Candidate / Official Response to 2008 Survey

Score Summary

Overall Score: 100%

Issue Breakdown:

War, Global Warming, & Constitutional Liberties:

100%

Health:

100%

Economic Justice:

100%

Democracy:

100%

Name:

Jason Wallace

Party:

Green Party

Elected Office:

US House

District:

Incumbent:

Office Location:

Bloomington Illinois

Phone:

309-532-3446

Fax:

866-554-3176

Website:

War, Peace, and Constitutional Liberties

Issue #1: War and Peace

The overwhelming majority of Americans are opposed to the war and occupation in Iraq; concerned that its eventual two trillion-dollar price tag robs money from pressing domestic needs; and alarmed at the idea of waging future wars for oil. In addition millions of voters are appalled that the annual $700 billion U.S. military budget represents 50% of the total federal discretionary spending and is equal to the combined military spending of every nation in the world.

Comment:

As an active member of Iraq Veterans Against the War, I will fight and vote for an immediate withdrawal of all occupying forces in Iraq (which includes mercenaries like Blackwater and private contractors); reparations for the destruction and corporate pillaging of Iraq so that Iraqi people can control their own lives and future; and full benefits, adequate healthcare (including mental health), and other supports for returning servicemen and women.

Question 1A

Do you support a rapid withdrawal of all U.S. military forces and armed private contractors from Iraq & Afghanistan (within 120 days), the full restoration of national control over their natural resources, including oil, and a redirection of war funding to social and environmental needs at home, as well as humanitarian and reconstruction aid to the Iraqi & Afghan people? On the local and state level, do you support Afghanistan & Iraq Peace Resolutions?

Yes

Comment:

I would like to see our military troops used for peaceful purposes and not as a world police agency.  Our presence in the Middle East generally creates more enemies than allies.  One of my top priorities for Congress is sustainable and renewable energy sources so that we can reduce our dependence on foreign oil, therefore reducing the need to have military bases in the region.

Question 1B

Do you support a dismantling of all U.S. military bases in the region?

Yes

Comment:

Our military has been stretched thin and is at a breaking point, diplomacy with Iran is the only practical solution to the conflict.  I pledge not to wage with Iran.

Question 1C

Do you support stepped up diplomacy with Iran, coupled with a "no war" pledge? On the local and state level, do you support No War with Iran Resolutions?

Yes

Comment:

An end of the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza followed by the recreation of a Palestinian state will lead to a peaceful resolution of the conflict.  At the same time, neighboring Arab nations and the United Nations must guarantee Israel security and then justice for the Palestinian people.

Question 1D

Do you support a peaceful resolution of the Israel-Palestine conflict, guaranteeing Israelis security and justice for Palestinians?

Yes

Comment:

I support a reduction of an additional 25% of military spending to a total of 75% less than our current spending so that the funds can be used for domestic needs and a new foreign policy based on diplomacy, rather than force.

Question 1E

Would you support an immediate 50% reduction of U.S. military spending and a transfer of these funds to pressing domestic needs? On the local and state level, do you support Bring the Money Home Now Resolutions?

Yes

Comment:

In addition for illegally provoking war in Iraq and threatening to start a war with Iran, the president's administration has overstepped the constitutional limits of his authority and disrupted the balance of power between our three branches of government.  In order to restore this balance the President and Vice-President must be held accountable for their actions.  I believe they should also be impeached for the NSA warrantless wiretapping program, rendition and torture of suspected terrorists, the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus and indefinite detention of prisoners in Guantanamo Bay.  We must go by the U.S. Constitution and follow the Geneva Conventions and Universal Declaration of Human Rights if we want to restore our legitimacy and moral high-ground we were able to claim following WWII until now.

Question 1F

Do you support the current articles of impeachment in the U.S.Congress charging President George Bush and Vice-President Dick Cheney with high crimes and misdemeanors for illegally provoking the war in Iraq and threatening to start a war with Iran?? On the local and state level, do you support Impeachment Resolutions?

