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Issues and Positions

General Statement

I believe that government must play a significant role in the creation of a civil society that enhances and optimizes the welfare of all of its members.

The following discusions sets out in an abstract form the principles that are the basis for determining what that role should be.

How do we determine when we as a people should act through our government, and the appropriate scope and level of such action?

I believe two foundational principles govern those decisions:

• We should act through government when those who make decisions do not bear the full consequences of those decisions. In this way, we can require that decision makers take all consequences into account. Appropriate government action may take the form of direct expenditures, incentives, regulation, or prohibitions. Examples include securities regulations, research credits, vehicular safety requirements, environmental regulations, regulation of labor conditions, trade policy, and criminal laws.
• We should act through government to create a compassionate and just society when the benefits of private action do not sufficiently accrue to a single decision maker. Examples of such action include public education, social security, and medical care.

Within that context, other principles govern the level of government that should act, the scope of that action, and the source of funding:

• The least intrusive and narrowest means possible should be adopted.
• Those most directly affected by decisions should make those decisions. This allows local innovation and variations, which in the long run tend to optimize results.
• Federal action is only appropriate when there is no or minimal association of place and problem addressed.
• The governmental authority spending funds should impose the taxes that raise those funds.
• When government expends funds it is responsible for specifically directing the use of those funds, to enhance accountability for decisions made.

Although it may from time to time seem expedient to violate these principles in the interest of perceived limitations in the state and local political process, in the long run it is destructive to our political culture and the effectiveness with which we use government to act in the interest of all individuals.

Central Concerns

I speak to three central concerns about our present situation:

• A political culture of fear and greed, rather than courage, compassion, and justice. This discourages involvement by all persons and our use of government for the benefit of all persons, substituting instead government action that benefits the few by misappropriation of our joint resources.
• Fiscal irresponsibility at the federal level.
• Misapplication of the federal government to resolve problems properly within the sphere of state governments, and the failure to devote federal resources to problems properly within the sphere of the federal government.

Each of the position statements reflects the application of these principles and concerns.

Position Statements

I am in the process of preparing position statements on various topics, including the following:

• Education
• Environmental Policy
• Fiscal Policy
• Health Care
• "Homeland Security"
• Labor Policy
• Privacy
• Social Justice
• Social Security
• Tax Policy
• Trade Policy
• Transparency in Governmental Affairs

Please check back, or if you would like to be kept informed of campaign developments, additional materials posted to this website including new position statements and questionnaire responses, and other items of interest, please sign up to stay informed.

Candidate Questionnaires

Candidate questionnaires are often presented by interest groups to determine a candidates position regarding particular questions. Each questionnaire is provided in full with responses and comments provided to the sponsoring group.

Catholic Pro-Life Committee

Free Market Foundation

Greater Dallas Association of Realtors, Federal Candidate Questionnaire

League of Women Voters

National Rifle Association of America

Stonewall Gay & Lesbian Democratic Club

Texas State Teachers Association, Dallas Chapter, Federal Candidate Questionnaire

Women's Health and Family Planning Association of Texas

The following questionnaires have been received, and will be posted as responses are made:

The American Legion-The Citizens Flag Alliance, Inc. (received 1/12/02)

National Right to Life Committee, Inc. (received 1/14/02)

Gun Owners of America (received 1/19/02)

BIPAC (received 1/19/02)

National Right to Work Committee (received 1/20/02)

The Young Conservatives of Texas

 

Paid for by the Walter Wm. Hofheinz for Congress Committee. ©2002 Walter Wm. Hofheinz.
Last modified April 4, 2005 6:38 pm