Key Policy Positions

Soundbite policy positions:

Follow the Constitution Freedom & Liberty Will of the People Small Government Fix our financial crisis Sound currency Free trade & diplomacy

Noninterventionism Bring troops home Prosperity leads to charity Strong national defense Protect our borders Eliminate income tax Local decision making

More detail on some of his policy positions which have gotten the most attention:

• Adheres to a foreign policy of nonintervention in the tradition of Washington, Jefferson and Madison. Strong national defense, strong military to protect the country and the borders, strong diplomacy and trade, and avoid entangling alliances with other nations.
• If the will of the people is to go to war, then the government must follow the law of the Constitution to formally declare war, including a set budget, timeline and goals. War with no declaration or end is unconstitutional.
• Smaller federal government, no income tax and sound fiscal policy.
• Nation building and policing the world will bankrupt our country. We are currently $9 trillion in debt, with most owed to China, Japan and Saudi Arabia. The money spent overseas would allow us to eliminate the income tax and still have enough to ensure solvency of Social Security for current participants.
• Allow younger generations to opt-out of Social Security if they wish.
• Eliminate federal departments which are better served by state governments, local communities or businesses. The budgets for these departments should be given back to the people and their states.
• Views inflation as an underhanded form of taxation, because it takes value away from the money that individuals hold without having to directly tax them.
• Sees the Federal Reserve as responsible for eroding the value of money since they are able to "print money out of thin air" without any commodity backing.
• Supports the creation of competing currencies, such as a gold-backed currency or potentially a currency based on a basket of commodities (does not support returning to the gold standard).
• Believes in protecting the freedom and liberty of all individuals. For example, he believes the government should have no place in mandating or prohibiting school prayer. As well, the government should not regulate or tax the Internet, and should never violate habeas corpus, through which detainees can seek relief from unlawful imprisonment.