Interview: Wayne Parker (L) for U.S. House for 4th District of Mississippi

By: Joe Urban 

1. What distinguishes you from your opponents?

I tell people what I think they need to know, instead of what I think they want to hear. I understand the Constitution, and appreciate its wisdom and validity, better than the incumbent and both of the other challengers. I understand that new laws will not change this country.  What is needed is a complete shift in government control.  The majority of political action should be at the local level, not a thousand miles away from our communities.

2.   How long have you been involved in politics? Do you remember the
first time you voted?

I first voted in 1976.  I’ve only been “involved” in politics, though, for about the past 15 years. However, for me, being “involved” in politics means educating myself about our history, learning how our government was supposed to work (as well as how it currently IS working), and keeping myself informed about the issues.  And by “informed” I do NOT mean simply watching television and reading the newspaper.


3.   What is the greatest challenge of public service?

Being able to tell people “NO!” when they ask for services that are outside the bounds of legitimate and legal government activities.  By “legitimate and legal” I mean in accordance with the U.S. Constitution, state constitution, or local charters.

4.   What is the most important issue facing the 4th District?

We need to wean ourselves off the casinos and “government industries” (Ingalls, the military bases, and Stennis) and attract private industry.  Only private industry can create permanent wealth which will enrich District 4 while also enriching the rest
of the nation.  All the casinos and government entities do is transfer wealth from other parts of the country to us.  All that can change rather quickly and un-expectedly.  If these industries leave or the political winds change, we’ll have nothing.

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

·ALWAYS be honest
· Don’t try to convince people that you know
everything, because you don’t
· If you REALLY want the office, don’t run.  If you really want to lead people, try to do so.  If people see that you’re the right person for the job, they’ll vote for you. (Eventually)

6.   What was your first car?

A 1964 Ford Falcon four-door, with a 140 cubic inch straight six.

7.   What was your favorite subject in High School?

Band

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

Libertarianism is a philosophy, not just a party.  I developed my own philosophy about how governments should work.  It was only then that I discovered the Libertarian Party, and joined.

9.   What is your favorite snack?

High-fat vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup and salted peanuts on top.

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

I suspect we will.  I do not believe we should unless we have strong evidence that Hussein is plotting against US.  There are plenty of countries in the world with “weapons of mass destruction” who also hate our guts.  We shouldn’t get into the habit of destroying them just because we don’t trust them.

11.  If you were in the U.S. House today, what would be your first bill to sponsor?

Ending our insane, un-Constitutional, counter-productive, liberty-killing drug war.

12. Why should the citizens of the 4th District Elect you on Nov. 5th, 2002?

If they’re looking for another political whore, they SHOULDN’T vote for me.  However, if they want someone who can honestly take the oath to defend and uphold
the Constitution, and know the significance of that responsibility as well as the benefits it would bring for everyone, they should vote for me.  This country is governing itself to death.  We need to reverse direction.

13.  How do you improve the current Healthcare system in America? What
type of legislation would you support?

I believe our healthcare mess is a direct result of the “third party payer” system that originated during WW II.  Today a significant amount, if not a majority
of healthcare is paid for by either insurance agencies, employers, or the government.  

The only things government can do to control costs is to either limit what care-providers can charge, or ration care.  Neither has been shown to work.

We need to return to a truly free-market system.  As things stand now, fewer and fewer Americans are entering the health care professions because they’re seen as bureaucratic nightmares.  This bureaucracy is a result of insurance companies and government agencies pushing increasing amounts of constraints and paperwork on our doctors in vain attempts to lower costs.

14. How do you improve education throughout the United States?

Get the federal and state governments OUT of it!  If slave mothers were willing to steal books in order to teach their children to read, certainly America’s parents can find ways of educating their children without having the government looking over their
shoulders and telling them what to teach.  Our educational system is a huge bureaucratic failure. Schools should be run at the county level, or lower.

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

I know of none that would truly reduce the size of government.  Passing any other kind of law would simply be adding to our problems or, at best, ignoring them.  I do not know what bills are currently before the House today, however.

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

The Enron debacle, and the similar scandals that followed, were perfect examples of the failure of government regulation.  A better idea would be for auditors like Arthur Andersen to be  hired by INVESTORS to audit the companies in which they hold stock.  What we have now, per government regulations, is the auditors being paid by the corporations to make sure they’re complying with regulations.  

Wouldn’t it be smarter for the auditors to be the employee of the INVESTORS for this job?

17. Did you support Bush’s Tax cuts, and would you support further tax cuts in our current economy if elected?

I support ALL tax cuts.  The more tax cuts, the better, regardless of the economy’s condition.

18. How far should election reform go? Which plan do you support in
Congress?

Unless Congressman Ron Paul’s plan is still on the table, I don’t support any of the election reform plans.  What Congress has recently done, and will
continue to do, is place so many restrictions on donations and advertising that third parties will be virtually excluded from the whole process.

If our government were operating within the boundaries of the Constitution, we wouldn’t have to worry about special interests corrupting the system.