Yes

Comment:

The damage to our republic and Constitution must be restored immediately.  When we give up our guaranteed rights and liberties for security we are comprising our freedom and it has been seen that we are no more safe than before these acts and programs have been implemented.  When I was in the military I took an oath swearing to defend the constitution from enemies foreign and domestic.  These laws and policies are enemies of the Constitution and I will not rest until all of our Constitutional liberties have been restored.

Question 1G

Do you support the full restoration of our Constitutional liberties, including an end to warrantless wiretapping and an immediate repeal of the Patriot Act, the Military Commissions Act, and the Detainee Treatment Act? On the local and state level, do you support Bill of Rights Defense Committee Resolutions?

Yes

Comment:

Our government should not work in secrecy and Americans deserve to know the truth about what happened.  If the truth is the official explanation of the attacks, then a new, truly independent, and comprehensive investigation of all the events of 9/11 and the subsequent anthrax attacks should reveal the same findings.  However, if the official explanation is not the truth, then the people have a right to know the truth.

Question 1H

Given that millions of Americans, 42% according to a May 2006 Zogby International poll, believe that the U.S. government and the 9/11 Commission "concealed or refused to investigate critical evidence that contradicts their official explanation of the September 11th attacks," and that "there has been a cover-up," do you support a full release of all evidence, and a new, truly independent investigation of all the events of September 11, 2001, as well as the suspicious anthrax terrorist attacks that followed 9/11, with subpoenaed witnesses forced to testify under oath? On the local and state level, do you support resolutions and ballot initiatives like the NYC 911 Ballot Initiative?

Yes

Continue to Climate Issues

Climate Crisis

Issue #2: Global Warming

Millions of Americans are alarmed by the prospect of our current climate crisis turning in to a full-blown climate catastrophe, and support the idea of a massive Green New Deal to conserve energy, make the transition to clean renewable energy, create millions of "green collar" jobs, and drastically reduce climate-destabilizing greenhouse pollution from our current, and rising, 387 parts per million (ppm) to a level back below the dangerous tipping point of 350 parts per million (ppm) of atmospheric CO2.

Comment:

When elected to Congress, this program will be a top priority of mine to get passed.  If we do not take care of the environment for future generations, then they will not have a planet to live with.  Not only would a program comparable to the Marshal Plan be good for the economy, but it is essential for the preservation of our planet.

Question 2A

Do you support an immediate and ongoing crash program, comparable in scale and urgency to the Marshal Plan after World War II, to convert the U.S. economy to clean energy, implement major energy conservation measures, and transfer clean energy technologies to other major greenhouse gas producing nations, so as to drastically reduce global greenhouse gas emissions? Specifically would you support a legislative package requiring an immediate freeze on climate pollution, a 10% reduction in U.S. greenhouse gases within three years, a 30% reduction by 2020, and a 90% reduction by 2050; coupled with a requirement that 50% of all industrial, farm, and home energy be generated from renewable sources by 2040?

Yes

Comment:

Green energy technology is necessary for India, China, Mexico, Nigeria and other nations to be clean and efficient with energy so that they can be a part of the solution to our global climate crises

Question 2B

Would you support an international currency or capital transfer/transactions tax (often called a "Tobin tax"), a carbon tax, and an international air travel tax to finance the transfer of hundreds of billions of dollars of green energy technologies to India, China, Mexico, Nigeria and other major greenhouse gas producing nations?

Yes

Comment:

Question 2C

Do you support a U.S. energy sustainability program that would withdraw $40 billion in annual subsidies from fossil fuels and establish equivalent subsidies for clean energy sources?

Yes

Comment:

Question 2D

Would you support the conversion of 20% of U.S. farmland to energy-efficient and carbon-sequestering organic farming by 2020 and 50% by 2040, with at least 5-10% of the USDAs annual $90 billion budget immediately being targeted to rebuild local food systems and help farmers make the transition to organic?

Yes

Comment:

Question 2E

Would you support a ban on unsustainable logging on U.S. public lands and in tropical rainforests, a restoration of carbon sequestering wetlands and forests, and the reintroduction of eco-friendly industrial hemp farming?

