John Sophocleus
Libertarian | Alabama
Candidate Profile
Moderate
BIOGRAPHY
Name
John Sophocleus
Party
Libertarian
Election Year
2022
Election
General
Race
U.S. Senator
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Clemson University, Clemson, SC, Masters of Economics, 1989
University of Maryland Baltimore County, Catonsville, MD, BS, Economics, 1986
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church, Parish Council
Lifesouth, Blood and Platelet donor
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Governor of Alabama, US House Dist. 3, Alabama House Dist. 82 special election, 2002
ENDORSEMENTS
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Libertarian Party of Alabama; Alabama Cannabis Coalition; LetBamaVote
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Neutral
As a federal candidate, strongly agree. The 49 years of extremism under Roe v. Wade is over. If a State/local govt. wants to subsidize abortion it may, but the federal govt. had/has no authority to ban abortion just as the federal govt. had no authority to subsidize it.
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Neutral
As a federal candidate, murder is not a federal offense - each State is must decide how to address these issues.
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Again, as a federal candidate, it is tyranny for the federal govt. to determine abortion availability/prohibition. If I were a State candidate, abortion must be decided where the life, liberty and property rights of the mother ARE child are respected.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.
Neutral
At federal level, strongly agree. If a State(s) wants to again subsidize some religion, they have the option to do so, however foolish. I can not think of anything more revealing that one has no faith in their religion than to desire/compell others to involuntarily subsidize it. My God doesn't require government's help/subsidy, nor does my God take lightly the tyranny of forcing others to show 'belief' in their religion
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
If it is private endeavour/business not receving government funding then requirements of this sort are tyranny
What should be the relationship between the church and the state?
At the federal level NONE - see 1st Amendment.
NATIONAL SECURITY
With regard to America's foreign policy, which view most closely resembles yours: A) The United States should intervene whenever freedom is threatened. B) The United States should selectively help countries trying to grow democracy and fight tyranny. C) The United States has become too involved in others' policies and should remain focused on issues regarding our own sovereignty unless in imminent danger. D) The United States should stay out of foreign conflicts completely.
C, and when US forced are deployed Congress must do their job of declaring war/defining the objective and return forces within the 2 year appropriations limit placed upon federal armies.
I support the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement to pressure Israel to withdraw from occupied territories, remove the separation barrier in the West Bank, allow full equality for Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel, and promote the rights of Palestinian refugees.
Neutral
I support the end of giving arms/subsidy to both sides of this morass. We have no authorization to be there or try to further influence the terrible result there. If there was some rational discussion of federal compensation of Palestinians for the harm we've aided & abetted there, I would consider it...
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Strongly Agree
Much of this results from Nixon's foolish opening up w/ China instead of letting another command economy implode. A return to a rational/Constitutional tariff/trade policy would be a great help and understand piracy still applies in the modern form for our Navy/ONI to address. This is far too much to address in only 500 words...
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
Stop terrorising them so they'll leave us alone again.
HEALTHCARE
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
At the federal level, in some circumstances (those contracted in some of the specific combat roles of the armed services) one may be required to vaccinate with some consideration the individual would be worse off without it/or has some history of over-reaction when vaccinated. This after all possible accommodations are made to avoid this requirement likely to push out some of the best employees.
What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D)Tax-payer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be de-funded.
As a federal candidate D. The federal government has no authorization in the US Constitution to address these things. De-fund/phasing out would have some transition of turning over to the States where the federal government pays well defined/timed transitional cost to attenuate the harm they've done these past several score.
ECONOMY
Redistribution of income is needed to lessen the gap between the wealthy and working classes.
Strongly Disagree
Redistribution, esp. corporate welfare and other command and control policies/programs are the biggest drivers of this gap
The government should cut spending in order to reduce the national debt.
Strongly Agree
There are other tools along with fiscal discipline to reduce our nation's debt - e.g., sound money, market determined interest and bond rates, etc.
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
Adherence to the uniformity clause (Article 1, Section 8, Clause 1 of US Constition) in all taxation. If the US continues with the federal income tax (16th Amendment did great harm to our balance of trade and enables much bigger govt.) adopt the simple Hall & Rabuska Plan - i.e., postcard sized tax form where all income is non-taxed to a specified, inflation adjusted dollar amount, then all income in excess of that standard deductable amount is taxed at 20%. NO LOOPHOLES or added text to the code. Taxpayers could be given a three year adjustment period to pay/use the current code OR this simple form until made permanent at the close of those three years.
