Charlie Crystle for Senate: Views on the issues

[srpantalonas]

I believe in economic and social justice and equality of opportunity for all. I also believe that you can not selectively apply your principles, otherwise they are worthless and your positions are unreliable to others.

Applying these principles,

I believe in a woman's right to choose; The DLC line that abortion should be "safe legal and rare" pretty much sums it up for me.

I support civil unions.

I believe in international trade, but only if informed by these principles. Regular people, our communities, small businesses, and our futures must be taken into consideration when deciding on how to apply massive economic forces which affect everyone.

I believe the current trade agreemments are hurting our communities and leading to broken families and unsupervised children. The good jobs are going, and the replacement jobs don't cover the mortgage. Many parents now work 2 or even 3 jobs to make ends meet. Underemployment--while not tracked officially--is, I believe, at an all-time high. Unemployment in many counties in Pennsylvania is over 10% and growing.

I believe we should limit minimum wage to people between the ages of 14-18, and we should introduce a "living wage".

While this is a state and not a national issue, it relates to the national economy: I believe gambling is a bandaid and not a structural solution to Pennsylvania's economic problems. Using the emotional issue of education to sell gambling to parents is morally wrong. The idea of using gambling to fund education is the clearest example of the need for campaign finance reform in Pennsylvania. Gambling should be able to stand on its own; I personally don't think Pennsylvania needs the associated social problems gambling introduces.

Fix the trade issue and you fix the funding issue.

I being up gambling because it points to the problems the tax cuts for the wealthy and the expenditure in Iraq bring to States and communities. The tax cuts meant cuts in services like unemployment services while unemployment rises, cuts in fire and police services when first responders are critical in an era of terrorism, and cuts in education and related services when education is supposedly so important to our country.

I believe the budget should reflect our values. We should repeal the tax cuts for the wealthy and fully fund education.

Every child in this country deserves the opportunity for a great education. Define what a great education is and then fund it.

Every American deserves adequate, reliable health care.

Seniors should not have to choose between taking their medications and eating. Sadly this is the case is much of America. Drug companies are completely out of control with their pricing, and our lawmakers have shown no backbone in dealing with them. These companies have had their chance and I believe it is time for a radical change. We should not tolerate the compromising of our nation's health for the sake of exorbitant profits. When it comes to improving the human condition, I believe corporations do not act in our interest if there is a profit to be made. Next month I will release a proposal calling for a single-payer health care system that keeps competition and the free market where it's important (research, innovation), levels the playing field, reduces cost for businesses, and covers every American. I will also release a proposal that deals with the prescription drug industry that preservces innovation while cutting the cost of prescription drugs to cost plus 35%.

I believe Affirmative Action is vital and useful, and that framing it as "racial preference" misses the point, and is at best a veiled attempt to allow racist behavior to go unpunished.

I believe in every American's right to participate in democracy, and the responsibility of poilitical parties and government to encourage and nurture this participation--not for their own sake or perpetuation, but for the sake of democracy itself.

I believe Ashcroft's Patriot Act is an outright attack on American principles and civil liberties, and I do not trust those who voted for it. Those who had the backbone to vote against it, I applaud. It is one of the main reasons I am running. I am scared to death of legislation like this and fear for my country when Democrats cave in so easily to attacks on our freedoms. My opponents voted for this.

I believe the vote to invade Iraq was wrong because we had not exhausted all possible avenues, because there was no clear threat, and because it was a blank check to Bush for his policy of unilateral, preemptive military intervention based on a perceived threat. It is not a policy one can apply to North Korea or China very well. Nor is giving this administration the power to define "perceived threat" wise in any way. My opponents voted for this.

I believe human rights--which are American rights--promote democracy and democratic behavior, and efforts to promote human rights should be supported worldwide. I still can't believe I have been atacked for this...welcome to politics.

I believe we can get to an America that is fair, full of opportunities and promise--the America I know you and I envision. I also believe you can't get there without plans, so I've been working hard on them. Debt Relief for Students, expanded National Service opportunities, $100 billion of investment in R&D in technology, bio-tech, and other industries, and I believe we should invest heavily in a "moonshot" type program to dcevelop and productize alternative energy sources so we can remove oil from our foreign policy equation (this is not my idea--it's a union idea and a great one). We have so much power to do good in this country. I believe each of us has good will within us, we just lack the collective good will. I'm trying to be a part of catalyzing that collective good will.