Yes

Comment:

Question 2F

Do you support a law requiring American cars to get at least 50 miles to the gallon by 2020 and a moratorium on all new coal and nuclear plants?

Yes

Comment:

Question 2G

Would you support the creation of five million new "Green Collar" jobs, with a special emphasis on training and providing jobs for inner-city youth and veterans, to retrofit the nations homes and buildings and conserve 20% of our energy use by 2015?

Yes

Continue to Health Issues

Health Care, Public Health, & Drug Policy

Issue #3: Public Health & Universal Health Care

Preventive health care, natural medicine, and proper nutrition have been linked to a broad range of health and social benefits, including disease reduction, increased academic performance, and lower health care costs. Unfortunately, a large percentage of the U.S. population lacks access to health care, complimentary medicine, and healthy foods. A major solution to this unacceptable situation is to shift to a single-payer, publicly financed, prevention-based, universal health care system. The $350 billion in savings that would occur by eliminating the profit motive and moving to a single-payer system would allow us to insure and promote the health and wellness of our entire population.

In addition, scientific evidence is mounting that Americans' daily exposure to 100,000 different synthetic chemicals (less than 10% of which have ever been safety tested) in our food, water, medicines, body care products, cosmetics, toys, home environments, etc. are undermining our health and creating an epidemic of debilitating and deadly diseases including cancer, heart disease, asthma, allergies, and chemical sensitivities.

The federal government currently censors the dissemination of important scientific research information. For example, food producers and dietary supplement makers are banned from citing scientific research on the health benefits of natural and organic foods, herbs, and vitamins.

Currently, six states have passed "health freedom" legislation (California, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, Oklahoma, and Rhode Island), providing guidelines and making it legal for alternative/integrative medicine practitioners to practice their profession without fear of prosecution.

Comment:

Question 3A

Do you support a cost-efficient, publicly-funded, universal health care program with a preventive focus, a major emphasis on better nutrition, physical exercise, stress reduction, reduced exposure to toxins, and the use of complementary, natural medicine and practices? Do you support state and local action on health care, including and state and local laws to cover the uninsured?

Yes

Comment:

Question 3B

Would you endorse the "precautionary principle" as a foundation for public health, environmental, and consumer safety legislation, such as the recent "REACH" legislation in the European Union?

Yes

Comment:

Question 3C

Do you support "Health Freedom," the right of consumers to choose the type of health care they want and the right of practitioners to practice freely within the scope of their licensure?

Yes

Comment:

Question 3D

Do you support legislation that would protect the first amendment right to cite scientific information on the benefits of organic and natural foods and dietary supplements?

Yes

Comment:

Question 3E

Do you support strict organic standards and consumers' right to know whether their food contains ingredients that have been genetically engineered, cloned, irradiated, or produced through the use of nanotechnology, as well as mandatory labeling for the country of origin of foods? On the local level, would you support a ban on genetically engineered crops, similar to those in place in a number of California counties?

Yes

Issue #4: Drug Policy Reform

Hundreds of thousands of Americans are in jail for the "crime" of possessing a natural herb, with significant beneficial medicinal properties, marijuana. Many countries have legalized or decriminalized adult marijuana use and possession. More and more Americans believe that drug policy should emphasize treatment over criminalization, not a drug war that erodes Constitutional freedoms, privacy, and law enforcement resources.

Comment:

I support the legalization of marijuana and taxing it on a scale comparable to tobacco, alcohol, and other 'sin' taxes.  A new drug policy, similar to policies in Northern Europe would save taxpayers a substantial amount of money because of the high cost associated with incarceration of non-violent drug offenders.  If we focused on "harm reduction", we could reduce the amount of people on drugs and the reasons they are on drugs.

Question 4A

Would you support local, state, and federal legislation either legalizing or decriminalizing marijuana, and a new drug policy that institutionalizes "harm reduction" rather than incarceration?

Yes

Continue to Economics and Trade

Economic Justice

Issue #5: Tax Reform

Large corporations and wealthy millionaires and billionaires in the United States pay little or no taxes, compared to the more egalitarian democracies of Europe, where universal healthcare, subsidized childcare, and free college tuition are the norm.

