More Questions for Candidates 2012

In addition to the questions and FCNL perspectives published in our January/February 2012 newsletter, here are some additional questions you could ask candidates.

Tax Policy

Our country cannot cut the federal budget deficit without reforming the U.S. tax code. In the last decade, the percentage of taxes paid by the wealthiest among us has decreased. Would you support not renewing the tax breaks given to people with family incomes of more than $250,000 a year?

Middle East Peace

Because of old, anti-U.N. laws still on the books, the U.S. is now cutting funds to U.N. Bodies that admit Palestine as a member. The latest State Department’s budget request calls for Congress to waive that restriction for UNESCO, the U.N.'s cultural agency. The loss of U.S. contributions threatens UNESCO projects like: literacy training for Afghan police and Afghan women, tsunami early warning systems, Holocaust education in the Middle East and Africa, and worldwide initiatives to support media freedom, and disaster response and prevention. Would you support the administration's requested waiver for unfreezing U.S. contributions to UNESCO?

(See more information on FCNL's website)

Nuclear Disarmament

The New START Treaty reduced the number of deployed nuclear weapons in both the U.S. and Russia, yet tens of thousands of weapons remain in each of those countries. Do you support negotiating with Russia to further reduce the number of nuclear weapons we each have?

In his April 2009 speech in Prague, President Obama stated American’s commitment to seek the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons. Do you support this vision?

Drone Warfare

I’m concerned by the military’s increasing use of unmanned drones to carry out targeted assassinations. These attacks are violations of international law, yet Congress has not yet offered any serious criticism of their use. What is your position on the use of drones by the U.S. military?

Peaceful Prevention of Deadly Conflict

According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, U.N. peacekeeping is eight times cheaper than fielding a comparative U.S. force to help stabilize and international crisis.Yet the U.S. has not consistently paid its dues on time and in full. Would you support full and timely U.S. payment of dues to the U.N.?

Civil Liberties

Under last year’s National Defense Authorization Act, the military is authorized to indefinitely imprison people without trial. This dangerous and sweeping provision could even apply to U.S. citizens arrested on U.S. soil. Would you vote for legislation to restore due process and repeal indefinite detentions?

Check back for more questions to be added soon!