Interview: Clint Foster (L) for 5th U.S. House District for the State of Michigan

By: Ky Starr 

1. What distinguishes you from your opponents? 

In THIS election, the distinction is easy.  You see, in other races, Republican's  are able to confuse some voters by pretending to be the "small government" candidate. And if that ever was true of republicans, it certainly isn't any longer.

 But in THIS election, the Republican candidate failed to file in time. There is no Republican candidate on the ballot in this race. Therefore, the choice put to the voters is clear in this race:  Big government VS. Small government.

If you want more taxes, more waste, more out-of-control spending, more red-tape, more regulation, more crime and more failed governmental programs, you can vote for the Democrat, Mr. Kildee.  If you want more gun laws, more taxes, bigger government, and smaller cars, you'll be happy to know you can elect to go Green. 

BUT, if you think the federal government is too big, too intrusive, too expensive, and too wasteful, you can vote for the ONLY small government candidate on the ballot. The ONLY one who thinks your taxes are far too high.  The only one who thinks that Washington, DC should get off your back, and out of your pocketbook.

As your representative in Congress, I'm prepared to begin on my very first day by proposing bill to make harsh cuts in the budget, and huge cuts in your taxes.  
 

2.   How long have you been involved in politics?

This is my third run for this office since founding the Tri City Libertarian Party in 1997. I've never held any public office before, and therefore have absolutely no experience with raising taxes or trampling on anyone's civil liberties.

3.   What is the greatest challenge of public service?

Being able to "just say no" to the various special interest groups who have come to believe that it's the job of Congress to redistribute money by taking it from taxpayers and doling it out to all manner of special interest groups.

4.   What is the most important issue facing the State of MI?

Taxes are too high. Sky high. Out of control high. And getting higher.

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

Don't be seduced into joining one of the corrupt, old parties.  If you know in your heart that government at all levels is too big, stick to your principles and join the party that, even among our political enemies, is referred to as the "party of principle." The Libertarian Party.

6.   What is your favorite political book?


Atlas Shrugged. In it, Miss Rand paints a frightening picture of what will happen as our federal government grows fatter and more intrusive, and strays farther from the constitutional roots established by our forefathers. Intended to be a work of fiction when it was published in 1957, it now serves as a ominous warning.  No one who reads it now can fail to notice that we've been moving steadily closer to the dark nightmare of a society that has lost it's once-cherished freedom.

7.   What was your favorite political TV program?


Politically Incorrect, with Bill Mahar, until it was canceled because Mr. Mahar made a comment that was, (note the incredible irony) politically incorrect.  

8.   How did you become involved in the (L) Party?  

I studied economics at Northwood University. There, I came to realize that there is only one Socio-economic system that is appropriate for mankind to live and prosper under:  Capitalism.  And there is one law that is necessary for Capitalism to thrive, or even to survive: All human interaction must be voluntary. In other words, "Thou shalt not initiate the use of force or coercion."  And there is only one party that believes so strongly in that rule that they require all members to sign a statement condemning the initiation of force. And that is the party which I am proud to be associated with. The Libertarians.

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

Thomas Jefferson.
I hold sacred any line taken from the Declaration of Independence.
(the Constitution and Bill of Rights are also chock-full of wisdom).

10.  Will the U.S. invade Iraq by December 2002?  Should they invade?


Yes. And no.

Americans are a peace-loving people. But it is time to recognize that our rulers are NOT.  They love war. They profit from it, in many ways. And with little risk to themselves, but at grave risk to the lives of ordinary American Citizens.  They like big wars. And little wars. Long wars, and short wars.  Wars foreign, and domestic.  [ It is not for nothing that America's longest running and most costly war--the war on drugs--IS called a war. And rightly so. It has generals, troops, tanks, battlefields, and casualties.  Innocent casualties. Also known as "collateral damage." The only thing it doesn't have, is an end. At least not while the corrupt old parties are in charge. ]

And now we have the war on terrorism. A just and necessary war. But instead of winning it, our leaders tell us we must accept that this will be an "ongoing" war.  And soon, and for the rest of your life, you'll be receiving a bill for it.  To our leaders, war is cheap. To the taxpayers, it is expensive.

And now we need a war of aggression against Iraq. Why?  Well, to prevent war, of course. 

Our Military is being stretched wafer thin; and made weak.  Do only Libertarians remember what our military is supposed to be for?  National DEFENSE!

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

I said I was willing to make harsh cuts. And I meant it. So as a gesture of leadership, I'll go first and start with my own salary.  It is a slap in the face to hardworking taxpayers of this district that Mr. Kildee accepted a $5,000 per year raise this year!  His inability to live on a $150,000 a year paycheck is directly symptomatic of the inability of Congress to live on two TRILLION dollars a year.  I call upon all members of congress to refuse their automatic pay raises, and reduce their salaries so that they match the take-home pay of the average full time worker in their district.

Therefore, my first official act as your Congressman will be this:

A bill to cut congressional pay, and to eliminate annual pay increases.
Because a representative in congress, in order to truly represent his constituents, should understand the budgets they have to live within. Therefore, the most a Congressman should be paid is an amount equal to the paycheck of the average full time worker in his district.

12. Why should the citizens of the State of MI elect you on Nov. 5th, 2002? 

They should elect me because it's the only way THEY can win!

I may be a longshot, but I'm the only shot they've got.  Because I'm the only one who cares about their take-home pay. And I'm the only one who will make this pledge: When in Washington, I will always vote "no" on any bill that would increase the size or cost of the federal budget. I will always vote "yes" for every bill that would shrink the federal budget. I will always vote in favor of every tax cut; and against any tax increase. Every issue, every time. No exceptions, no excuses.   Because it's the taxpayers who deserve a raise, not the government.

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

Three?  I'd be hard pressed to find a single one in recent memory.

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

Not as long as the wolves are watching the henhouse.
The fiscally irresponsible criminals in Congress look silly when they attempt to investigate bad accounting practices.

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

1. A dollar for dollar income tax credit to tax-free medical savings accounts.
2. Streamlined FDA approval of new drugs, medical devices and practices.
3. An end to the endless disclaimers in the ads of prescription drugs, which eat up more than 1/2 of the advertising budgets of pharmaceutical companies, who then must pass this expense onto patients--who will be warned by their doctor and pharmacist anyway of any side effects of any drug prescribed.

16.   How do you improve education in MI and around the U.S.?

By letting the teachers own the schools. Schools should be run by professional educators, not Washington bureaucrats.  And giving the teachers a profit motive is the best way to insure quality education.  A great school, staffed by great teachers, should be at least as profitable as a great car dealership, or a great software company.  Likewise, schools which deliver poor results should go out of business, just like you'd expect in the marketplace. For 100 years, government schools have been making excuses for why they can't get the job done. The time for excuses is over. The children of America deserve the best education possible, and to give it to them, all we have to do is get the government out of the way.

17.   How do we stimulate the U.S. economy? How do you insure that small business owners like yourself continue to prosper?

Tax cuts.
First, it's long since time to recognize that businesses don't pay taxes. People pay taxes.  If you tax a business, you increase it's cost of doing business, and all such increases are passed directly on to the customers of that business.

Second, cutting ANY tax places more money in the pockets of citizens. Citizens who are also known as "customers" or "consumers."  Tax cuts are good for businesses, and good for customers. The only people who tax cuts are NOT good for are congressmen, but this is one Congressional candidate who believes that your right to keep your pay vastly outweighs the governments right to confiscate it from you.