Edward Peterson
No Party Affiliation | Iowa
Candidate Profile
Leans Liberal
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Edward Peterson
Party
No Party Affiliation
Election Year
2018
Election
General
Race
U.S. Rep., Dist. 4
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Maurice-Orange City Community High School, Orange City, Iowa, 1990
Mornngside College, Sioux City, Iowa
University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota, unfiished
WORK & MILITARY
(Candidate did not provide)
AFFILIATIONS
Boy Scouts of America, Former Boy Scout, Fuller Center for Housing
Co-founder of local Covenant Partner, Alternatives for Simple Living, Part-time, seasonal employee
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
(Candidate did not provide)
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
Race
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
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
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.
Neutral
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.
Agree
It is the government’s responsibility to be sure everyone has health insurance.
Agree
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which permitted our system of limited government.
Neutral
More restrictive gun control is needed to protect public safety.
Disagree
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Agree
Additional regulations are needed to prevent climate change.
Agree
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.
Disagree
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.
Neutral
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."
Agree
I support sanctuary cities.
Agree
It is OK for Congress to exempt itself from compliance with laws applicable to all citizens.
Strongly Disagree
I support the death penalty.
Disagree
Tuition-free public education should be guaranteed through college.
Neutral
The United States should protect its sovereignty from the United Nations.
Neutral
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
Disagree
I voted in these primaries and general elections:
Did not answer
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
I believe that a doctor's guidance is needed to help a woman determine whether an abortion is a viable option. Ideally, the decision would be made with input from the father, but in reality that relationship may make such input unfeasible.
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of radical Islamic terrorism?
While the United States needs to be ready to fend off any imminent threats through military involvement, the best path to eliminating the long-term threat is to ally with Islamic countries working toward freedom, rather than confirm to oppressive countries that we are prepared to bully them into submission.
What in the nature of mankind caused America’s Founders to carefully define, separate, and limit powers in the Constitution?
Humanity is reluctant to give up its freedom. In many ways this is admirable, but when a person has achieved power, whether political, economic, or social; there is a tendency to toward garnering more, often at the expense of freedom of others.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I believe that God guides everyone of us if we take the opportunity notice. More often we make assumptions as to what He wants based on what we've been taught or told. Growing up attending church regularly, I feel our relationship with the Divine is of utmost importance, but I have grown to believe that no one denomination or religion exactly captures the relationship that God intended us to be in with him.
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 Liberal
Please provide publicly available information validating your answer to the previous question.
Did not answer
How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all?
I am interested in the recent report that suggested that a single payer system would end up costing less over all than the current system, but would need to study it more to determine wether it is actually viable.
What role should government play in boosting the economy?
Areas that have embraced boosting the economy through raising minimum wage and investing in the lower economic brackets appear to have shown sufficient success that we ought to try expanding on those efforts. It seems to follow that doing so would increase demand for goods and services nationwide and add to the economy.
What changes should be made to the tax code?
Did not answer
What is the best way to bring down unemployment?
I think that improving the economy and guaranteeing a living wage will result in more demand for jobs and fewer people leaving the work force.
How would you guarantee Social Security benefits for future generations?
Although I would have to study it more, I would think that a stronger economy and lower unemployment would strengthen the stability of the Social Security program. However, with a rising life expectancy, we may have look at raising the age at which benefits become available for those who remain in good health. We should not however break our promise to those who are already expecting to be able to retire at the current eligible age.
What education or experience qualifies you to hold the office for which you seek election?
I am an average joe, who understands the struggles of the middle class, and to some degree the working poor. From the time I first read about George Washington's warning about the dangers of political parties, I have seen the reality grow worse. I bring a desire to use common sense, common ground thinking to bridge the partisan divide.
E-mail address and phone number for voters to reach you:
Peterson4CommonGround@gmail.com
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
Throughout the process of gathering signatures for the nomination petition, there was resounding agreement that partisanship and the resulting inability to find common ground and get anything done was perhaps biggest concern we have. While there was mild concern that being unattached to a party might be an obstacle (or worse "spoil" the vote) among those I met, there was far more agreement in the cause, and support for running without affiliation. As a result, in barely over two weeks, I personally gathered the required signatures.
