Dr. Ernest Mackins
Democrat | South Carolina
Candidate Profile
Liberal (Conditional)
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Dr. Ernest Mackins
Party
Democrat
Election Year
2022
Election
General
Race
State Rep., Dist. 8
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Converse University, Spartanburg, Doctorate of Professional Leadership in Education, 2021
Furman University, Greenville, Master of School Administration and Leadership, 2011
Clemson University, Clemson, Master of Arts in Middle School Science Teaching (MAT), 2007
Clemson University, Clemson, Double Major in Finance and Marketing concentration in International Finance, 1998
WORK & MILITARY
Army National Guard, 2nd Lieutenant, 9
AFFILIATIONS
Ebenezer Baptist Church, Associate Minister, Connie Maxwell Alumni Association (CMCM)
President, Nehema Alliance, Executive Vice President
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Anderson School District Five School Board, 2018
Race
ENDORSEMENTS
LIBERAL (1)
Progressive Turnout Project
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Progressive Turnout Project
OTHER INFORMATION
Top 3 Priorities are typical Democrat priorities.
Dr. Mackins' passions: I am passionate about everyone having access to health care that are American citizens. I do not believe that health care should be tied to jobs where you may or may not have health insurance. Health care should not be a privilege, but it should be right for all American citizens. I am passionate about teachers and how we can retain teachers in the classroom. We need good teachers who are not run off by those who manage them. Instead, true leaders should seek to grow the teacher so that this growth can impact the student. I am passionate about student loan forgiveness because these students have attempted to make something of their lives. Yet they are shackled with debt because they can't find or get jobs that will compensate them for the cost of the degree. Something is wrong with this picture, especially when we can forgive businesses for billions of dollars of misappropriated funds. Yet, we can not help the most vulnerable of our generation trying to do right. It's time we became the America that we always talk about, but we can only do this if we work together. This means working for all the people in America.
The candidate responded to Freedom Voter Guide's questionnaire.
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Abortion should only be allowed if rape, incest, or the mother's life is at risk. Saying that is only part of my belief; I believe that the woman should also have a say in whether or not she wants to bring a child into this world, and her partner should also be a part of the process. I believe that a woman has the right the make any choice she feels is necessary for her reproductive health.
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Disagree
Planned Parenthood is a good organization that offers classes that would assist young people in learning about contraceptives and sexually transmitted diseases. They also provide other programs to aid a young mother during their pregnancy, and there are just too many other programs that the organization offers not to fund this organization. We need this program, and we need more prenatal programs for all mothers and health care along the way to support these mothers.
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Strongly Disagree
No, I believe life is too precious just to let it end like this. I think that life should be prolonged as long as possible, and the person should be made as comfortable as possible. This includes the use of medicinal marijuana.
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
The tax code should be revamped so that everyone pays their fair share. A teacher should not pay more taxes than a billionaire or millionaire. I believe that the tax loopholes should be closed too. We need to protect and grow the middle class. The working class middle-class Americans include those who make between $25000 and 75000 dollars per year. Salaries need to be raised to compensate for inflation. If we do these things, we can have the America we dream about and want for our children in the future.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
The truth be told, we need to stop wasteful spending. This includes earmarks in congress for useless programs. We can reduce military spending without hurting our military. We can balance the budget by moving the corporate tax rate back to 35%, and it's been much higher in the 50s and 60s. We need to protect and grow Social Security and Medicare. People who have paid into these programs require a safety net to carry into retirement since they have paid into them all their lives.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Agree
I strongly agree, and all student loan debt should be forgiven immediately. This country and its leaders have handicapped a generation of people who can no longer achieve the American dream.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Agree
Everybody doesn't have to agree with you to do business with you. Everyone has a right to their own beliefs, and I believe that is why this Country was established so that people could exercise their own personal freedom.
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
Government and churches should remain separate; however, if a church tries to impose its religion on a people by corrupting a government. That church should be closed.
HEALTHCARE
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.
A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "Medicare for all," etc.)
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
Vaccinations should be required if you work in a public setting. This does not take away anyone's right because you can infect others if you are not vaccinated. What about the people you could infect? Don't they have a right to be protected?
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
First of all, America needs to address the issue of White Supremecy right now in our country. They are more of a threat than the Islamic Terrorism. Secondly, when dealing with Islamic terrorism, we must stop it overseas before it reaches our shores. We do this by being a part of NATO and immediately addressing threats, and then by equipping our military with the proper equipment and training, they need to address these issues.
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 Israel, but I believe we need to find a diplomatic solution for the problem. The Palestinians need to have their own country established.
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
Yes, and it doesn't entail building a wall. Some parts may require part of the wall, but most of this can be done with drones and more border patrol security. We have better things to spend our tax dollars on that could be more effective.
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
We need to help the immigrants deal with their Country's problems through diplomatic solutions. If immigrants come here, they must learn how our Country operates and go through the immigration program to earn citizenship. After all, we are a Nation of immigrants.
EDUCATION
I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.
Neutral
I only support school choice if it doesn't involve using our public school funds to support them. If they want to send their child to private school, they must pay for it, and the public school system is already suffering enough.
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Choose not to answer
I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.
Choose not to answer
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition
Choose not to answer
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Agree
Yes, I do, and we are still fighting systematic racism. If you do not believe, please ask one White person to be Black in America for a month. I think all of them will say no because they know what is happening right now in certain places is wrong, and they are afraid to speak up. However, I believe that if we do not go back and truly study this history, America will continue to repeat the same mistakes over and over.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a born-again follower of Jesus Christ. I believe in the one true and living God. I think that love is love, and Jesus asked us to love all people. That said, I do not believe I have the right to force my beliefs upon anyone. They have free will and the right to choose, and I know that Jesus would offer them a choice.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Neutral
A driver's license, a military Id, or a passport should be sufficient. If you want to require an id, the id should be provided.
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
Election day should be a holiday.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Yes, White Supremacy is, which was just illustrated on January 6, 2021, Insurrection our past President led. This must never happen again, and we need better candidates with morals and character. We need to call this what it was simple, and that is domestic terrorism.
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Agree
Yes, especially Blacks or African Americans, ancestors of the enslaved people initially, and we have never recovered from this past abuse. Secondly, we are the only ones on the list that never received any compensation for what our ancestors were put through. We, in fact, were responsible for building most of America.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
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.
B) Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost. We only have one world.
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Neutral
I need to know before I can answer this question.
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
Government should be there to protect the people and help people when necessary. Government should never be there to take advantage of the people.
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
I believe that you need to be conservative in some areas, moderate in others, and sometimes you have to be liberal. They all can work together for the good of the whole country.
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
Well, you can check my Twitter page, and you can find me in some local newspapers.
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 am for the people and have spent the last 31 years working hard. I believe that we should all be able to achieve the American dream and not just a tiny part of the population of the United States.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
Neutral
If it follows policy, then yes, but it violates the rights of an individual, then no! We need good police officers who genuinely want to uphold the law, and I just believe we need better-qualified people and more training with more resources.
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Neutral
No, I believe that we can do both and provide our police departments with the training and mental health programs they need while assisting our communities with the effective programs that they will need to function effectively.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
90-day wait, proper background check, mental health evaluation, and especially search for any abnormal history. Restrict the purchase of AR15 to combat situations.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Agree
Yes, especially if they sell the military-style AR 15 weapons; these are war zone weapons and have no use on the streets of America.
