Matt Waters
Libertarian | Virginia
Candidate Profile
Moderate
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Matt Waters
Party
Libertarian
Election Year
2018
Election
General
Race
U. S. Senator
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Reformed Theological Seminary, McLean, MA, 2019
George Mason University, Fairfax, BA, 1992
WORK & MILITARY
Waters.Agency, CEO, 10
Care Net, Vice President, 8
AFFILIATIONS
Care Net, Vice President, Heartbeat International
Marketing Specialist, Gideons International, Member
National Rifle Association, Lifetime Member, Del Ray Baptist Church
Member, Boy Scouts of America, Assistant Scout Master
Students For Liberty, Director of Development, Institute for Humane Studies
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
(Candidate did not provide)
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
Race
Previous Races
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)
House Conservatives Fund
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.
Strongly Agree
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
Governments should not discriminate against individuals, organizations or small businesses because of their belief that marriage is only a union of one man and one woman.
Strongly Agree
Governments should define marriage as between one man and one woman; no other definition of marriage should be legalized or supported with taxpayer or public funds.
Neutral
It is the government’s responsibility to be sure everyone has a livable income.
Strongly Disagree
It is the government’s responsibility to be sure everyone has health insurance.
Strongly Disagree
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which permitted our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
More restrictive gun control is needed to protect public safety.
Strongly Agree
iVoterGuide Notes:
After the Virginia voter guide was published, candidate stated that he intended to answer "Strongly Disagree."
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
Additional regulations are needed to prevent climate change.
Disagree
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.
Agree
The United States should help defend Israel from attack by its enemies.
Disagree
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments.
Strongly Agree
Islamic law (Sharia) should take precedence over national and state laws where there are Islamic majority communities in the U. S.
Strongly Disagree
Congress should pass a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution.
Strongly Agree
People should be allowed to use public restrooms, showers, and changing rooms based on "gender identity."
No Answer
I support sanctuary cities.
No Answer
It is OK for Congress to exempt itself from compliance with laws applicable to all citizens.
Strongly Disagree
I support the death penalty.
Agree
Tuition-free public education should be guaranteed through college.
Neutral
The United States should protect its sovereignty from the United Nations.
Strongly Agree
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
Disagree
I voted in these primaries and general elections:
2010 General Election, 2012 General Election, 2014 General Election, 2016 General Election
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
None.
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of radical Islamic terrorism?
Pull the military out of sovereign nations such as Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and other majority Muslim countries. Follow the example of Ronald Reagan when he pulled US Marines out of Beirut Lebanon when attacked.
What in the nature of mankind caused America’s Founders to carefully define, separate, and limit powers in the Constitution?
Madison said, "If men were angels" there would be no need for a separation of powers. Madison understood, as did many of the Founding Fathers that men are flawed, or in Calvin's words, "totally depraved." Thus the US government was set up not unlike the government in the Presbyterian Church consisting of three branches that would keep an eye on the others.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
Evangelical Christian for 35 years, member of local Southern Baptist Church, was on staff with local church as Youth Director and Family Director for four years. I am a CS Lewis Institute Fellow and am completing my Masters in Religion at Reformed Theological Seminary. Read Scriptures daily, married 20 years, and homeschool our five children. My faith informs my politics as well. So, where I disagree with conservatives on military intervention in 155+ countries, I do so as this position is more naturally consistent with the Bible's multiple admonitions to Christians to be peacemakers, not supporting a 24/7 military industrial complex; where I believe in a rigorous Religious Liberty, it too is modeled after Jesus who did not coerce anyone into becoming a Christian, but all men were free to choose him or not.
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and immigration, which of the following best describes you overall?
Somewhat Conservative
Please provide publicly available information validating your answer to the previous question.
I talk with conservatives who can no longer really define what a conservative is. I'm a libertarian and the idea of individual liberty and the US Constitution are my guides--and I don't think the Constitution is used today by "conservatives" and they have no real guiding compass other than Fox News and...I'm really not sure what else. So, on social matters, I believe in the individuals right to live as they choose as long as it does not hurt someone else. That's why I am a pro-life libertarian. On immigration, I am opposed to a $70 billion wall that won't, in my opinion, work. Is that non-conservative position? I'm opposed to Open Borders, as that also won't work.
How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all?
Get the government out of the healthcare business--per the Constitution.
What role should government play in boosting the economy?
none, get the government out of the economics business--per the Constitution.
What changes should be made to the tax code?
Ultimately I seek to eliminate all personal federal income taxes and give each taxpayer a $12,500+ pay raise. Repeal the 16th Amendment. My aim would be to replace the current tax code with nothing. Taxing wages--or your property--was not the policy of the US until 1913. Taxation, according the Libertarian Party platform, is theft. I agree. The personal federal income tax is morally wrong. It represents taking your property. I would support reducing government spending by $1.5 billion. I also support the FairTax, which also eliminates the IRS, the 16th Amendment, and moves to a broad based sales tax system. Either would be more fair than our current progressive system.
What is the best way to bring down unemployment?
That is not the government's job. The role of the government is three fold: to protect our right to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness (property). The economy would do fine on it's own without government interference.
How would you guarantee Social Security benefits for future generations?
I would immediately move Social Security to a temporary public-private arrangement, then move it to a fully private initiative guaranteeing future retirees better ROI, solvency, and real legitimate accounts, not IOUs. This is one of the biggest issues facing the nation, and the Republicans and Democrats see eye to eye on the issue: both kick the can down the road and won't touch a system that goes bankrupt in 2035.
What education or experience qualifies you to hold the office for which you seek election?
The only qualification I concern myself with is the Constitution. In it, I must be 30 years of age or more, a citizen of US for 9 years, and resident of my state. I am qualified.
E-mail address and phone number for voters to reach you:
mw@mattwaters.com
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
Yes, on marriage, I don't believe the government should be involved at the federal level, and I would push for the states to decide on the issue. On gender identity and public restrooms, these are matters for states and businesses to determine.
