Joe Christman
Libertarian | Oregon
Candidate Profile
Leans Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Joe Christman
Party
Libertarian
Election Year
2024
Election
General
Race
U.S. Rep., Dist. 1
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Candidate did not provide
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
OTHER INFORMATION
Joe Christman participated in Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
Chemical abortion drugs should meet essential safety standards (such as in-person consultation with a medical doctor) and require reporting to gather evidence on reactions and outcomes.
Neutral
These drugs should be subject to the same laws and regulations as any other drug. I'm not a doctor, so I can't speak to the specifics of these drugs.
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
Life of the Mother and/or good reason to think the child will not survive to birth.
Does the federal government have a role to play in limiting abortion, and if so what federal steps and/or federal legislation would you support?
No, this falls under the tenth amendment.
ECONOMY
What actions would you take that would allow Americans to retain more of their income and wealth?
1) Vote for tax cuts 2) Vote against tax increases 3) Cut spending with an emphasis on military spending.
Student loan forgiveness unfairly shifts the financial burden to those not responsible for student debt.
Neutral
Details matter here. The college loan business is predatory. Think of all the things we say minors aren't allowed to do, but we let them take out non-dischargable debt? The University system is broken, and the student loan business is enabling it. While we shouldn't put an undue burden on taxpayers to "forgive" student loans, we should do things like ease the process of discharging the loans through bankruptcy and forgive loans owed to public universities.
Should environmental and social issues, like ESG (environmental, social, and governance) ratings, be used as criteria in deciding where to invest public monies?
No
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
There is to be no State Church and government should walk very carefully when interacting with churches. This is as much for the benefit of the church as the other way around. Politics tends to be a corrupting influence and churches should tread carefully around it while still asserting their rights as needed.
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
Freedom of conscience is a deeply important aspect of both liberty and basic morality.
HEALTHCARE
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
Circumstances with an overwhelmingly compelling interest, such as gvmt employees that will be required to serve overseas where certain diseases are rampant or be forced to work in crowded areas where other interventions are unlikely to be effective.
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) Taxpayer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be defunded.
NOTA. The current system is broken. it combines the worst aspects of socialism (excessive regulation and bureaucracy) with the worst of capitalism (price gouging.) Either a complete free market system or a complete socialist system would be preferable to the currently existing system. I would carefully consider either such reform.
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. We cannot both have an empire and liberty. As Randolph Bourne said, "war is the health of the state." Domestically, war gives our government unending opportunities to seize power that it will never give back. It also promotes blowback incidents such as 9/11 that cause our civilians deep harm. Globally, it promotes chaos and atrocities as we can see now. The empire assaults our liberties, endangers us, and also does deep spiritual harm to our nation.
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Strongly Disagree
The CCP is only our enemy if we make it so. There is a whole ocean between us and them. The idea that they could pull off some unexpected invasion of the US is ridiculous. Their ships would be blown out of the water long before they made it. Politicians like a boogie man, and currently the CCP is the big one for Republican politicians as Russia is for Democrats. We should wish for peace and trade with both of them, not to antagonize them.
Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?
Yes. America's "special relationship" with Israel has done immeasurable harm to our international reputation, our geopolitical position, our rights and most importantly our soul. It's a state founded on ethnic cleansing that is now engaged in a genocide that we are enabling. All American military, financial and diplomatic support to Israel needs to end yesterday. All unconstitutional anti-BDS legislation needs to be shut down as should attempts to criminalize criticism of the state of Israel.
What are the causes of decline in U.S. military recruitment and retention?
I'd love to say that it's a spiritual awakening or a response to the woke or something like that, but the truth is as a deeply spiritually damaged nation, most recruitment aged kids are either fat, disabled, or on drugs making them unrecruitable. It might be an accidental good thing because it undermines the ability of our evil empire to project power, but it's not a good sign for our spiritual health.
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Agree
We should know who is entering the country at absolute minimum.
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
We should emphasize immigration things like family unification and de-emphasize immigration for economic reasons. Immigration into the country should always be managed for the benefit of existing citizens. Small numbers of refugees should be let in under extreme circumstances, but not to the point where it causes undue harm to existing citizens. The needs of existing citizens should always be prioritized.
EDUCATION
I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.
Strongly Agree
Anything is better than what we have now. We should slowly work towards privatizing as much of the system as reasonably possible with the goal of the government eventually leaving the sector entirely. This can't be done overnight, however.
I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.
Strongly Agree
VALUES
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
Disagree
While my personal religious belief is that marriage is between one man and one woman, this is not for the government to decide. In fact, the government should leave the marriage business altogether.
Children are the most vulnerable members of society and must be protected from abuse, including gender ideology, grooming, and bodily mutilation.
Strongly Agree
Taxpayer funds should be used to provide gender transition services.
Strongly Disagree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a conservative Lutheran.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
The Electoral College should be abolished.
Strongly Disagree
The whole union was enabled through a promise that ensured small states are not just outvoted by large states, and this has become more important as the power of the federal government grows.
EQUALITY
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Neutral
Terms need to be defined better here. I'm not into the woke stuff, but we also need to be able to confront the history that got us here even when it's not flattering.
Biological males should not be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.
Agree
Private businesses and organizations can do whatever they want, but I think this is a reasonable request for public services and accomodations.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Man-made climate change is a global threat and requires urgent political action.
Disagree
The world has a long history of apocalyptic thinking leading to poor decisions. If we start actually seeing severe consequences for greenhouse gases, private means to fight such consequences and reduce green house gases will be deeply incentivized.
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
Nuclear seems to be the most sustainable and cheap, but needs to be managed carefully for obvious reasons.
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
I am a culturally conservative Libertarian.
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
I will simply ask you to read rhe Libertarian Party Statement of Principles, because it reflects my view here and is short.
Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
No
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
No
JUDICIAL PHILOSOPHY
The Supreme Court should be reformed to include more seats.
Strongly Disagree
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
I support redirecting funds from police departments to community programs.
Neutral
What program and what police department?
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Americans should be allowed to posses whatever weapons our military possesses because we are the militia. Only an extreme compelling government interest should allow interference with that, and even then, a trial should be required to take away any sort of right to arms.
