Jon Lott
Other | Massachusetts
Candidate Profile
Liberal (Conditional)
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Jon Lott
Party
Other
Election Year
2020
Election
General
Race
U.S. Rep., Dist. 8
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Catholic Memorial, Boston, HS diploma, 2010
University of Vermont, Burlington, B.A., 2014
WORK & MILITARY
(Candidate did not provide)
AFFILIATIONS
(Candidate did not provide)
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Town Meeting Rep, 2016, 2017
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Massachusetts State Senate, 2016
Race
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.
Disagree
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds or grants from federal, state, or local governments.
Disagree
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.
No Answer
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
I believe that first and second trimester abortions should be allowed, and available, to all pregnant women. In the third trimester, I believe abortion should be allowed in situations only where the health of the mother is in danger.
ECONOMY
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has a livable income.
No Answer
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
How would you guarantee Social Security benefits for future generations?
We have to remove (or greatly life) the cap on taxable income and very gradually raise the retirement age.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
This is a tough question, because I am not yet privy to certain information that could influence my judgment while in office. I generally think our military could lose a small chunk of its funding without sacrificing any of its readiness, ability, or strength. But politics is about compromise, and priorities; ask me this again in a year.
Under what circumstances should taxpayers help pay off existing student loans?
I support dropping all student loan interest rates to 0% indefinitely. As the cost of an education increases, the value of a diploma is also declining, and the whole predatory university industrial complex is edging closer to collapse. For certain graduates with substantial ($50,000+) college debt, I am open to the possibility of forgiving a small fraction (say 10-20%) as a countermeasure to the interest rate they've suffered over the past X years. Full student loan forgiveness is a no-go.
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.
No Answer
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.
Strongly Disagree
I promise to protect the freedom of Christians to share the Gospel and to practice Biblical principles.
No Answer
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
It means religious dogma must never be the basis for a law, nor shall the United States establish an official religion.
HEALTHCARE
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has health insurance.
Agree
I support the elimination of private healthcare insurance.
Disagree
How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all?
I support a Medicare-for-All system wherein every American is provided healthcare for checkups, births, emergencies, surgeries, and specialists—like in Canada.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
Agree
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of radical Islamic terrorism?
We must be more selective in our overseas aggression and we must prevent further radicalizing in the Muslim world. We can drive terrorism financiers into bankruptcy and obstruct their recruitment, and build a broad coalition of people to stand against their poisonous ideology. It is essential to promote moderate reformers and expand information access across the world to undermine brainwashing efforts.
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.
Neutral
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) should be abolished.
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.
Neutral
Employers should be required to use E-verify to confirm the eligibility of their employees to work in the United States.
Strongly Agree
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
As the strongest and wealthiest nation in the world, we ought to have complete control over who gets to join. Anything less, and we've given up our sovereignty. I favor young, moderate, well-educated, English speakers who are culturally willing to adapt to the United States. It (almost) goes without saying that immigration has to be done legally. The protestors in Hong Kong are a great example of a group of democracy-loving, educated, English-speaking, young professionals...and they're willing to go all-in on America to escape Chinese oppression. America should open its arms to these young people, and not just for geopolitical reasons.
EDUCATION
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
No Answer
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Neutral
I support adding sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression as protected classes in non-discrimination laws.
Agree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I have never believed in any god, but I have a soft spot for some of the philosophy behind Buddhism. I don't see much difference between atheist and agnostic, and I don't believe in any afterlife. We are just lucky, tiny, semi-intelligent creatures hurdling through time and space trying to live fulfilling lives. There is certainly other life out there in space somewhere, but it is unlikely that we will encounter it. We will never colonize space, so we must be responsible stewards of our one Earth.
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?
Moderate
Please provide publicly available information validating your answer to the previous question.
My worldview has to be seen through the lens that we cannot grow infinitely on a finite planet, and that our current mode of living is totally unsustainable...and we have billions of humans still scrambling to consume and waste as much as we currently are. I don't see much of my policy in terms of left or right or conservative or liberal...it's just what I believe is necessary to save our civilization from collapse. I picked Moderate because temperamentally I am in the middle. You'll never see me shrieking about injustice at a protest or something like that. I try to stay grounded and balanced. On healthcare, I'm progressive; on immigration, I'm conservative; on environment, I'm willing to do what it takes to protect the planet. I've always been an Independent, and I despise the two-party system. I think both parties and the media are responsible for the polarization in politics today, and they've manipulated us into perpetuating that corrupt system.
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?
I've taught over half a dozen subjects across over half a dozen schools in the United States, China, and Saudi Arabia. I hitchhiked across America in 2016 and wrote a book (Hitchhike America) based on the experience. I've been all around the world, and I have the perspective and judgment to serve as a U.S. Representative. I know what it takes to make informed decisions that balance the interests of all stakeholders, and am willing to do the necessary steps to protect the environment and adapt to the coming collapse. Times are changing, and we must be prepared to change with them——or else collapse. I'm running as an independent because, like you, I realize how backwards our political system has become, and who its beneficiaries are. You won't agree with everything I wrote here, but that's okay; I respect our differences of opinion and the process of compromise. Please visit my campaign website lott2020.com and my Twitter @MrJonLott. Please give me, Jon Lott, your vote on November 3.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Mandatory minimum sentencing should be required and enforced for violent crimes.
Neutral
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
I'm not convinced that we need automatic weapons. Magazine capacity limiting is a well-intentioned but poor policy. I support the right of law-abiding Americans to own and use firearms.
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
I support BDS (boycott, divestment, and sanction) against Israel if they refuse to allow the creation of a Palestinian state.
Disagree
I support the legalization of recreational marijuana.
Strongly Agree
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
The Electoral College should be abolished.
Strongly Agree
In priority order, what three areas of legislation do you propose to author or sponsor if elected?
1. Environment 2. Healthcare 3. Breaking up monopolies
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
We really need to define "racism" to get on the same wavelength here; the definition is constantly changing depending on whom you talk to. Racism is a threat to the country, and the government has already classified several white supremacist groups as terrorist organizations. The Department of Justice claims that white supremacy is among the greatest domestic threats facing the nation——I would place it in our Top 10, but behind the cratering economy, worsening pandemic, and unsustainable environmental practices.
