Ryan Knight Cooper
Libertarian | Washington
Candidate Profile
Leans Liberal
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Ryan Knight Cooper
Party
Libertarian
Election Year
2016
Election
Primary
Race
State Rep., Dist. 8 - Pos. 1
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Missouri State University, Springfield, MO, BS, 4
WORK & MILITARY
Missouri Army National Guard, Specialist, 6
AFFILIATIONS
Foundation for Individual Rights Education, supporting member, Vitae Society
supporting member
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
(Candidate did not provide)
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
Race
Previous Races
ENDORSEMENTS
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (5)
Steve Nielson, Public Lands Commissioner Candidate
Tim Turner, Secretary of State Candidate
Paul Addis, Lt Governor Candidate
Don Myers, Moses Lake City Council
Gavin Keefe, Yakima Planning Commissioner
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
Congress should repeal the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).
Strongly Agree
Election of judges by the people for a definite term of office is the best way to select judges.
Agree
More restrictive gun control laws are needed to protect public safety.
Strongly Disagree
Government should enforce laws designed to protect the border and to prevent illegal entry into the country.
Agree
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Disagree
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States.
Disagree
Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.
Strongly Agree
Free enterprise and the right to private property turn mankind's natural self-interest into the most productive economic system there is.
Strongly Agree
There should be a strict constitutional spending limit for state and local governments that would tie the rate of spending to the rate of population growth plus the rate of inflation.
Neutral
Marijuana should be legalized and regulated like tobacco and alcohol.
Strongly Agree
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which permitted our system of limited government.
Neutral
The founders established pure democracy in the Constitution because they believed that it is the best form of government to ensure the safety and equitable treatment of all citizens.
Disagree
Free-market competition for education dollars, rather than a government monopoly, would create a better education for all students.
Strongly Agree
Where minor children are involved, divorce laws should be reformed to include mutual consent of both parents and an increased waiting period, unless there is fault or abuse.
Disagree
The Ten Commandments should not be displayed in public school buildings.
Disagree
Business owners should be required by law to bake cakes, provide flower arrangements, etc., for same-sex weddings, even when these activities would infringe on their sincerely-held religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
Our state should participate in the nationwide Common Core standards for high-school graduation.
Strongly Disagree
Physician-assisted suicide should be legal.
Disagree
The more people live by Judeo-Christian values, the less government is needed.
Neutral
Islamic law (Sharia) does not pose a threat to the United States and its Constitution.
Neutral
Governments should define marriage as between one man and one woman; no other definition of marriage should be legalized or supported with public funds.
Disagree
It is the government’s responsibility to be sure everyone has health care and a livable income.
Strongly Disagree
Planned Parenthood should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments.
Strongly Agree
What in the nature of mankind caused America’s Founders to carefully define, separate, and limit powers in the Constitution?
The American experiment of limited government was unique in the late 1700s. No other country had created a government based on the free will of man to choose as they please so long as they didn't harm others. The Founders created a very libertarian form of limited government that exercised little control over the people and taxed very little. Over time, this system of government became corrupted as politicians used the government to hand out favors in exchange for campaign money and votes.
Based on the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, please arrange the following entities, starting with the highest source of authority, and continue the list in descending order of authority, skipping any that do not apply: Academia, Congress, Constitution, God, Industry, Media, Professional Sports, Supreme Court, Voters.
God would be first in personal life. Constitution, Supreme Court, Congress. The others do not have any authority over anyone.
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
I do not support abortion. I believe that life is precious. I have more faith in the free market and religious institutions changing minds about abortion than politicians and the government trying to end it in a political showdown with the opposition. Even if Roe v. Wade were overturned today, many states, including Washington, would still have legal abortion. The public must have a change of heart before we can ever hope to end this practice. Future medical advances should make abortion an unnecessary procedure.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I belief in God and in his Son Jesus Christ. I consider myself a tolerant Christian. I do not smoke, drink or use harmful drugs. I do my best to live the teaching of Christ as found in the scriptures. I am a firm believer in free will, that God gives man the right to make choices, right or wrong. As such, I support getting the government out of our moral and economic lives. The government is no more capable of making man moral than Walmart . The sole purpose of government is to only do those things that cannot be done in the private sector. A smaller state and federal government will lead to bigger individual rights and bigger contributions from churches and civic groups to help those in need. A larger federal and state government diminishes the role of the individual and the church. I would much rather have the church teaching morality than the government, as the government has proven to be inept at basic functions like road repair.
Considering all issues (social, economic, national security, etc.), which of these best describes you?
No Answer
Please defend your answer to the previous question by referencing your publicly available track record.
I am a Libertarian, which was not one of the options listed above. As the third largest political party in America, I find it hard to believe that your survey did not list our ideology. Libertarians are not conservatives and not liberals. We are a separate movement devoted to limited government in all aspects of life. Conservatives and liberals only support some limited government. We disagree with conservatives who try to use the government to promote morality. We believe that it is impossible for government to create a moral society as it is run by man and not God. Government, like all businesses, are not capable of being moral. As Libertarians, we support people having the right to make their own choices as long as they don't harm anyone else. Personal views aside, it's none of my business if you choose to marry the same gender or use marijuana. We disagree with liberals who want to use taxation to create equality. Taxation is theft. We support volunteerism not governme
E-mail address and phone number for voters to reach you.
ryankcooper@gmail.com 509-380-6391
Additional comment from candidate:
I used to be a conservative Republican. I realized that government cannot nor should not impose moral values on society. For too long, Republicans and Democrats have used wedge issues to divide people. If either Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton wins, there will be blood in the streets as those opposed to Trump or Clinton will fear that they will be targeted for deportation or excessive taxation. The only hope for America is if Gary Johnson/Bill Weld win the White House and both parties lose. Only liberty can heal our wounds and remind us that we have more in common than our differences. If you love God and love America, you should vote Libertarian, the only political party that puts you before government. In a Libertarian America, there will be religious liberty because we will do no harm to others. The staunch Christian baker will not be forced to bake a gay wedding cake. And the gay couple will be allowed to be legally married. Vote Cooper State Rep District 8 Position 1.
