Richard L. Weiss

A fetus without a brain will never be a human being. The soul enters after the body is formed: "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living soul." Genesis 2:7. An abortifacient was used in Numbers 5:15. Jesus spoke against the death penalty (and was unjustly sentenced to death) but not the practice of abortion in early pregnancy. I support the right to a safe abortion up to the end of 21 weeks of pregnancy,

Agree

The "morning after" pill (levonorgestrel) also called Plan B, is emergency contraception and not an abortifacient. It serves to prevent pregnancy in the week to ten days that sperm remain alive and capable of impregnating post intercourse and is not capable of aborting an already implanted fertilized egg. It should be available without a prescription. The abortion pill (mifepristone/misoprostol combination) has potentially serious side effects and should be used under supervision of a doctor.

Disagree

As mentioned above, I believe abortifacients existed and were used in biblical times. Jesus spoke against the death penalty (cast the first stone) but did not oppose the practice of abortion. I believe this is because it is done before the body is fully formed and thus not yet a human being. Benjamin Franklin included a recipe for an abortifacient in a popular reference book, The American Instructor. .

Neutral

There are some conditions that are terminal, incurable and progressively debilitating and painful.

Strongly Agree

I believe in money/currency, private property, private enterprise, profit motive and markets. I'm also in favor of universal single payer health insurance, tuition-free college education, clean air and water, living wages and I believe banks too big to fail should not exist (I support public banking).

I prefer Universal Basic Income (UBI) instead of a minimum wage. UBI can be enacted instead of a minimum wage increase and thus help employers as well as workers, as would universal single payer health insurance.

Yes

We should place tariffs on imports of goods from countries which do not match at least the US level of environmental protection, safety (OSHA), living wage and social security.

The government should not be able to close churches, however as churches have become politically involved and sometimes may even be used by individuals for their own profit, churches shouldn't be exempt from taxes. Taxes should bearable, a maximum of 10% personal income tax (capital gains), and a tax of 1% of sales on businesses/organizations, with no exceptions, no deductions, no non-profits, together with land value tax (except one's own home) and a small tax on financial market transactions.

Neutral

Individuals and small businesses could be allowed to discriminate based on moral/religious belief if there are alternatives readily available.

A. Medicare for All is health insurance, not healthcare. Insurance isn't rocket science, there's no innovation, it's cut and dry. That's why insurance advertisements are non-substantive in nature. Pooling our resources to get a better deal on insurance is smart business. Cut out the middleman. Private insurance could exist in addition to public health insurance. The VA healthcare system is government run; it could be opened to all and expanded to areas underserved by private healthcare.

After a vaccine has been thoroughly tested over time, it could become part of a required vaccine regime. Novavax is a non-mRNA vaccine and should be available for those who choose to be vaccinated for Covid-19 and do not wish to have a mRNA vaccine.

Neutral

We should be de-escalating with China and engaging as equals for mutual benefit.

The United States should not be arming and funding the genocide being perpetrated by the Apartheid state of Israel in Palestine. The entire Palestine mandate area should be one state with equal rights for all. South Africa did it, so can Palestine.

Neutral

Instead of funding DHS, ICE and more border security, we should instead fund the vetting of migrants and processing of asylum requests. Immigrants make our country strong. Immigrants create jobs for the rest of Americans. Low paid prison labor incarcerated at the expense of taxpayers is what is taking jobs, and should be ended.

Neutral

Public schools should be funded such that they are desirable places to go and parents would choose to send their children there.

Neutral

Children should be allow to express who they are, and receive help if their family does not agree and represses them.

Agree

Agree

It's possible to be born a woman inside a biologically male body. God made them that way. Trans people are no more able to decide to change gender than you are. It's not a lifestyle choice, they are simply being who they are. A 100% gay person isn't able to choose to be attracted to the opposite gender any more than you are able to decide to be attracted to the same gender. There's some confusion because some people are bi and attracted to both. Similarly, some people are "gender fluid."

Neutral

There was no government issued marriage license for Adam and Eve. What the government does is completely separate from the church. If you do not wish to have a same sex marriage for yourself due to religious belief, then don't have one. However, that is no reason to prevent other people from marrying legally outside your religion.

Life is breathed into us. Genesis 2:7 God is "Our Father." Matthew 6:9 Jesus is our brother. Matthew 25:40. Jesus said God is "my father and your father." John 20:17 "Born again" also means "born from above." We are spirit born of spirit. John 3:6 There's only one Son of God because we are all one. We are granted individuality however we are not separate. We are one body. Corinthians 10:17 However the Son is subordinate to the Father. "My Father is greater than I." John 14:28 "the Son can do nothing of Himself." John 5:19 "Who is greater, who sits at the table, or who serves? Yet I am One who serves." Luke 22:27 God is "all in all." 1 Corinthians 15:28 "Yahweh" means "I am what exists." "There is none else besides Him." Isaiah 45:5

Neutral

If they don't have photo identification, they should be given photo identification on the spot. They should also be allow to register to vote at the polling station. Let those who believe they are not entitled to vote provide names and make specific objections. Everyone who voted should be verifiable.

Neutral

The Electoral College was created to count slaves for purpose of representation in Congress. It is no longer necessary.

White supremacy could pose a threat to domestic security in the United States if it leads to violent conflict.

Neutral

I am not acquainted with Critical Race Theory, however the racist foundation of the U.S. as a country with legalized slavery based on race cannot be denied, as well as continuous oppression based on race that still exists today.

Agree

I believe a Y chromosome does confer an advantage, therefore I support separate medal award categories based on Y chromosome status. Thus there would be medals for Men with Y chromosome, Men without Y chromosome, Women without Y chromosome and Women with Y chromosome. Post surgery trans women should be allowed in women's spaces, such as bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, shelters or prison. Separate facilities should be provided for pre-gender reassignment surgery trans women.

D. Renewable energy is now cheaper than fossil fuels. The entire world is switching. We should not be behind the curve. Renewable energy is cheaper, creates more jobs, and doesn't cause cancer like fossil fuels. Renewable energy makes economic sense.

The Sun, wind, water, wave and other non-nuclear renewable energy sources.

No.

No.

For the people to govern themselves by rules they themselves make.

Moderate

I believe these labels divide us. I am for all the people of Pennsylvania. Cash bail should not exist: if a suspect is dangerous, then why would you let him pay to get out of jail? Dangerous actors should be held in jail pending trial. Without bail. Is that a liberal or conservative position? The judge should make a determination who will be held or released pending trial and those in jail should be prioritized for trial, in accordance with the Constitutional right to a speedy trial.

Agree

The New York City police budget is $10 billion. Ten billion dollars is more than the defense budget of some countries. If they cannot stop crime with $10 billion, then giving them another $10 billion isn't going to help either. We need to find and direct funds to programs that work. For instance, Denver's program of sending mental health personnel to calls to deescalate and restorative justice programs such as have been used in Travis county Texas, which have been shown to reduce recidivism.

I believe in reasonable restrictions on gun ownership.

Yes

Yes, they may if properly trained and licensed.