Thank you for listening.

Charlie Crystle
http://www.CrystleForSenate.com

[Hippo_Tron]

1. As I said on the other thread, it's my dream to do what you are doing...

I wish you the best of luck and really wish I had the means to donate. We should announce this on the front page of DU.

[frank frankly]

2. damn, that is great!

I will be donating towards the van next friday (payday).

Excellent platform. Exactly what I believe in, in both theory and practice. Very clear, very strong writing.

You're going to win, Charlie. People are ready for this.

[madfloridian]

3. Good website, clear stance on policies.

We need people like you.

:kick:

[sistersofmercy]

4. Hey Charlie great views, good piece!

Go click Forums.:kick:

[Blitz]

5. A few questions

Foreign policy:

1. However you felt about the Iraq war, now that we're there, what should be done with respect to funding troops, providing financial assistance to Iraq, etc. Do you have a vision for what the U.S. policy toward Iraq should be?

2. Should China continue to receive Most Favored Nation Status for trade with the U.S.? Should trade policy be tied in any way to a country's human rights record and, if so, how?

3. What is are your views with respect to U.S. immigration policy? Should it remain essentially as is or should it be changed? If you would like to see it changed, what changes do you envision?

4. What should U.S. policy towards Cuba be?

5. What are some steps you'd want to see taken towards resolving the Israeli/Palestian conflict?

6. What should the U.S. policy towards Iran be? Should the U.S. actively support the student-led pro-democracy movement in Iran?

7. What changes, if any, would you make in current U.S. policy in Afghanistan?

8. How about Pakistan? Would you favor the U.S. taking a more active role in the ongoing conflict between Pakistan and India?

9. How would you like to see the North Korean threat addressed?

10. Do you favor pressuring Russia economically to get it to change its policy in Chechnya or should the U.S. give Russia a free hand?

11. How would you address the ongoing human rights atrocities in the Sudan, the Congo and other parts of Africa? Should the U.S> involve itself in these problems? If so, how?

12. Should the U.S. be more active in addressing worldwide health epidemics such as AIDS?

13. Should the U.S. continue to support Israel economically through grants, loan guarantees, military aid, etc.?

14. Should the U.S. continue to support Egypt economically through grants, loan guarantees, military aid, etc.?

15. Would you change U.S. policy towards Saudi Arabia? If so, how?

16. Would you support continuing to fight "the war on terror?" If so, what changes would you like to see in the war effort?

Domestic policy:

17. What is your view on the late term abortion ban? Should abortion be legal under any circumstances?

18. How do you feel about mandatory national gun registration? What, if any, national gun control policies would you advocate?

19. What is your view of federal mandatory minimum and three-strikes laws?

20. Do you feel that 9-11 should be a national holiday?

21. Do you feel that Christmas should be a national holiday?

22. Do you feel that "under God" should be part of the pledge of allegiance? If not, would you advocate removing "In God We Trust" from American money?

23. What do you think of making English the official national language?

24. What are your specific health care proposals? How do you envision funding them?

25. What are your specific education proposals? how do you envision funding them?

26. Do you feel that every U.S. citizen should be entitled to a college education? If so, how do you envision making this a reality?

27. How would you address the issue of illegal aliens currently living in the United States?

28. What steps would you take to prevent the illegal immigrant problem from growing (this is connected to the immigration question, above)?

29. What specific parts of the Patriot Act do you object to? Which parts, if any, do you believe are unconstitutional? Which parts would you want to see retained?

30. What is your vision for long-term U.S. energy policy? How about short-term policy?

31. What is your opinion if statehood or at least voting congressional representation for Washington D.C.?

32. How much emphasis should be placed upon the continued development and support of the space program?

33. How would you like to see the military changed/reformed? how do you feel about a mandatory draft?

34. What are your opinions about tort reform? Should there be federally mandated caps on punitive damages and pain & suffering recovery and, if so, have you given any thought to what those caps should be or how they should be determined?

OK, candidate Crystle. Those are a few easy questions to get you started. I look forward to reading your answers.

[srpantalonas]

8. Responses

This is a lot to get through--we'll see how it goes. I'll be brief.

1) I think we should withdraw as soon as possible and bring in the UN in some form to replace our troops, perhaps over the next 12 months. I have no vision for Iraq, other than I hope the people choose some reasonable form of democracy, the leadership is not corrupt or controlledby Washington, and that it doesn't become the next Lebanon.

