Before I get into the actual meat of my contract with conservatives, I want to share that I have quite a long history as a conservative.<\/p>\n
I have been a registered independent for about a decade.<\/p>\n
Before that, I was actually registered as a Republican. \u00a0My parents were Republican, and raised me with conservative social values. \u00a0After I turned 18, I voted for George W. Bush twice, and even spent some time in 2004 actively campaigning for him, because I felt that he provided strong leadership in the War on Terror. \u00a0The issue that forced me to break ranks with the Republican party officially was that of torture. \u00a0I just couldn’t get on board with it, and couldn’t officially be a member of \u00a0a party that thought it was justified at the time.<\/p>\n
In 2008, I really wanted to vote for McCain. \u00a0Of course, the fact that he’s from my home state and that I’d voted for him as a Senator previously built an affinity, even though those should be irrelevant factors when choosing a President. \u00a0I also perceived McCain to be somewhat independent, frequently crossing party lines to do the right thing. \u00a0One of the biggest factors that\u00a0made him lose my vote was the fact that he picked Palin, who struck me as a complete idiot. \u00a0Another important factor was that\u00a0his demeanor seemed to me to be irrationally angry or grumpy.<\/p>\n
So I come from a conservative background, and though I consider myself a moderate, conservatism is still strong with me. \u00a0I’ve started businesses of my own and run businesses started by others.\u00a0 I understand the financial realities of the world and the fact that the government cannot magically provide unlimited services.<\/p>\n
I also believe that the government should not generally inhibit people’s ability to pursue happiness as they see fit. \u00a0Sometimes, people\u00a0may know better than the government and should be free to pursue a path that government doesn’t understand. \u00a0Other times, the government might know what the right choice is, but a person might want to make a suboptimal choice. \u00a0Yes, I think people ought to be free to make bad choices, within reason.<\/p>\n
The point of all this is to say that while I’m running as an independent, and while some hyper-conservatives may mock my moderate positions, I’m a genuine conservative on the issues that matter most to conservatives. \u00a0I’m proud to say that I expect many conservative leaning independents, as well as Republicans, will be\u00a0excited to vote for me due\u00a0to the following positions.<\/p>\n
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. – 2nd Amendment<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
The Constitution is clear that the\u00a0people have a right to bear arms. \u00a0I support this right. \u00a0I support the right of Arizonans to use guns for any lawful purpose, including hunting, shooting at the range, and personal protection. \u00a0Though I am admittedly not a gun enthusiast, many of my friends and family members own guns and use them responsibly for the above purposes. \u00a0I support them and people like them 100%.<\/p>\n
The 2nd Amendment\u00a0is also clear that its\u00a0purpose is to empower the state militia. \u00a0The Arizona National Guard is the militia of our state. \u00a0Currently, involvement with the Guard is only available\u00a0through major commitments that many casual gun owners cannot be expected to take advantage of. \u00a0I support\u00a0creating new levels of Guard enrollment that offer gun owners the opportunity to be a part of our state militia, increasing the sense of community and responsibility amongst our gun owners, while also allowing them to maintain their private lives.<\/p>\n
Freedom of Speech<\/h3>\n
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. – 1st Amendment<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Many conservatives, especially Christians, are concerned that “liberals” want to silence their speech, and want to prohibit them from living their religion. \u00a0I promise that I will stand up for the right of conservative Christians to live their religion and to express themselves politically.<\/p>\n
As examples:<\/p>\n
\n
- People\u00a0who are concerned about Roe v. Wade ought to be able to take political action to change the law.<\/li>\n
- People who are concerned about gay marriage ought to be able to take action to change the law.<\/li>\n
- People who think it is good for there\u00a0to be prayer in public schools ought to be able to take action to change the law.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
While I do not personally agree with any of these specific positions, I absolutely support your right to use the political process and the freedom of expression to make your case and petition to change society so that the laws of the land reflect what you think a healthy society should look like, or what you think God wants for society.<\/p>\n
You can trust that I will honor this commitment because most of my family and hundreds of my friends are socially conservative Christians. \u00a0My own children attend church and therefore receive formal Christian teachings when they are with their mother. \u00a0I was raised as a Christian myself, and recognize the value of many of the teachings I received, and of the organized way that moral subjects were introduced to me. \u00a0I promise, while I don’t agree with you on many political issues, I know conservative Christians are generally good people who want to do right by society and by God, and I support them in that intention.<\/p>\n
