Michael Lynch

Strongly Disagree

This is an important part of women's healthcare.

Disagree

When the woman and her doctor believe that an abortion is the correct option for the woman.

Federally funded abortions should be limited.

Americas should be paid a fair wage. According to the book by Adam Smith, The Wealth of Nations (a book that guided the foundation of America's economic system), a wage earner should be able to make enough to support a spouse and two children.

Strongly Disagree

The reason I could afford college was because of the support of state government. That has been changed or eliminated. Student loan forgiveness was necessary to allow these college graduates to fully participate in the economy. This participation will lead to tax revenues that will amount to more than the amount of the forgiveness. This is the only sort of trickle-down economics that actually works. Wage earners are properly paid, they spend that money on products and services, etc.

No

ESG should be a consideration, not a guiding principle.

Americans should have freedom of religion and freedom from religion. Politics should not be preached from the pulpit and one's personal religious beliefs should not be forced on anyone else. Our culture has been influenced by spiritual teachings, but our nation was founded by people who were in search of religious freedom. Although my political views were shaped by growing up in a Christian household, when spirituality is involved, mind your own business.

Neutral

It depends on the availability of the service in the community and how essential it is. To move to the extremes, I would not want a firefighter to refuse to do his or her job because a burning place of worship does not match his or her beliefs. A Jewish butcher shop should not be forced to sell pork products. In a working economy, sufficient services should be available to fulfills a community's needs.

For the health and well-being of the workers in that establishment, unless a person suffers from allergies or has contrary religious beliefs. I do not get vaccinations primarily to keep myself healthy. I get them to keep those around me healthy.

I lean more towards A). The only exception would be if a person chose to get insurance so they could get healthcare from those who choose not to participate in the healthcare system or for those procedures that would normally be considered non-necessary procedures. Our healthcare costs have steadily increased since 1984 while outcomes have not significantly improved. Offering healthcare to all would save the nation money and would help worker productivity. Prevention, not treatment.

Can I take none of the above? The United States should intervene when our interests are at stake or when humanitarian injustice is taking place. We must support our friends and protect those who are facing humanitarian crises.

Agree

Our military is many times the size of China's. Having worked in that part of the world, I can tell you that many Asian countries do not respect intellectual property and that is a problem. Cyber threats come from a number of countries, and we should work are to mitigate those threats. I see that one of the biggest threats that the Chinese government poses is its influence in Africa. Africa could soon be the most populous continent in the world and China has disproportional influence.

I have heard that if Israel did not exist, the world would have to create it. I am not sure that I fully understand that. Israel has a strategic location that is important to American concerns. It was created as a democracy where people should be able to live in peace.

The conditions that enlisted personnel live under are something that needs to be addressed. I am working on that currently. I have seen the value of military service, and I would encourage anyone to make it a part of one's life experience. We need to continue to make sure that our young people see American as an idea worth preserving.

Agree

The crisis at the border has more to do with what is going on in their home countries than U.S. border policy. According to a recent Sixty Minutes segment, the largest group of illegal crossings are done by people from China. We have gone too far in taking a humanitarian approach to the border. I am sorry that the bi-partisan border bill never came to a vote.

We need immigrants. To maintain our economy, we will need 1,000,000 per year. To grow our economy, we will need 3,000,000 per year. I would prefer allowing low-skilled persons to enter the country to take entry-level jobs. The income they earn will allow current residents to offer products and services to these immigrants, thereby growing communities. According to one report, 7% of the economic growth in America over the past few years has been attributable to illegal border crossers.

Strongly Disagree

This tears apart communities, particularly rural communities. This creates an elitist structure. Little evidence shows that voucher programs lead to better outcomes. This will also take funding away from special need students and programs. I spent half of my K-12 education in religious schools. My parents paid for the privilege. When I switched from public to private, the teachers found that I was far ahead of the rest of the class.

Strongly Disagree

States and communities need the support of a federal agency.

