Brooke Paige
Republican | Vermont
Candidate Profile
Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
EDUCATION
University of Delaware, Newark, DE, BA, 1977
WORK & MILITARY
(Candidate did not provide)
AFFILIATIONS
Willliamstown Lutheran Church, Vice President, Vermont Historical Society
Life Member, Ephemera Society of America, Life Member
ISASC, Member, Friends of the Vermont State House
Volunteer, Vermont Republican Party, Member, Former Town Chairperson
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Justice of the Peace, 2012,2014,2016
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
U.S Senate, 2012
Governor and Attoreny General, 2014, 2016
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.
Strongly Agree
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 Agree
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 Agree
It is the government’s responsibility to be sure everyone has a livable income.
Neutral
It is the government’s responsibility to be sure everyone has health insurance.
Neutral
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which permitted our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
More restrictive gun control is needed to protect public safety.
Strongly Disagree
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
Additional regulations are needed to prevent climate change.
Strongly Disagree
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.
Strongly Agree
The United States should help defend Israel from attack by its enemies.
Strongly Agree
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments.
Strongly Agree
Islamic law (Sharia) should take precedence over national and state laws where there are Islamic majority communities in the U. S.
Strongly Disagree
Congress should pass a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution.
Strongly Agree
People should be allowed to use public restrooms, showers, and changing rooms based on "gender identity."
Strongly Disagree
I support sanctuary cities.
Strongly Disagree
It is OK for Congress to exempt itself from compliance with laws applicable to all citizens.
Strongly Disagree
I support the death penalty.
Strongly Agree
Tuition-free public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
The United States should protect its sovereignty from the United Nations.
Strongly Agree
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
Strongly Agree
I voted in these primaries and general elections:
2010 General Election, 2010 Republican Primary, 2012 General Election, 2012 Republican Primary, 2014 General Election, 2014 Republican Primary, 2016 General Election, 2016 Republican Primary
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Abortion should be allowed only, when the mothers life is at extreme risk or when the pregnancy is the result of incest or rape. The rape or incest should be reported and prosecuted if possible and the pregnancy terminated, if necessary, as soon as possible.
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of radical Islamic terrorism?
First and foremost, we must insure that radical Islamists within our country are identified and carefully monitored and if determined to be a credible threat their organization should be eliminated and their membership identified and monitored. Internationally, the radical organizations, that have pledged to do our nation harm through terrorist acts, should be identified and if determined to be a credible threat - terminated / neutralized.
What in the nature of mankind caused America’s Founders to carefully define, separate, and limit powers in the Constitution?
The patriots that founded this nation sought to control their own lives and to protect themselves, their families and fellow countrymen from the tyranny and oppression of the British crown and other forces abroad and those within the country that threatened their survival and full enjoyment of the life, liberty and property declared in their Declaration.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
A difficult question to fully answer. As a Christian I believe in Jesus Christ and his saving message extended to all who accept him as their Lord and Savior. I believe in the ten commandments and their expression through our constitution and the laws of our land I believe that my salvation through Christ is unconditional beyond accepting Christ and that nothing I can do is meant to represent a contribution or compensation for my salvation. My "good works" are merely an expression for my celebration of my life in Christ and are not intended to be some sort of payment toward my salvation through Christ. I always seek to be a model of the Godly life, however as a mere mortal, I daily am condemned by my shortcomings and sins - which through Christ, in his infinite mercy, I'm am daily forgiven ! (I am unsure if this is the answer you seek, however it is the answer I was moved to provide)
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?
Very Conservative
Please provide publicly available information validating your answer to the previous question.
I am extensively published though the local press, however the best and most concise review of my social and political beliefs can be found at www.brookepaige.com .
How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all?
I believe that healthcare is a service and as such the providers and suppliers deserve to be compensated for their investment in their education and financial outlays. The free market, with necessary oversight through licensing and regulatory approvals of new devices, procedures and pharmaceuticals, is the best way to assure quality of care at the lowest cost. Government has proven itself to be unable to insure quality of care or reasonable costs. Healthcare is not a right, however a caring and generous society does have an obligation to make sure that those who cannot afford basic care can receive it without discrimination or delay.
What role should government play in boosting the economy?
Government should not be prime mover in controlling the economy, we currently have too much government involvement. Government should assure that the marketplace is free of unlawful manipulation and protect both individuals and businesses from monopolistic interference both domestic and foreign. The government must protect both citizens and businesses from foreign intrigue, manipulation and theft. Government has time and time again proven itself unable to pick "the winners and losers" in business and industry - therefore Federal and State government should only be applied when the marketplace fails to maintain a robust economy.
What changes should be made to the tax code?
I believe that a combination of a flat tax on income as classically defined as money generated from investments and interest without exceptions or deductions. I believe that the contrived concept of "earned income" is a misnomer for wages which is an even exchange of labor for money (or barter) and taxing money earned by "the sweat of one's brow" is incremental slavery. The income tax code first established 1862 was judged as unconstitutional and wasn't until after the 16th amendment was ratified in 1913 that the Federal Government was free to tax wages as well an income (money earned from money and investments). We have drifted far afield, however we should make every effort to return to a fair system that does not tax wages, possibly substituting a national sales tax in its place.
What is the best way to bring down unemployment?
Once again, government involvement generally is counter-productive. Removing barriers to trade and commerce such as needless regulations, taxation and restrictions along with preventing needless litigation to impede businesses from being created and expanding. Government can assist in providing training and educational programs targeted to those trades and industries in need of additional labor. The free market is the best arbiter of what is needed by businesses and consumers. Communist economies have time and time again proven the unsuitability of "command economy models" where the government determines what the consumers want and what industry should produce.
How would you guarantee Social Security benefits for future generations?
Social Security has bee perverted by political forces. By the 1960s the accumulated value of the Social Security Trust Fund had become too tempting a target for congress to resist raiding. President Johnson was the first to implement the exchanging of the real assets in the fund for non-interest bearing Treasury Notes with the proceeds used to pay for the Vietnam War, an expense the President knew the taxpayers would never tolerate paying for directly. Subsequently, every president and congress has continued to "draw down" the fund until today no real assets remain and only the non-interest bearing Treasury Notes, promises of the Federal Government to repay the borrowed value remain. Social Security is not a form of welfare or charity - it is insurance for which every working man and woman has paid the premiums over their working years with the solemn promise of the government to pay out the defined benefit when the "insured" reached the statutory retirement age (became disabled).
What education or experience qualifies you to hold the office for which you seek election?
Formal education in Business and Economics followed by 45 years in industry and retail management. 50+ years of advances studies at the School of Hard Knocks has provided the finishing touches to compliment my formal education. Further I am a historian and writer on the topics of education, industry, government and the law which gives me additional insight and understanding of the relationships between these institutions.
E-mail address and phone number for voters to reach you:
Home phone 1-802-883-2320, Cell phone 1-802-224-6076, E-mail at: donnap@sover.net
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
I am a business person, I identify problems, formulate a solution, implement the solution and move on. A politician has little interest or motivation to resolve pressing problems, their desire is to keep the problems at hand as their constant chore, their reason for being in office - fearing that by resolving those serious problems might jeopardize their power and privilege. This is one of the issues I want to resolve, making government more like business, a fountain of productivity and improvement rather than the purveyor of grief and distress.
