heavily exposed to politics at a very young age. As
soon as I was able, I was walking districts with door
hangers, silk-screening yard signs and t-shirts and stuffing
envelopes. My grandmother was a leader in the Republican
Party for many years. My late husband, Seth Warren,
introduced me to the Libertarian Party in 1990. He
discovered the local group and took me to a meeting. We
both became very active in the Party and Seth ran for
Congressional Office in 92, State Treasurer in '94 and
Congress again in '96. He talked me into running for State
Rep. in '96. I never intended to run again because I really
didn't care for the publicity. Seth became Chair of our
State Party until shortly before his death in '98. I am now
running in his place for the 4th District Congressional
Seat. I very reluctantly accepted the candidacy, I am
however, giving it my best and doing better than I ever
would have imagined. Not only am I carrying on Seth's work,
I am working for a better future for my boys and
family. I'm just can't wait around for someone to do it for
me. It's too much like the waiting place in Dr Seuss' 'Oh,
The Places You'll Go'. I first voted in 1988, I remember it
well. I became somewhat disenchanted with politics in my
late teens and early adult years and didn't register to vote
until
3. What is the greatest challenge
of public service?
It is the nature of politics to use the power granted to
promote ones personal and political agendas. I believe the
greatest challenge would be ensuring that (I always protect)
the rights of all people (are always protected) in every
decision that I make. It is not always easy to remember
that to ensure my own right to life, liberty and the pursuit
of happiness, I must also be willing to protect the rights
of others, even
though their idea of happiness and the choices they make may
be far different from my own.
4. What is the most important
issue facing the 4th District?
Economy, taxes and spending. I give three issues here, but
not really.
They are all so intricately tied to one another. The economy
will thrive if the people are prospering, the people can
only prosper when they are free to keep the fruits of their
labors to spend, as they believe appropriate. Spending can
only be controlled if the funds that feed the spending are
reduced.
5. What advice would you give
someone thinking of running for public
office?
I would have to tell them that they better have lots of
energy and be willing to give more of themselves than they
ever thought possible! Running for office is a demanding and
challenging endeavor. You find yourself explaining concepts
that to you seem basic and unquestionable. You have to
agree to disagree. I would also have to advise them not to
sink their life savings into a campaign or base their
personal value on its success. Have fun, do your best and
let the people vote!
6. What is your favorite
political book?
Atlas Shrugged, Ayne Rand, and Nobody’s Business But Your
Own, Peter McWilliams
7. What was your favorite
political TV program?
Saturday Night Live.
8. How did you become involved in
the (L) Party?
I guess I answered this question in my rather lengthy story
above. My late
husband met the local group of Libertarians. The meeting
made more likely by our involvement in other political
organizations such as NRA, ABATE, FAMM, NORML, FIJA.
9. Who are your political
mentors? What are some of your favorite
political quotes?
I would have to say my grandmother and my late husband,
Seth, most
defiantly. I can't think of any politicians that I have
been particularly
impressed with at all in Kansas. I have many favorites, "You
must be the change you wish to see in the world." Gandhi
10. Will the U.S. invade Iraq by
December 2002? Should they invade?
I think there is a very strong possibility of this
happening. I have to say to the question of should they and
would I support... As an average citizen, I don't have
access to the evidence nor clear knowledge of our intent in
a way I can honestly answer this question. I would hold that
we cannot act upon anything that is not based on direct
threat to the security of our nation. We cannot wage war
for political and economical gains. If we have cause to act
aggressively, I believe we need to do this in a way that
injures as few innocent people as possible and effectively
removes the threat imposed. I wish I could answer this
question, but I have reason not to believe all that I hear -
I want to see it.
11. If you were in Congress today,
what would be your first bill to
sponsor?
A Medical Marijuana Bill, and I wouldn't stop there.
12. Why should the citizens of the
State of Kansas elect you on Nov. 5th,
2002?
For there Freedom! Libertarian reforms won't happen
overnight, but a
steady and continuous reduction in Federal intervention,
spending and taxing
will return this country to it's potential greatness.
13. What are three legislative
bills in the U.S. House that you support and
why?
I would have to get back to you on this as I do not know
what is before the
House and I would have to thoroughly read anything I propose
to support.
I will be able to keep up again after the elections!
13. What is your view on the recent
Enron debacle? Will the new federal law
be effective?
I believe the law has been broken and those that lie, cheat
and steal need
to be held responsible for their actions. No new laws will
be any more effective then current laws if we fail to
enforce these laws. I would support harsher penalties for
the crimes that have been committed here and I would also
support more flexibility for employees, however, I must
point out that 401k plans are consensual agreements between
the employee and employer.
14. What type of Health Care reform
is needed in the U.S. today?
We need to return control of health care to the people. The
cost of health care today is absolutely ridiculous. The FDA
is largely at fault, delaying or denying the availability of
drugs and inflating the cost drugs unreasonably while
failing to secure quality. Tort reform is also a must
putting an end to this system, which even considers hearing
frivolous cases and awarding outrageous settlements. The
medical industry is so heavily regulated that half of all
Americans can't afford insurance, and providing
it for them is a delusion. The funding largely comes from
those that can't afford insurance already and many of those
that can now afford that coverage won't be able to as we
take more out of their income. Health care is the
responsibility of the individual and the communities, not
the federal government and until we return control to the
people the price of healthcare will continue to increase and
the quality will decrease.
15. How do you improve education in
Kansas and around the U.S.?
I do not believe education should be an issue for the
federal government other than to guarantee the right of all
children to receive a quality education. I support
privatization of schools on the basis that to ensure quality
education, there must be competition. I would like to see
children educated with the values and standards of the
parent considered and support educational vouchers or tax
credits to allow parental choice in education. This is not
the perfect solution, however, I believe it is better than
our current system and will move us in the direction of
ensuring a better quality education for our children.
16. Being a mother, what is the
greatest challenge facing today’s youth?
I see the greatest challenges being pretty much the same as
they always have been...with an attitude. The violence has
defiantly increased and created an indifference to human
life and we need to be concerned. I believe this is largely
due to the legal system being overburdened with the job of
enforcing consensual laws, leaving criminals roaming the
streets and threatening our families and children. The
justice system fails at keeping violent criminals off the
streets, and fills prisons with non-violent drug offenders
and others convicted of consensual crimes. Families are
torn apart and children are left without a parent or
parents. The youth have three strikes against them. They
are not safe on the streets, they are missing parents and
they are have developed a disrespect for the police, who are
enforcing values rather than catching real criminals. Even
without the added violence, our children are faced with the
challenges
of both parents working, if they are lucky enough to have
both, creating empty homes and unsupervised time and
activities. Until we allow the people too keep the fruit of
there labor and care for their families, we will continue to
see a negative impact on society.
Maike
Warren
Interview:
Maike Warren (L) for U.S.
House for the 4h District for the State of Kansas