Strongly Disagree

Anyone who has been married know that marriage is a business arrangement. When making end-of-life decisions, when creating a family, or deciding who you love, the government should not be involved.

Strongly Agree

Besides that, any attempts to slander others by wrongfully accusing them of child endangerment should be roundly condemned. Accusations of this type go back centuries in the political realm. This is too serious a topic to be used as a political tool. Body mutilation goes on around the world, but it should not happen in the United States.

Strongly Disagree

I am a Democrat because I am a Christian. I was brought up to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, clothe the poor and welcome the stranger. What I do unto the least of my brothers, I do unto Him. Being a Christian is not about how I act, it is about who I am. I have taught the Gospel to those who choose to listen, but I would not force it on any who refuse to hear. If they were rounding up Christians for persecution, I would want to be sure that enough evidence existed to convict me. I understand that more than one way exists to worship. Some very spiritual people do not identify with any deity or religion. In this country, that is their right, thanks be to God.

Strongly Agree

I was denied the right to vote because I did not have photo identification with me. This was the 10th time I voted in that precinct and the person checking the roles knew me. If a person is returning to the polls and the signature matches, let the person cast a vote, even if it needs to be a provisional ballot. The right to have your voice heard is one of the things that makes this country great. Violators of voting laws should be severely punished.

Agree

I think I agree with this more than disagree with is. It will cause Presidential candidates to focus on all of the country instead of a few key areas. It served its purpose when I was first ordained, but we live in a much different world.

Strongly Disagree

Note the word "Theory". The notion that this is taught below the university level is a fantasy. This is a legal "theory" and should appropriately be taught in law schools to generate useful discussion.

Strongly Agree

Agree

If you left out the word "political" I would strongly agree. No species has ever entered an environment without affecting that environment. I do not agree with the notion that the Earth did not exist before Adam and Eve. Sorry. Our natural resources are limited. My mission is to leave the world a better place than I found it (part of being an Eagle Boy Scout). I will personally take actions to preserve our planet for future generations.

Wind, Solar and Nuclear are reliable sources of energy. We stopped using whale oil to light our streetlights because we started to run out of whales. Eventually, the Earth will run out of fossil fuels. We do not have an unlimited supply.

Moderate

I am moderate, but I might lean conservative. I have found religion to be an important part of my life. I believe that we need to maintain our position of strength because other countries look to use for inspiration and guidance. As a person who has a degree in Economics and a Ph.D., I have concluded that the best economy is one that creates opportunities that are open to all citizens. We should be able to share in our nation's abundance. Our people are our greatest asset.

The purpose of government is to create and maintain an organized community, enforce policies, and provide protection and well-being for citizens. Governments control territory within recognized borders and exercise executive, legislative, and judicial powers. Government should protect those who cannot protect themselves. Government can also be used to steer the country in order to move society in a mutually beneficial direction, like offering hunting classes to help maintain the environment.

No.

No.

Strongly Disagree

However, I might accept changes to the court, such as term limits and the enforcement of ethical standards. Placement on the courts has become (and maybe always was) a political game. Courts should be impartial (blind justice) and not beholden to any political philosophy. They do not make law; they interpret the law. As pointed out in my Ph.D. dissertation, the Supreme Court should be part of the checks and balances of our country. The law should reflect changes in society.

Agree

Let me explain. After interviewing a number of police personnel, they feel that not every issue needs to be handled by a person with a firearm. A social worker accompanying a police officer to a domestic or childcare issue often leads to better outcomes. One does not have to be a fully trained police officer to handle traffic control or moving vehicle issues. This might improve relations between the police and the citizenry. Also, police departments do not need weapons of war.

Gun owners should be properly trained on the use of their weapon. This training should be free to the public. We need more hunters in rural areas to protect farmland and the environment. Removing the stigma of firearm ownership among many could help with this. Like operating anything that can threaten lives, responsible behavior is important. I have walked by road signs riddled with holes from a shotgun because a hunter was frustrated after a long, fruitless day of hunting. Not responsible acts.