Comment:

A large, health, and vibrant middle-class is what has made the United States great.  The bush tax cuts have only helped the wealthy and are destroying the middle class.

Question 5A

Do you support progressive tax policies that create fairness for low-income communities and the middle class, including a repeal of the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy and an increase in earned income tax credits for the poor?

Yes

Comment:

Question 5B

Do you support ending corporate welfare, closing corporate tax loopholes, increasing the number of IRS auditors focused on corporations, eliminating offshore tax shelters, and instituting fair state and local taxes?

Yes

Comment:

The federal debt must not only be reduced but eliminated, and government operate with a sense of fiscal responsibility.  If we have a surplus of revenue at the end of the fiscal year, we should then offer citizens refunds.  However, it must also be clearly stated that the government agencies will not get a reduction in budget or funds for the following fiscal year.  If government agencies stop the practice of 'spend it all or lose funding for the next year,' then we could be more efficient and save money for everyone.  As long as they know they can receive money as needed and realize some years will be more expensive than others, but don't waste money everyone benefits.  The military should still receive funding i.e for the National Guard to be able to response in natural disasters and the mission of our troops to be more peaceful.  The military should be used to help build infrastructure and improve and maintain domestic needs instead of being used for the purposes of war.  However, in the event of an attack, we need to make sure we can defend ourselves.

Question 5C

Do you support setting our priorities straight to reduce the federal debt while providing more funding to non-military domestic programs?

Yes

Comment:

Free tuition for public colleges and universities would only be offered to citizens after two years of federal service.  This can be through programs such as the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, the military, etc.

Question 5D

In general would you support a substantial increase in taxes on large corporations and the richest one percent of Americans to pay for universal health care, subsidized childcare, and free public education from pre-K through PhD?

Yes

Comment:

Question 5E

Would you support a federal tax plan where a tax of .1% on the purchase of stocks, bonds, securities and currency was coupled with a federal income tax rate where the first $100,000 of income was tax-free?

Yes

Issue #6: Trade, Labor, and Minimum Wage Reform

So-called "Free Trade" agreements like NAFTA, GATT, and CAFTA benefit large transnational corporations, but are increasingly unpopular, because they undermine the wages and living conditions of family farmers and workers throughout the world and contribute to environmental degradation and massive immigration by impoverished farmers and workers. Unfair labor laws that discourage workers from collectively bargaining for better wages and working conditions have compounded the damage of these so-called Free Trade agreements.

Comment:

Free trade policies only benefit corporate globalization and not the people of the world and especially not those in America.  Fair Trade policies needs to be the common practice of companies and our government.

Question 6A

Would you support replacing Free Trade agreements like NAFTA and GATT with local, state and federal Fair Trade policies that prevent sweatshops, child labor, and environmentally destructive business practices?

Yes

Comment:

Question 6B

Would you support federal legislation, such as the Employee Free Choice Act, guaranteeing that when the majority of workers in a corporation, an industrial farm, or a sizeable workplace sign union cards, the employer would be required to enter into a collective bargaining process with the workers?

Yes

Comment:

The Federal Minimum Wage has not been increased each year to keep up with inflation and has created the working poor segment of America.  I support a living wage, because if you are able to work full-time, you should be able to earn enough money pay for living expenses.

Question 6C

Do you support living wage laws?

Yes

Comment:

Part of this reform would also require that all workers are documented and that a local criteria is developed to make sure the worker is able to contribute to the local economy.

Question 6D

Do you support immigration reform, to give the nationâ€™s 12 million undocumented immigrants a path to legal status? Do you support legislation that limits enforcement of immigration laws by state and local authorities?

Yes

Issue #7: Status of Corporations

Corporations are not mentioned in the U.S. Constitution. They are chartered (licensed) by state governments because it is assumed public benefit can come from offering the privileges of incorporation to private investors. We therefore believe corporations should be subordinate to our democratic processes and that they possess privileges, not inherent rights.

