Michael Kerner
Libertarian | Kansas
Candidate Profile
Leans Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Michael Kerner
Party
Libertarian
Election Year
2020
Election
General
Race
State Rep., Dist. 17
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
New York University, Brooklyn, NY, BSEE, 1967
WORK & MILITARY
Honeywell International, Sr. Engineer, 49
AFFILIATIONS
Libertarian Party of Kansas, Secretary
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
(Candidate did not provide)
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
State Senate Dist 21, 2016
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.
Agree
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds or grants from federal, state, or local governments.
Strongly Agree
I support the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which requires health care providers to provide life-saving treatment for infants who survive an attempted abortion.
Strongly Agree
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Only when the life of the mother is at stake. For example, if cancer is discovered in the mother during a pregnancy and the treatment is chemo-therapy, the fetus could not survive.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
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.
Strongly Disagree
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.
Strongly Agree
I promise to protect the freedom of Christians to share the Gospel and to practice Biblical principles.
Yes
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
It means that the government is forbidden from supporting with funds or advantages any religion over another. The government cannot decide that any one religion is more or less valid than another. The government may not ban any particular religious practice so long as that practice does not violate the non-aggression principle.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
Agree
HEALTHCARE
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has health insurance.
Strongly Disagree
How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all?
I would, if I had the power, remove all government intervention in the medical system. Since government stuck their nose into medicine, they have made it drastically more expensive and less friendly. I am old enough to remember how things were before Medicare, Medicaid, etc. came upon us and things were much better for everyone.
ECONOMY
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has a livable income.
Strongly Disagree
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
As I said, my long term goal is to end any welfare expenditures. For now, the more students we get out of the public schools into private, parochial or charter schools, the less we will spend. The general rule applies that whatever government does costs more, by half at least, than a private alternative. Obviously, this will improve the quality of our children's education since the parents will have choices.
IMMIGRATION
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
State and federal funds should be denied to any public or private entity, including but not limited to sanctuary cities, that are not in compliance with immigration laws.
Agree
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
I believe that the laws in effect when my grandparents came to this nation (early 20th century) should be in effect now. Anyone could enter with only a health check for communicable diseases. They entered a nation that had no government welfare system and knew they had to make their own way. They were attracted to this nation because they could work and reap the benefits of their efforts. They expected nothing from government and got nothing. They set up their own mutual aid societies. While my long term goal is no more welfare state, we should ensure that new immigrants are ineligible for welfare of any sort for at least 5 years.
EDUCATION
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Mandatory minimum sentencing should be required and enforced for violent crimes.
Strongly Disagree
2ND AMENDMENT
Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?
Yes
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
There should be no restrictions on gun ownership nor any restrictions on concealed carry of weapons for adults nor for teenagers with their parents permission. The world has become quite dangerous recently and everyone needs to take responsibility for their own protection. The police rarely get to the scene in time.
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
I support the legalization of recreational marijuana.
Strongly Agree
The Electoral College should be abolished.
Strongly Disagree
In priority order, what three areas of legislation do you propose to author or sponsor if elected?
1. I do not want to defund the police but I want to get them under better control. This means no more Qualified Immunity; no more Drug War nor the no knock raids that they created and no more Civil Forfeiture. 2. I want to give parents as many choices as possible for their kid's education. This should include such choices as vouchers, tuition tax credits, or charter schools. A parent must have the ability to fix the problem if they find their child's public school is inadequate. 3. Let's find a way to cut the state income tax. It is not the highest in the nation but it is enough to be a barrier to growth. Twelve states manage without a state income tax. Let us learn from success.
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Whatever racism is left in this nation and the backlash from it is creating a threat to domestic order. As I write this at the end of August, protests have become violent beyond all reason, which is why I believe that we are all in danger in every city and need to be armed to defend ourselves. That is probably the only way to keep the violence in check.
JUDICIAL PHILOSOPHY
I support the use of Sharia law as a basis for legislation and judicial decisions in the United States.
Strongly Disagree
ABOUT YOU
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?
No Answer
Please provide publicly available information validating your answer to the previous question.
There was no choice in the previous question that describes a Libertarian. I live by the principle that no person or group has the right to initiate force or fraud against another. That means you will find my views conservative on many issues and somewhat liberal on others. I am also vehemently antiwar.
What education or experience qualifies you to hold the office for which you seek election?
Beyond a 49 year career as an engineer who needed to understand trade offs in most every decision, I have been an avid student of history and economics. History gives us plenty of lessons on how the world will react to any proposed laws and we had better take those warnings seriously. If you don't learn from history, you just repeat those mistakes.
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
No
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
My first value is individual freedom. If you want to live your life by your standards and not have the government tell you what to do or not do at every turn, than I am your candidate.
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
I support adding sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression as protected classes in non-discrimination laws.
Strongly Disagree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I believe that there is a superior being that created the universe. I do not believe that any organized religion has a direct line to said being nor can they speak in his name.
