Calen Fretts for U.S. House of Representatives, FL
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Calen answers the Liberty Candidate questions below:
I) Re. the U.S. Financial System:
1. What is your view of the monetary system in the U.S. today?
The Federal Reserve, more commonly known as “The Fed”, is the central banking system of the United States. As the common saying among sound money endorsers goes, The Fed is “no more ‘federal’ than Federal Express”. It is in actuality a quasi-federal cartel of private banksters and federal bureaucrats which centrally dictate United States economic policy with no oversight, transparency, or accountability; in fact, it has never been audited in its entire existence. The Fed claims one of its primary objectives is to control inflation, but in fact, the purchasing power of the dollar has decreased by more than 95% since its initiation, and the US has seen a number of recessionary and depressionary periods.
US dollars, more accurately called Federal Reserve Notes, are fiat money; that is, money backed by nothing of intrinsic value, traditionally such as gold or silver. For this reason, The Fed can engage in a little-understood but extremely detrimental act known as quantitative easing (QE). QE is, simply, the printing (or digital creation) of new (but worthless) money (also known as “expanding the money supply”), and is tantamount to legalized counterfeiting. This has the effect of decreasing the value of all other money in circulation, essentially stealing from your savings.
To counteract this criminal enterprise, the US must drastically reform its monetary policy. We must Audit the Fed and determine exactly where our money has been going for decades. We must return to a system of sound money, backed by a valuable asset like gold or silver.
2. What corrective actions could we take right now to improve the economy?
Audit-then-End the Fed, return to the gold standard, legalize competing currencies, pass a balanced budget amendment, deregulate the currently corporatist and authoritarian market and return to the free market, end the wars, eliminate all foreign aid and corporate welfare, cut federal spending by 90% and privatize federal programs.
3. Do you agree with the actions the Federal Reserve has taken to solve the financial crisis? If not, what could the Fed have done differently?
Absolutely not. The Fed can engage in a little-understood but extremely detrimental act known as quantitative easing (QE). QE is, simply, the printing (or digital creation) of new (but worthless) money (also known as “expanding the money supply”), and is tantamount to legalized counterfeiting. This has the effect of decreasing the value of all other money in circulation, essentially stealing from your savings.
The best action the Federal Reserve could have taken is, instead of manipulating the money supply, to do nothing at all and let the market correct itself. Instead, the Fed picks winners and losers, which simply prolongs and exponentiates the crisis.
4. Should the Federal Reserve be audited fully, no secrets, or does it need to keep some information under wraps?
Absolutely. The American people deserve to fully know exactly how much sleight of hand is going on within their own monetary system.
II) Re. Foreign Policy:
1. What is your opinion on current US foreign policy?
The US’ current interventionist foreign policy is not only un-Constitutional and immoral, but is destroying the American economy and way of life. We must enforce the Constitutional requirement for declaration of war, and consequently, the War Powers Resolution. We must eliminate all foreign aid. We must return to a Constitutional policy of non-interventionism.
2. How should we fight a “war on terror”?
If we have proof of specific terrorists that have conspired against the US, we should use the Constitutionally accorded method of Letters of Marque and Reprisal, if necessary, to capture specific foreign enemies instead of invading or assaulting sovereign states without permission.
3. Should the U.S. occupy other countries? If not, would you push to close all bases? Are there any you would keep open?
Absolutely not. We should close ALL foreign bases, and return the troops and taxpayer funds home.
4. Should the U.S. maintain its standing army?
If it is to do so properly, a Constitutional amendment should be passed. Article I, Section 8 authorizes the Congress “To raise and support Armies”, but only for a maximum of two years at a time. This is because the Framers were against the establishment of a standing army during peacetime. The Constitution does authorize a standing navy.
5. Is the Patriot Act necessary to protect America? If not, would you vote to repeal it?
It does not protect America, it threatens America. I would be a leader in the fight to repeal this Draconian legislation.
III) Re. Personal Liberty:
1. What information may the U.S. government legally gather about its citizens? When would it be necessary to overstep those boundaries?
It may legally gather the number of citizens living in each house, for census purposes, to determine the state populations. All other information may only be gathered with a legally obtained warrant. It is never necessary to overstep these boundaries.
2. What limits, if any, should be placed on the U.S. government’s ability to search its citizens without a warrant?
It does not have this right, plain and simple.
3. Ought the U.S. government be allowed to protect its citizens’ health by outlawing foods it considers unsafe, or to force medicate (i.e., fluoridation) or force vaccinate citizens?
Absolutely not.
4. What controls, if any, should be placed on the right to own a gun? Is there an effective way to keep guns out of the hands of madmen and criminals without encroaching on the rights of free, law-abiding citizens?
Violent felons have lost their right to gun ownership. Otherwise, no restrictions whatsoever on law-abiding citizens. The Bill of Rights is absolutely clear on this.
IV) Re. U.S. Sovereignty:
1. Is our involvement in and subjugation to global organizations, such as WHO, NATO, the UN, etc., a benefit to U.S. citizens?
No. I would be a vocal leader in the fight to exit all global organizations that require the US to cede its sovereignty.
2. Would you work to repeal international agreements that purport to hold U.S. citizens and/or property under its jurisdiction, or do you think there might be times when benefits outweigh concessions?
I would repeal them all.
3. Are trade agreements with other nations, i.e., NAFTA, CAFTA, good for U.S. citizens?
No. “Free trade” agreements actually restrict trade. The only truly free trade is that which is unlegislated.
4. Should the U.S. give foreign aid to other countries? If yes, for what purposes would it be justified? If not all countries, which would you continue to support?
No. US citizens are free to continue donating to countries of their own volition.
V) Re. State Sovereignty:
1. When does state law take precedent over federal law?
Always, as long as the power is not specifically given to the United States by the Constitution.
2. Would you stand up to the federal government and demand that it stay within the bounds of its enumerated powers and out of state business?
Without reservation.
3. Do federal officers have the right to arrest non-military citizens within the individual states for any crimes?
No.
VI) Illegal Immigration:
1. What do you see as the #1 problem with illegal immigration?
That they only take from socialized services such as public education and, as undocumented, do not contribute via the income tax.
2. What actions could we take to stop illegal immigrants from taking advantage of social services?
Reduce/eliminate taxpayer-funded social services and eliminate the income tax in favor of the consumption-based FairTax.
VII) Misc. Questions:
1. If you could make one amendment to the U.S. Constitution, what would it be?
There are so many important possibilities to reign in federal (and global) power, but the best start would be: repeal the 16th Amendment.
2. Would you vote to end government subsidies to private industry?
Without exception.
3. What should our government’s action be against Julian Assange, if any?
None.
4. Do you know what Agenda 21/Sustainable Development and the Communitarian agenda is? Do you support it? Why or why not?
I have studied it and am 100% opposed. It is not only a federal/global land grab but an attempt for those powers to completely control every aspect of our lives.
Office you seek: U.S. House of Representatives
State: FL
District: 01
PRIMARY DATE: August 14, 2012
Email Address: info@FrettsForCongress.com
Website: http://frettsforcongress.com