In 1886, however, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a constitutionally unsupported ruling that led to corporations enjoying many protections of our Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment, without the limitations or responsibilities of real persons (i.e. "corporate personhood"). This doctrine has allowed corporations and their directors to corrupt democratic processes, escape accountability for crimes, and prevented citizens from ensuring these creations of the state do not harm citizens.

Comment:

Question 7A

Would you support amendments to federal and state constitutions to revoke the Supreme Court's bestowing of constitutional rights upon corporations?

Yes

Continue to Democracy

Strengthening Democracy

Issue #8: Electoral Reform

Only fifty-one percent of eligible voters participated in the last presidential election. Increasing cynicism and concerns over fraudulent elections are infecting our citizenry and undermining the viability of our democracy. In almost all races, the candidate who raises the most money from special interests wins the election. Candidates and elected public officials are forced to spend an inordinate amount of time chasing after campaign dollars, rather than dealing with constituent concerns.
In addition, winner-take-all elections unfairly marginalize independent parties and candidates, and reduce the scope of the debate in election campaigns.

Comment:

In my campaign, I have already pledged not to accept any money from special interest groups and PACs.  Instead, only individuals may donate, and publicly financed elections would allow people that cannot afford a campaign to be on an equal playing field with incumbents and other candidates.

Question 8A

Do you support full public funding for all federal, state, and local elections, and a ban on paid political advertising in the media?

Yes

Comment:

As was demonstrated in the recent presidential primary debate for New Hampshire, the candidates who disagreed with the parties and the corporate media were censored from discussing their issues.  Every candidate and party should be given free and equal media prime-time to broadcast their message so that all voters can be truly informed of their choices on the ballot.

Question 8B

Do you support free television and radio broadcasts for local, state and federal candidates?

Yes

Comment:

This system has proven to the most effective and reliable way for voters to "vote their conscience" and it eliminates any 'spoiler' effect.  It also allows for more choice on the ballot, which in a democratic society is what we need on the ballot.

Question 8C

Do you support Instant Runoff Voting in local, state and federal elections, and a national popular vote for president?

Yes

Comment:

Question 8D

Do you support the 12-Step Program to Save US Democracy?

Yes

Issue #9: Media Reform & Internet Access

In order to participate fully in our communities' shared social, cultural, and political life, we need a diverse range of media voices and information.
"Net neutrality" requires Internet service providers to give all users of this public commons equal access. AT&T, Verizon, Comcast and other large companies want to turn the information super-highway into a private toll road. The loss of net neutrality would mean that telecom and cable companies could slow down or even cut off access to websites and email in order to increase their profits, or eliminate content that was objectionable to them.

Comment:

Question 9A

Do you support strengthening media ownership regulations, creating incentives to encourage local and minority ownership, and reinstituting the fairness doctrine?

Yes

Comment:

Question 9B

Do you support increased funding for public broadcasting, and a public trust to support independent documentary films and noncommercial news programming?

Yes

Comment:

I believe in the right to information and the internet is the greatest institution of democracy and access to information that Americans have created.  I will do everything necessary to prevent companies from restricting access to information and am a advocate for "net neutrality."

Question 9C

Do you support legislation to prevent Internet companies from rigging the system to serve only the highest-paying users and discriminate against users they don't like?

Yes

Issue #10: Reproductive Freedom and Civil Rights

True democracy gives all people a place at the table. Equal rights, equal opportunity, and affirmative action to correct past and present injustices must be guiding principles of a democratic society, especially in view of historic and ongoing discrimination based on sex, race, national origin, language, immigration status, sexuality, gender, disability, age, religion and political belief. Reproductive freedom is an essential aspect of equality, individual liberty and personal privacy.

Comment:

We must also work on reducing the cases of unwanted pregnancies so that abortion is a choice of last resort in the cases of rape, incest, or the mother's health being at risk.  I do not support the idea of using abortion as a form of birth control.

Question 10A

Do you support personal privacy, the right to choose, and universal access to comprehensive reproductive health care?

Yes

Comment:

Equal rights and equal opportunity must also include gender.

Question 10B

Do you support civil rights, equal opportunity and affirmative action, including same-sex marriage, laws against gender discrimination and profiling by race or national origin, reparations for slavery, and the right to dissent?