Life Issues / Family Ethics Political Action Committee of Southwest Washington

2017 County Councilor/Commissioner Survey

Candidates: Copy and paste the survey questions below into your word processor, type your answers and send to vote4life@lifepac.org.  You can answer either all of the questions or choose from among them, or you can compose your own statement using some of the survey's themes.  Responses will be authenticated before use.

A CONSISTENT ETHIC OF LIFE IN PUBLIC POLICY
A consistent ethic of life (see here, here and here) focuses on the major life issues of abortion, fetal plundering, euthanasia, persistent poverty, unjust war, capital punishment, the use of nuclear arms, violence, racism, trafficking and exploitation.  While these are nationally debated issues, there are community manifestations of them that municipalities can address.  Will you as a county councilor/commissioner do all in your power and authority to implement public policies and facilitate community action that further a consistent respect for all human life?



PUBLIC LIBRARY PORNOGRAPHY
The US Supreme Court in its 2003 ruling United States v. American Library Association, Inc, upheld the use of library internet pornography filters.  Chief Justice Rehnquist stated for the plurality that "to fulfill their traditional missions, public libraries must have broad discretion to decide what material to provide to their patrons.  Although they seek to provide a wide array of information, their goal has never been to provide 'universal coverage,'" and "most libraries already exclude pornography from their print collections because they deem it inappropriate for inclusion."   In 2010, the Washington State Supreme Court ruled that public libraries' use of internet filters does not violate the state constitution. Will you as a city councilor appoint, recommend or request (depending on your level of authority) only library board candidates who oppose the inclusion of pornography in public libraries, whether by internet or printed materials?
 

 

REGULATION OF RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA AND PARAPHERNALIA
Recreational marijuana was legalized in Washington State in 2012 by Initiative 502.  The drug though is still banned federally, and considered dangerous by many, including the FDA, the AMA, and The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.  Citizens against Marijuana Legalization (CALM) states "The normalization, expanded use, and increased availability of marijuana in our communities are detrimental to our youth, to public health, and to the safety of our society."  The Alaska Association of Police Chief describe some of the negative aspects of legalizing the drug here.   For additional dangers see here.  For an extensive report by the National Academy of Sciences (Jan 2017) see here What is your position on the legal production, processing and sale of recreational marijuana in the jurisdiction of the office you are seeking?

_____ Support

_____ Oppose

_____  No Opinion

_____  Other:

 

ABORTION
Even dedicated proponents of abortion acknowledge that life begins at conception.  What do you believe?  Does a unique human life begins at conception? 

If not, how long after conception does a human life begin?
___3 mths   ___6 mths   ___9 mths   ___1 yr   ___18 yrs?
   


The 14th Amendment states "nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty or property without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." The Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade, 1973, stated that "if this suggestion of personhood is established, the appellant's case, of course, collapses, for the fetus' right to life would then be guaranteed specifically by the [14th] Amendment."  The Court regrettably concluded though that "we need not resolve the difficult question of when life begins. When those trained in the respective disciplines of medicine, philosophy, and theology are unable to arrive at any consensus, the judiciary, at this point in the development of man's knowledge, is not in a position to speculate as to the answer."  
Do you believe that the right to life of the unborn child is guaranteed by the 14th Amendment?


Is taking the life of a pre-born child through abortion ever morally permissible?  Check all that apply:

_____ No, it's never permissible

_____ Yes, to save mother's life

_____ Yes, in cases of rape or incest

_____ Yes, for physical deformity

_____  Yes, for gender

_____  Yes, for race

_____  Yes, to punish spouse

_____ Yes, it's always permissible

 

Do you support parental notification and/or consent before a minor (under 18 years of age) could have an abortion? A judicial bypass of parents would be allowed when necessary.  A 2013 poll commissioned by Human Life WA, found Washington State voters are widely supportive of laws requiring "parental involvement" in abortion decisions for girls under the age of 18 (62-29% with just under 10% undecided).  Read a summary of the results here.  Do you support:

Notification?

Consent?    
 

PLANNED PARENTHOOD
The nation's biggest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood, in the 2015-2016 fiscal year received $555 million in tax payer funding and aborted 328,348 babies.  Should Planned Parenthood be contracted with to make community presentations, provide literature, birth control chemicals or devices, and/or abortion services?
 

CONTRIBUTIONS OF RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS
"Religious communities are the largest and best-organized civil institutions in the world, claiming the allegiance of billions across race, class, and national divides. These communities have particular cultural understandings, infrastructures, and resources to get help where it is needed most" (World Conference of Religions for Peace).  Southwest Washington has a broad range of religious communities that contribute substantially to the welfare of families, children, seniors, the homeless, sick, and refugees.  They are a highly valued part of our community which respects and defends human life at every stage.  Are you an active member in a church, synagogue, temple, mosque or other religious assembly?

If so, you may state here where:
 

FAITH-BASED AND NEIGHBORHOOD PARTNERSHIPS
The White House's Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships ensures that religious and other community organizations are able to compete on an equal footing for participation in Federal programs without impairing the character of such organizations and without diminishing the religious freedom of those served.  Is the  collaboration of government with faith-based charitable works good for our communities?
 

CIVIC PRAYER
In the 2013 US Supreme Court ruling of Greece v. Galloway, all nine justices (following Marsh (1983), affirmed the acceptability of having an invocation at the beginning of public meetings.  Writing for the court, Justice Kennedy stated: "Ceremonial prayer is but a recognition that, since this Nation was founded and until the present day, many Americans deem that their own existence must be understood by precepts far beyond the authority of government to alter or define and that willing participation in civic affairs can be consistent with a brief acknowledgment of their belief in a higher power, always with due respect for those who adhere to other beliefs. The prayer in this case has a permissible ceremonial purpose. It is not an unconstitutional establishment of religion."  What is your position on your county councilors/commissioners instituting or continuing a prayer at the start of the meeting?

 

QUALIFICATIONS
Please state your professional experience, community involvement, education and other qualifications for a councilor/commissioner position.

 

POLICY POSITIONS
You may state here any policy positions you have in relation to the office you are seeking:


May Life PAC post your returned survey on our website? 
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