Social Issues
Two
of the most controversial issues before society today are abortion and
homosexual rights. As a candidate for State Assembly, my view is that the
Legislature has little influence over abortion policy, because this issue is
primarily under the control of federal courts, and that promoting homosexual
behavior is not the business of state government. That said, I know that
these issues are of great personal importance to many voters, and hope that
even if we disagree you will keep in mind that while Democrats are condemning
Republicans on matters that are not actually under legislative control, they
have not been satisfied with the status quo. Instead, while pointing fingers
in other directions, Democrat legislators are actively advancing their own
agenda that would greatly
change the world in which we, and our children, will live. So rather than
worrying about turning back the clock, we should be most concerned about
leaping ahead to places where we may not really want to go. Overall, I
believe that the current Legislature is spending far too much effort on
divisive attempts at social engineering and too little attention to roads,
water, and other issues that are needed to maintain our quality of life in
the face of a growing state population.
We
have all received the gift of life through conception and birth, so I am
opposed to abortion because it ends the development of a baby that we could
eventually hold in our arms with a life that we would value and protect.
There are, however, circumstances such as rape, incest, and a threat to the mother’s
life where other factors must be considered.
As
mentioned above, the debate about abortion has little to do with the business
of the State Assembly because the Legislature’s authority in this area is
limited to issues like public funding, which I oppose, while more
controversial subjects, such as parental consent for minors, are under the
control of the court system. At this point, the Legislature can be most
helpful by promoting a society that supports, rather than stigmatizes or penalizes,
the upbringing of children, regardless of their parents’ situation.
When
considering the rights of homosexual men and women, it should be apparent
that this behavior has existed throughout recorded history, despite
prohibitive attitudes and laws, and that the private activities of consenting
adults are not the business of government. But in the public arena, families
and society in general must retain the right and responsibility to specify
acceptable behaviors and to control the manner in which our children are made
aware of sexual practices and lifestyles. With this in mind, I support
limiting marriage to the unique union between a man and a woman, and I oppose
using our public schools and businesses to promote homosexual lifestyles.
Finally,
these are not easy topics for discussion. But I have done my best to be
candid about my views, and hope that you will ask the same of other
candidates. I also believe that we must always be willing to listen and to be
considerate of each other’s concerns and needs, so that even in disagreement
we can interact with a mutual respect that does not foreclose the opportunity
for cooperating on issues where we can agree.
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