
Tom Bagwell
Libertarian | Michigan
Candidate Profile
Leans Liberal
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Tom Bagwell
Party
Libertarian
Election Year
2016
Election
General
Race
U.S. Rep., Dist. 12
Incumbent
No
EDUCATION
Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI, B.S., 2005
WORK & MILITARY
(Candidate did not provide)
AFFILIATIONS
Libertarian Party of Washtenaw County, Former Chair/Activist, Libertarian Party of Michigan
Former Executive Committee member, Citizens Commission on Human Rights, Member/Contributor
Ron Paul for President, Precinct Coordinator (2012 Election Cycle), American Political Science Association
Student Member (2004-2005)
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Park Commissioner, Ypsilanti Township MI, 2008-2009
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
City Council, Ypsilanti MI, 2004, 2006
Race
ENDORSEMENTS
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (6)
Libertarian Party Radical Caucus
James Weeks II, Candidate for Sheriff (L)
Stephanie Petty, State House Candidate(VA)
Freedom Activist Network
Jim Fulner, County Commissioner Candidate(MI)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
Congress should repeal the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).
Strongly Agree
Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.
Disagree
I am in favor of construction of a wall and other necessary infrastructure on our border that gives complete control over entering and exiting the United States.
Strongly Disagree
The U.S. military should wait for militant Islamic groups to directly threaten our national security on our shores, rather than eradicate them now wherever they may be worldwide.
Agree
The United States must maintain a nuclear arsenal that is safe, reliable, modern and numerically superior to those of potential adversaries.
Neutral
I support legislation such as the First Amendment Defense Act (FADA) that would prohibit discrimination against individuals, organizations and small businesses because of their belief that marriage is only a union of one man and one woman.
Agree
The federal government should establish Common Core as a nationwide academic standard for high school graduation.
Strongly Disagree
I oppose the resettlement of Syrian refugees into the U.S. without proper vetting.
Neutral
Current regulations on domestic oil exploration and drilling are more restrictive than are necessary.
Agree
It is the government’s responsibility to be sure everyone has health care and a livable income.
Strongly Disagree
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which permitted our system of limited government.
Disagree
More restrictive gun control laws are needed to protect public safety.
Strongly Disagree
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.
Strongly Disagree
Free enterprise and the right to private property turn mankind's natural self-interest into the most productive economic system there is.
Strongly Agree
Governments should pay to develop wind and solar energy solutions until they are economically feasible.
Strongly Disagree
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States.
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.
Strongly Disagree
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Disagree
The United States should help defend Israel from attack by its enemies.
Neutral
Planned Parenthood should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments.
Strongly Agree
Marijuana should be legalized and regulated like tobacco and alcohol.
Strongly Agree
Islamic law (Sharia) does not pose a threat to the United States and its Constitution.
Agree
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.
Voters(People) US Constitution Congress(To Carry out only the items prescribe in the Constitution- Specifically Art. 1 Sect. 8) Supreme Court
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Though I am personally in opposition to abortion and am in opposition of government funding of Planned Parenthood, I believe safe and legal abortion should be legal under the following circumstances: 1) Elective, up until the viability of the fetus to survive outside the womb. 2) Emergency, in the rare event it is needed to save the life of the mother. I am supportive of states imposing reasonable pre-abortion counseling requirements, waiting periods and other such measures if they choose.
What in the nature of mankind caused America’s Founders to carefully define, separate, and limit powers in the Constitution?
The founders understood that government is force and that relationships with governments are violent in nature. They attempted to create a system of a Constitutional Republic and separation of powers with some democratic features in an effort to maximize human liberty and limit the government from trampling on our natural rights. I do not believe that man is inherently sinful but rather that man is basically good.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I believe that man is a spiritual being that uses a physical body to move though the physical universe in this lifetime. I consider myself a Christian in the sense that I believe the Jesus Christ existed and lived and was a teacher who was seeking to create a world of peace and healing. I do not believe that the Bible is a work to be taken literally but rather a literary work based in some historical and factual information that can be used in party to help us learn our spiritual nature and live a good live. I reject the harshness of the Old Testament and the immorality throughout it.
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 neither conservative nor liberal. I am a libertarian which is a separate political philosophy. As a libertarian I believe in the non aggression principle. That is the idea that it is morally wrong or unethical to initiate force against others. This idea extends to government and informs my political thinking.
E-mail address and phone number for voters to reach you.
tbagwell@live.com
Additional comment from candidate:
Voting for the lesser of two evils has only gotten us more evil. I simply ask you to take a chance of supporting a candidate that you may or may not agree with on everything but will be the only guarantee that you will have a candidate that will actually fight for smaller government.
If you are not already receiving our emails, stay up to date with important election alerts, educational articles, and encouraging reminders.
Invest in America’s Future
Join the movement to restore biblical values and constitutional principles in our nation by informing and mobilizing more faith-based voters with the truth.