Russell "Russ" Brooksbank

Strongly Agree

Strongly Agree

Strongly Agree

In my opinion, the only two instances where abortion should be allowed are if the life of the mother is at risk or if the woman was a victim of rape. I do believe that life begins at conception, but I cannot in good conscience deny a woman the right to defend her life, or to defend herself against impregnation by force. I recognize that it is extremely rare, if ever necessary, that a child would have to be killed to save the life of the mother. I would support making it mandatory that an attempt to save the life of the child be made as well. A cesarean section being the safest route for all involved. As far as rape is concerned, it is tragic that a child is caught in the crossfire. That is why I would put the cut off point very early. I would not allow any abortions past the point of brain activity. Personally, I would like to see more programs to help women who were raped choose life. Abortion will not be eliminated by laws, but rather love, understanding, and a change of attitudes.

Strongly Disagree

Strongly Agree

ALL OF IT! This government spends way too much in all areas. If it does not secure our rights I would get rid of it. The military budget, of course, is the biggest cash cow there is. We can defend ourselves with a lot less. Especially if we stop meddling in the affairs of other countries.

Strongly Agree

Strongly Disagree

Neutral

Yes

Separation of church and state is a simple concept to me. It does not mean that politicians should not be guided by their personal beliefs. What it does mean is that politicians should not use their authority to impose their beliefs on anyone else. I believe the role of government is to secure our rights. Nothing more. Nothing less. If what I am doing is harming no one then government needs to stay out of it. whether or not something is a sin is between me and God. The issue with allowing religion to dictate law is then we get into the area of whose religion gets to dictate. I do not want to live under Sharia or an ultraconservative Christian law. I would prefer government and religion remain separate. I believe God would actually prefer that as well. Remember, He never wanted us to have kings to begin with.

Strongly Disagree

The simple answer to this question is to get government out of the way. Government does not need to be in the business of healthcare. The only involvement government should have should be to secure our rights and provide a means of justice when fraud or harm is perpetrated. A free market will solve our issues. Allow insurance companies to sell across state lines. Allow more people to help others by getting out of the way of charities. Let us keep more of our money so that we could afford to help others. In short, allow people to help people and the market to dictate what is needed. Getting government out of the equation will go a long way towards repairing our healthcare system.

Agree

Strongly Disagree

Neutral

Anyone who wants to build a better life, live here peacefully with others, and build this nation should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. I like the Ellis Island approach to immigration. It used to be that people came over on boats. When they got here they were given physicals, an interview, were registered, and told "Welcome to America!" Our immigration system is a mess and needs a complete overhaul. People don't choose to come here illegally because they wish to be criminals. They come here looking for a better life. I fault nobody for wanting a better life. We need to streamline the entry process. Immigration is good for this country. It is how we have become what we are.

Strongly Disagree

Agree

Disagree

I am a Christian. I believe that my purpose on Earth is to spread the good news of God's mercy and love. Christ has set us free and we have an obligation to live free. I believe that God is a libertarian. He has given us freewill and will not violate it. We are free to make our own decisions, good or bad, but we are not free from the consequences of those decisions. Just because you have the right to do something does not mean it is the right thing to do. As long as what I am doing does not harm others then government should have no part in it. That does not mean that God will not set me straight. I believe that God is love, mercy, grace, honor, and justice. Our sins are between God and us, and we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

Moderate

The above question is somewhat incomplete. By most standards, I am all of the above depending on the issue. "Classical Liberal" would probably be the more accurate term to describe my political philosophy. Our founders were classical liberals and I adhere to our founding documents. I have been a member of the Libertarian Party since 2013. My beliefs on issues run the gambit. Our core belief is that you should be able to do what you want with your life provided that you do not harm others in the process. That would mean that I could be financially conservative while being socially liberal. My activism has ranged from fighting against weapons bans to fighting against the development of unelected bureaucracies with the power to steal people's homes to founding a food pantry to feed the poor. To really understand my political philosophy you just need to understand one thing. I am for ALL of your freedoms ALL the time.

I'm not a college graduate, but I do have considerable experience. I spent 12 years as an elected Chief Union Steward defending the rights of my coworkers, negotiating labor contracts, writing policy, and helping to resolve disputes. I know how to work together to achieve a common goal. I have been a business owner so I know the hardships that government can place on the small business owner. I have been a blue collar worker. I have been a truck driver, a diesel mechanic, a salesman, and I've even flipped burgers. I am not afraid to dig in and get to work. I spent 6 1/2 years as a Combat Engineer in the US Army Reserve. I learned duty, honor, and sacrifice. All my experiences will be an asset to the people of Indiana as I work to secure our rights.

No

I am a Christian, a patriot, a father, a son, a brother, a friend, a human being. I want what we all want: A government that works for us instead of against us. A safe place to call home. Honest pay for an honest days work. To leave my grandchildren a government of the people, for the people, and by the people instead of a government of the special interest, for the special interest, and by the special interest. I am not some special man. I am an average person who sees his country heading in the wrong direction and wants desperately to do something about it. I can not promise that every vote I cast will be the one you would make. I will promise that every vote will be cast with securing our freedom to live and worship as we see fit at heart.

Strongly Disagree

Strongly Disagree

Yes

The second amendment is very clear. The rights of the people to keep and bear arms SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED. There is no "except" in the amendment anywhere. I will fight against any legislation intent on violating this right.

Disagree

Strongly Agree

Strongly Disagree

The first thing I will propose is an amendment to the Indiana constitution recognizing the right of the citizens of Indiana to recall elected officials who fail in their duties and to place ballot initiatives on the ballot. The people deserve a government that works for them. The second area I would like to work on is policing reform. I would author legislation to ban no-knock raids. They are unnecessary and are dangerous for civilians and officers alike. We need to do what we can to return the image of our police back to Officer Goodfellow instead of Sgt. Slaughter. The war on drugs needs to end. It is doing nothing but destroying lives. We need to fight a war against addiction instead. The third area I would like to work on would be our pandemic response. I believe our government totally dropped the ball with COVID-19. It cost us way too much freedom, money, and lives. We can do better.

Racism is an ugly thing. It could be a threat, but other things can be a threat as well. Religious intolerance, classism, hyper nationalism, and a multitude of other "ism's" can foment the hate necessary to effect our domestic security. Hate and indifference is the issue. The only cure is love. What do I believe is the biggest threat? I believe our national debt and our militarism is the biggest threat to our domestic security. It really does hinge on the economy. Ever notice that when people are employed and able to live the American dream then they tend to get along a lot better?