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Neutral
It depends on the 'physically' more... more wealth transfers to crony construction contractors - NO. Coming up with a rational immigration policy which recognizes this as an importing labour issue subject to a uniform tariff to offset the cost this entering into the economy. It will be dificult to pass such legislation when immigration attys. enjoy such a great wealth transfer from the current system instead of the money spent on lawyers going to actually addressing the problem.
State and federal funds shall be denied to any public or private entity, such as a sanctuary city, that is not in compliance with immigration laws.
Neutral
I'll be in favour of this when we have a more rational/Constitution immigration laws again... Let's be honest, the federal funds going to ALL the cities (Sanctuary or otherwise) are unconstitutional!
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Those who pay the uniform tax for the import of labour; if from 'hot spots' those sufficiently quaranteened; and finally/most importantly properly vetted by federal marshalls and ONI. (If/when we returned to some sort of functioning federal law enforcement and foreign intelligence result more in keeping with the Constitution.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
Strongly Disagree
Ending unconstitutional qualified/sovereign immunity for all federal employees will also discipline help curb malfeasance
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Neutral
As a federal candidate, this is to be determined by each State. Federal funding of non-federal departments of this sort is unconstitutional
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
All federal gun laws are unconstitutional. There can be no restriction stopping the flow [keep regular] the flow of arms between States Gun restrictions are to be determined by each State. The only role the federal govt. has w.r.t. gun ownership is keeping the flow of information (on criminal records, etc.) regular and verified correct between States.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Neutral
If there's a federal/constitutional issue, perhaps. Standing to bring a lawsuit depends upon the State law which has jurisdiction over the gun violence
ABOUT YOU
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Choose not to answer
Once again, there's not an answer which applies to my candidacy. I'm not a big govt. conservative or big govt. liberal - both [lean or very] lead to our observed hegemonic result. I'm anti-Authoritarian/pro-liberty.
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
https://www.alabamagazette.com/story/2013/09/01/news/obama-asserts-snowden-shouldve-used-the-courts/104.html https://www.alabamagazette.com/story/2022/08/01/opinion/january-sixth-twenty-twenty-one-a-date-which-will-live-in-stupidity/2397.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVtMW07XI1w https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EC9Eucfezbg https://www.alabamagazette.com/story/2022/01/01/opinion/scotus-what-would-solomon-do/2287.html
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized in either civil or criminal court for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
No
What else would you like voters to know about you, including your legislative priorities?
I want to shrink the federal govt. to those few enumerated powers in Art. 1, Sec. 8 and make the HoR representative again
VALUES
Sexual orientation and gender identity should be protected classes in non-discrimination laws.
Neutral
Discrimination any govt. entity is wrong period - it doesn't matter what individual or class is suffering the discrimination.
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Neutral
The progressive have been very successful at making some institutions/policies racist in the US. Sadly, I've not observed this sort of unbiased critic in CRT rhetoric
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I'm an Orthodox Christian who attends a historically Black Baptist church well steeped in the 'Harmonies of Liberty' - i.e., it is completely against my belief and values to impose my Spirit upon others. I can think of nothing more illustrative that one has NO faith in their beliefs than imposing it on others. My beliefs and values do not require govt. subsidy and, if history is any guide, oft pollutes them... I pray this fast type makes some sense.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
Verification of this sort is an integral part of having some confidence in voting outcomes. Even in our unrepresentative, hyper-gerrymandered, ballot access restricted result. If acceptable voter ID is made difficult to obtain, then there's a problem.
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
If a taxpayer cannot vote in all primaries, then the parties must pay for them on their own purse. I pay for both duopoly party primaries [Democrat and Republican] therefore I have a right to vote in BOTH primaries. All elections which receive taxpayer dollars SHALL have paper ballots which can back-up electronic tally results and kept secure for recount purposes until all contests w.r.t. the results are concluded.
EQUALITY
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Neutral
If property has wrongfully been taken due to race [Alabama Lands Div. taking a family's land because they didn't think the "Negro" famiily should own it, California taking a black family's beachfront property explicitly because they didn't want them to have it) then yes, in the Spirit of the 5th Amendment reparations are required. Reparations where no harm was done/simply a wealth transfer due to race is unconstitutional
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Possibly. As federal hegemony gets more deleterious and restrictive, racism is one of several triggers to disturb domestic tranquility
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Neutral
If tresspass laws are enforced and [must be bonded?] extractors must pay for damage done to property owners, aquifers, etc. then it is OK
Which comes closest to your view? A) Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy. B) Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost.
This is a poor question.... Stricter in what sense and arena? Laws which secure property rights/aid & abet tresspass laws, YES. Stricter environmental laws to transfer wealth to those providing mandated devices, etc. NO. Sorry, wish this was a better developed question