2) Human rights should inform our trade policies. China should not have MFN status. We should not trade with China on the same basis we trade with England.

3) I don't have a well-formed opinion on immigration policy, though I'm studying it a lot these days. Off the cuff I'm concerned about our lack of enforcement of existing policies, but I still think America should welcome those who want to pursue their American dreams.

4) We should drop the sanctions, impose some sort of tariffs on Cuban goods, and allow and perhaps promote travel there.

5) This is to complex to get into here. We can delve into in a separate post.

6) I don't know what you mean by "actively support". We should promote democracy. Should we arm them? No, I don't think so. ..

to tired to finish. will post more tomorrow. thanks.

[srpantalonas]

11. continuing...

(edits: typos)

8. I don't favor the current administration getting any more involved anywhere. Any time Powell seemingly makes reasonable progress, the neo-cons pull the rug out from under him. That said, I do favor the US taking a role in conflict resolution, but I think we are ill-suited to play anything but a supportive role in the case of India and Pakistan. We have a natural bias toward India because of our intertwined economies. I'd rather see a truly neutral third party involved, one with no interests in the outcome other than peace. We have our own issues with Pakistan, of course...

9. Clinton left us on a decent path with NK, Powell continued that, and Bush pulled the rug out from under him 3 months into the administration. NK is tough--it has a substantial military, nuclear capacity, and it's mistreating its people. We need to start with shipments of food with no strings attached--help them get back on their feet. They already know we have military might--they already fear that given the aggressive "axis of evil" designation by our resident all-hat-and-no-cowboy. We must sit down with them often and start treating them as neighbors and not as adversaries. I believe Bush has created an unnatural enemy in North Korea--they were ready to become more open, they need the help, but it has to be on their terms. If we put aside ego and help them get to a less threatening place--one where they accept inspectors and put their nuke program aside, we'll have made great strides toward stabilizing the region. To do that Kim Jong-il must not feel as though his own power is threatened. Note how the current "diplomacy" is making progress...

10. Bush has been irresponsible in allowing Russia to characterize the civil conflict in Chechnya as terrorism. Clearly Chechnya wants its independence from Russia. The US should promote talks between the two sides, the UN should do the same, and yes, I think the US should in some cases use its economic power to influence other country's behavior, and in this case, the behavior I'd like to see is the cessation of military action/violence and the start of talks. This recent election was a complete sham.

11. The promotion and defense of Human Rights promotes democracy. Yes, I think the US should promote and defend Human Rights throughout the world. I also think we should be much more deeply committed to Africa. I'm tired of our foreign policy being defined by corporate interests instead of human interests. In the interest of humanity, we should be involved more deeply in Africa.

12. Bush sounded bold when he announced his AIDS policy, but he's blown the implmentation. We should invest more heavily in university-based R&D, completely free of private industry involvement. We should pressure US pharmas to donate life-prolonging AIDS drugs. We should promote abstinence and safe sex. We should promote causes like http://KeepAChildAlive.org

We should fund clinics and drug distribution systems (The Carter Center would be a perfect partner for distributing AIDS drugs in Africa). This one is a no-brainer--AIDS is a terrible disease which affects the world's poor disproprotionately. We have a moral responsibility to do what we are able to--which is a lot more than we're currently doing. We have to decide what kind of country we want to be--I want us to be a country that acts in favor of humanity, not against it.

13. Yes, though I think in some cases we should try to influence policy using incentives, as with any country we want to see do well. Israel is a democracy--that's the difference between the Israel and Palestine. I believe a peaceful resolution between two democracies is possible, but Palestine hasa long way to go to get there, and that it's in Israel's best interest. I believe we need to support democracy in the Middle East. I also believe that both sides should comply to the UN resolutions, that some existing settlements must be abandoned and new ones halted, and that the Palestinians must eliminate the militants that threaten both Israel's and Paletine's futures. Palestinians deserve responsible leadership, they deserve democracy, and they absolutely must capture and imprison the militants if any progress is to be made at all. The suicide bombings must stop. I believe the promotion of human rights within Palestine promotes democracy, and that promotion will ultimately benefit Israel. I look forward to the day when Israelis can relax at their cafes--this has gone on entirely too long and I deeply desire the end to the conflict.

[Blitz]

12. Kick

I commend you for a nice start. Giving serious answers to difficult questions is a minimal requirement for any Senator and I applaud your efforts thus far.

