Interview: Nancy Spannaus (I) for U.S. Senate for the State of Virginia

By: Ky Starr 

Q: What distinguishes you from your opponents?

I believe that I am the only one on the ballot for U.S. Senate who has an
in-depth understanding of the principles of the American System of economics,
and the American Intellectual Tradition -- thereby making my approach the
crucial one for dealing with the problems we face today, as a result of
abandoning those principles. (For more on the American System, see
larouchepub.com)

Q:  What is the greatest challenge of public service?

The most important issue facing Virginia, is the one facing the entire
nation and the world -- the breakdown of the global economic and financial
system, which threatens to take us into a New Dark Age. My approach to this is well elaborated on my website, www.spannausforsenate.com.
 

Q:  What is the most important issue facing the State of Virgina?

The most important issue facing Virginia, is the one facing the entire
nation and the world -- the breakdown of the global economic and financial
system, which threatens to take us into a New Dark Age. My approach to this is well elaborated on my website, www.spannausforsenate.com.

Q:  What advice would you give someone thinking of running for public office? 

My advice would be to study history and economics with Lyndon LaRouche,
the most credible economist and distinguished statesman of the current age.

Q:  What is your favorite political book? 

Road to Recovery, LaRouche's 2000 political platform book.

Q:  What is your favorite political TV program?

I hardly ever watch TV, political or otherwise, but there have been some
good shows on our movement's cable show, The LaRouche Connection.

Q: How did you become involved in the LaRouche Movement?

I became involved upon graduating from Social Work School, in 1967, in
the midst of the social upheaval, Vietnam war, and culminating in the
assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King. I found Mr. LaRouche through my
husband-to-be, and came to consider that his approach toward devoting one's
life to improving the human race through changing economic policy, was the
only one that would address the ills we then faced. I have deepened my
understanding since then -- and so has he, I believe, but fundamentally, the
Larouche movement's commitment remains the same: to create a new world
economic system based on the principles of commitment to treating every
individual as made in the image of the Creator, which means restoring the
sovereign nation state, and a Classical culture.

Q:  Who are your political mentors?  What are some of your favorite political quotes?

I would list among my political mentors, LaRouche, Plato, Leibniz, FDR,
and Abraham Lincoln. Let me give you four quotes:

    Plato:

    "...and when they  have reached fifty years of age, then let those who
still survive and have distinguished themselves in every action of their
lives and in every branch of knowledge, come at last to their consummation;
the time has now arrived at which they must raise the eye of the soul to the
universal light which lightens all things, and behold the absolute good; for
that is the pattern according to which they are to order the State and the
lives of individuals, and the remainder of their own lives also; making
philosophy their chief pursuit, but, when their turn comes, toiling also at
politics and ruling for the public good, not as though they were performing
some heroic action, but simply as a matter of duty...
    "You must not suppose that what I have been saying applies to men only
and not to women...(Republic, Book VII)

    Leibniz:

    "For that reason, the third way to seek the glory of God, namely those
who serve Him as moralists, as politicians, s those who guide public
affairs, is the most perfect, since those not only endeavor to find the
radiance of God's glory in nature, but also seek to emulate Him through
imitation; and thus seek to honor Him not only through praise and devotion,
or with words and thoughts, but also with good works, not only to consider
the good He has done, but to sacrifice themselves to Him and offer
themselves as an instrument and through that to do more good for society and
in particular for the human race, as the best of all visible creatures, in
those things which we have the power to effect, and for which we are ordered
and created."       On the Establishment of a Society in Germany for the
Promotion of the Arts and Sciences

    Abe Lincoln:

    "This is going to be short and sweet, like an old woman's dance. I
support a National Bank, rebuilding our country with government-sponsored
transportation, and high tariffs. I hope you will see fit to elect me."

    LaRouche:

    "We must rise to the mountaintop, from which we can see the past and the
breadth of humanity, at least for some distance. See what has happened to
humanity, and use our knowledge of the problems which are confronted in the
centers of power, to use the very horror of what has been done, the crimes
that are being committed in Africa, to use that as a lever, to force people
to discover, within themselves -- including the President of the United
States -- to discover the passion to do what is necessary to save all
humanity."               (addressing Africans, 1997)

Q:  Will the U.S. Invade Iraq by December 2002?  Should they invade?

No, the U.S. should not invade, and, hopefully, will not. See my
website for more on this issue. The idea of going to war is insane, with no
peace plan, and malevolent intent, for setting up a New Roman Empire.

Q:  If you were in Congress today, what would be your first bill to sponsor?

Probably it would be a bill to launch the National Transportation
Emergency Act which LaRouche has outlined in substance.
 

Q:  Why should the citizens of the State of Virginia elect you on Nov. 5^th, 2002?

The citizens of Virginia should elect me, because I represent
leadership in the direction they need to survive, leadership which LaRouche
has given in the past, particularly on economics, and leadership which I
have shown in fighting the evil represented by Ollie North. See website for
more. Being anti-war is not enough -- you need a positive vision, which I
alone am offering.

Q:  What are the three legislative bills in the U.S. Senate that you support and why?

I'm not sure there are any I would support, that have already been
introduced, as I'm not familiar with what's in there. None of the hot-button
bills. For example, I would vote against the "reform" of the bankruptcy law.
 

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

The Enron debacle is symptomatic of the whole swindle called the New
Economy, and there are, and will be, many more. We have to end deregulation,
in finance, and public utilities like power, and that is not being done in
the new law, and will have to be, to get us out of these scams.

Q:  What type of Health Care reform is needed in the U.S. today? 

Ban HMOs, and go with a Hill-Burton approach, of building hospitals,
getting more trained personnel, and funding a crash program on basic
medical-biological research.

Q:  How do you improve education in Virginia and around the U.S.?

To answer this requires a book, and I don't have the time. We need a
whole new concept, best encapsulated in the work of the Germans William von Humboldt and Friedrich Schiller, of a Classical education for citizenship,
and for ALL students, regardless of class, or chosen profession. See the
website of the Schiller Institute for more.

Q:  What have you learned from running for office?

I have learned that you have to have a very thick skin, and fight
like crazy to maintain and communicate your vision, in the face of attempts
to drag you down into issues and responses to public opinion, usually
expressed in the media.

Q:  Is the Federalist a job or hobby?

The New Federalist is my job, but equally part of my political
vocation.