KTBC-TV Fox 7 News Interview
On Friday, January 13, Ben Easton, Libertarian Party candidate
for state rep district 48, was interviewed by
Mike Rosen,
state political reporter for
KTBC-TV Fox 7 News.
Thanks to Mike for this opportunity for Ben to get his message
and views out to the voters. Mike's questions and Ben's
responses are included below.
1. Should the state put more money into the public school system
or is the current funding level adequate?
No, the State should NOT put more money into the public school
system. In the long-term, I advocate a transfer of control,
authority, and funding to the local level ... the extreme local
level: the parents of the students. In the immediate future (next
year), I would be fine with not increasing funding one penny. Two
years from now, I would cut funding 1%; three years hence, I would
cut funding 2%, and so on ... slowly weaning the citizens of Texas
from the monstrous bureaucracy of government-run education. While
this is happening, I would strongly and vocally advocate and
encourage the private sector to create free-market solutions to the
educational needs of our youth.
2. Do you favor cutting property taxes? If so, how would you make
up for the lost revenue?
Yes, I favor cutting property taxes, although to be fair, I would
be willing to wait one year (see above answer). The lost revenue
would be made up by the excitement, the inspiration, and the real
economic opportunity - through private investment - triggered by the
loosening of the State's grip around the necks of us taxpayers.
3. Do you support a voucher system in which taxpayer money is used
to send children to private schools?
Yes, I support a voucher system in which taxpayer money is
rerouted BACK to the taxpayers! However, I see vouchers as a minor
and intermediate step toward the real goal of getting the State out
of the education industry. The Free Market can perform wonders, and
it is the true engine that has given rise to the most productive
nation in the history of the World. A truly free market ALWAYS
produces the best products, at the lowest cost, to the most people.
Look at other industries as proof if you don't believe me:
restaurants, clothing, hardware, automobiles, computers, stereos, etc.
4. At what level should the state fund the Children's Health
Insurance Program (CHIP)?
Just as the State has no business being in the education
industry, it has no place being in the insurance industry. I believe
the insurance industry is so severely regulated (there are such
artificial barriers to entry; there are state-mandated coverages and
state-mandated formulas) that it cannot do the job of properly
insuring citizens to the extent that it could if it were left free to
do so. Thus, I would advocate deregulating the insurance industry as
a way to provide, in a just, moral, and cost-efficient fashion,
individuals and their children various types of insurance.
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