[Blitz]

13. kick

[srpantalonas]

16. continuing...

14. See above
15. Yes. I'm not sure how I would change the policy, but let's start with treating it as an undemocratic country and as we would any country without oil. I want to take oil out of our foreign policy. To do that effectively we need to invest heaviliy in a moonshot-type energy program, like the Apollo energy project that calls for $300 billion in clean energy R&D.

16. I am tired of the "War on X" rhetoric. Terrorism will always be a possibility; the key is to reduce the probability. Invading Iraq and failing in Afghanistan has increased the probability. If we truly supported democracy and promoted it without manipulation in our favor, we'd be much more likely to gain the sort of respect we need to diminish the perceived importance or attraction to anti-American terrorism. The big-stick approach to terrorism isn't working.

17. I disagree with the term LBA. It's a very rarely used medical procedure used only in extremely dangerous situations; my sister is an OB and hs never seen it used and says it is only used in cases where the fetus is DOA or not viable (braindead). Congress should not legislate which life-saving medical techniques doctors should use.

18. I'm comfortable with the current legislation, not comfortable with current enforcement, and feel we need to go after rogue dealers. the failed Drug War is a much more pressing question...declare victory and get out, reapproach from a more realistic perspective that drug addiction is a disease and not a crime. Our drug war policies enable great wealth through black market drug dealing and create tremendous cash flow for terrorists worldwide. The Drug War promotes terrorism and illegal gun use. Interesting, valid, scary thought.

19. I don't support mandatory minimums or 3-strike laws. They take discretion away from a judge and turn judges into adminstrators, removing judgment from their realm and putting it in the realm of legislators.

20. I've never thought of 9-11 as a national holiday. I don't know how I feel about that. Yes, I'd be inclined to support that.

21. You are tough. Should Christmas be a national holiday...My white Christian upbringing, of course, tels me yes, well sure, why not. It's not the state sponsoring Christmas, it's the state shutting down on that day--in deference to Christians, true; equally applying that policy would shut the fed down on quite a few more days in deference to other religions. Applying the principles...no, it shouldn't. But perhaps we could legislate a certain number of voluntary days off yearly for all people for religious purposes.

22. I believe the only the more presumptuous and arrogant than saying there is a God is saying there isn't--we just don't know, and that's where personal faith comes in. That said, I don't believe references to God should be on our currency or in the pledge of allegiance.

23. I don't see why any language needs to be the official language. I also don't think the government should spend a huge amount of resources printing everything in every conceivable language.

24. I'll punt on this until I release my health proposal. UHC, though.

25. ibid.

26. Every person deserves the opportunity for a college education. Only 25% of us actually get a degree. We need to remove the barriers, reduce costs, and create a Student Debt Relief program that pays tuition in exchange for public service. Details coming in a proposal.

...that's all for now. thanks.

[Blitz]

20. kick

Good effort. Anybody want to weigh in on any of this?

[srpantalonas]

21. continued

26. Every American deserves the opportunity to go to college if qualified. Money should not determine qualification. I'm proposing Debt Relief for Studentsl, where students commit to public service of some sort in exchange for tuition. Only 35% of Americans get college degrees, I believe.
27. I don't know--I'm studying this and am very torn.
28. Same

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Well said

Image from the website of Glendale Community College, Glendale, Arizona

[salin]

7. Very good start!

:thumbsup:

The tricky part is the policy details. Hope you have some good folks that you can turn to, to assist in turning these principles into policy responses. Tough work - but very, very important. Good luck!

[Isome]

9. Thanks for posting!

Well done Charlie... *clapping*

[NuckinFutz]

10. You go, Charlie!

You got my vote!

[TheDonkey]

14. I'm v. intrested by what I see.

Where in Pennsylvania do you live?

If you're ever intrested in coming to Shippensburg University (south central PA) let me know and I can advertise it through our college democrats.

[goobergunch]

15. I'm going to try to talk my parents into voting for you

I think this will help.

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[Terwilliger]

17. kicking for the senate candidate from Pantalonas

;-) patagonia?

[Freddie Stubbs]

18. Way to go quoting the DLC

That will earn you plenty of friends here on DU;)

[srpantalonas]

19. I'm no DLC democrat....

More of a Wellstone Dem. Progressive, principles-based. There are some parts of the DLC platform I find they articulate very well, but I find their "centrism" merely a move to the right, not really a "third way."