Of course, I extend this promise to people of all organized religions, those who profess spirituality without belonging to a particular sect, and those who are not inclined to believe in God. \u00a0Everyone ought to be free to lawfully follow their conscience, express themselves, and take political action according to their convictions.<\/p>\n
Tax Simplification<\/h3>\n
The state collects and rebates taxes in an unnecessarily complicated structure. \u00a0It seems like the government is charging fees at every turn, offering deductions\u00a0to incredibly narrow special interests, and otherwise creating a tax structure that is overly complicated and often unfair.<\/p>\n
There\u00a0are sales taxes, income taxes, lottery and gambling taxes, vice taxes, licensing fees, etc., etc. \u00a0And the rebate and deductions are even more convoluted and complicated.<\/p>\n
My uncle was telling me the other day about a $2 real estate tax that really annoys him. \u00a0I’m sure it’s not the $2 that bother him, it’s the fact that he has to pay a real estate tax on top of his real estate tax.<\/p>\n
My approach to taxes is simple.<\/p>\n
\n
- Tax collection should be streamlined. \u00a0I would support a system with just one or two taxes. \u00a0Here are some possibilities for that tax system. \u00a0At this point, I am just introducing them, and in future posts I will elaborate on how each might work. Again, ideally, only one of these taxes would be implemented, and it would be the ONLY source of state tax revenue. \u00a0My first choices for this tax would be a transfer tax. \u00a0When you move money from one account to another, for any reason, even between your own accounts, a flat tax is assessed. \u00a0I do not support a flat sales tax for this purpose, because that penalizes people who have to spend more of their income to get buy vs. those who are able to save. \u00a0My second choice would be a wealth tax, where at the end of the year, everyone pays a percentage of their net worth. \u00a0My last choice would be an income tax, in which capital gains would taxed at least as heavily as earned income.<\/li>\n
- The very notion of tax deductions, credits, and rebates should be eliminated. \u00a0Policies favoring certain industries and activities, if such policies should exist at all, should be handled on the expenditure side, not the revenue side.<\/li>\n
- Currently, the wealthy pay less as a percentage of their income in state taxes than the poor. \u00a0This is because the poor have to spend more of their money, resulting in a higher percentage of their income in sales tax. \u00a0It’s also because the rich are better able to take advantage of tax credits and deductions. \u00a0At the very least, the rich should be the same percentage as the poor. \u00a0(Full disclosure, I actually believe they probably ought to pay a little higher percentage than the poor).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Balanced Budget<\/h3>\n
Government debt is an immoral tax on the next generation. \u00a0I will oppose\u00a0any budget that does not rapidly pay down state debt. – Noah Dyer<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
The state needs money to provide services, and I believe the people of Arizona are willing to pay sufficient taxes to support the educational, social, healthcare, public safety, and other needs of our citizens. \u00a0But in the event that tax revenue is not sufficient to adequately fund all the programs I support, I promise I will not use state debt to fund those programs. \u00a0As Governor, I will pay down state debt with every budget I approve. \u00a0Period.<\/p>\n
Fighting Back Against Big Brother<\/h3>\n
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. – 4th Amendment<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Because of my own willingness to be transparent, some people\u00a0may say I want to take away your privacy. \u00a0Nothing could be further from the truth. \u00a0I want to balance the scales of privacy. \u00a0Right now, the government has too much privacy. \u00a0It does much of its business in the shadows, or perhaps the sewers. Alternatively, the Federal government has been in the practice of invading our citizens’ privacy for years. \u00a0Phrased differently, the Federal government has implemented standing policies that unreasonably seize our persons, houses, papers, and effects at unprecedented and unconstitutional levels.<\/p>\n
Individually, fighting against this unconstitutional invasion of privacy is daunting and not incredibly effective. \u00a0But as a state, especially in league with other states, we can turn the tide and create a more transparent government that respects the rights of its citizens. \u00a0I promise you I will lead that charge.<\/p>\n
Let’s Make Arizona Better Together<\/h3>\n
There are a lot of things that I agree with conservatives on. \u00a0If you are a historical Republican voter with conservative leanings, I hope you’ll vote for me. \u00a0Arizona will be better for it, I promise.<\/p>\n
\nLike what you see? \u00a0Please:<\/p>\n
\n
- Volunteer<\/a> on my campaign.<\/li>\n
- Donate<\/a> to my campaign.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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