Fifty Questions: 41-50

And so, we come to the end of our series of questions this week for Presidential debates, as formulated by Chris Sullivan of Different Bugle.

Hang on to your hats, my fellow Americans, for this fifth and final set of ten questions.

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41. On your second day in office, what agencies and programs do you intend to propose for elimination?

See my answer to question 7.

42. What would you do if China, Iran, Russia, Cuba, Venezuela, Libya or other countries turned isolationist?

As I would be President of the United States, as opposed to being president of the countries you mention, their decisions are out of my hands. If those decisions do not in any way constitute a hostile act towards these United States, I see no reason why they would change the status of our diplomatic relations with them. Of course, I will probably talk it over with, say, my Secretary of State, Congressional leaders -- you know, the usual suspects.

43. Should the US work to reduce its stockpile of weapons of mass destruction? If not, what countries should possess such weapons?

Under a foreign policy of non-intervention, toward which I as President would be inclined, it is certainly possible. I have no control over what other countries do, but I do have control over, and have an obligation to protect, these United States, and no action on my part will compromise that.

44. Is it immoral to take money by intimidation from one person and give it to another? What if a law says it's OK?

To the first question, yes. To the second question, such would in all likelihood be an unjust law, in which case the people of the United States are obliged to seek a change to it, the Congress is obliged to pass a law changing it, and I am obliged as President to sign it.

45. Explain the difference between law and legislation.

Legislation is the process by which the rules of societal conduct are made, whereas law is the rule or body of rules themselves.

46. Should people be free to ingest substances without the approval of government? If not, why is government approval needed and how does it change the act?

Laws exist for many reasons, the protection of the common good being among them. This not only applies to protection from the malfeasance of others, but the malfeasance towards oneself. Thus we have laws against suicide, to give one example.

47. How small does a business have to be before it can't expect a government bailout in bad economic times?

In this instance, to use an oft-quoted maxim, size does not matter.

48. Would you support the abolition of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and leave the Indians alone?

I would support the transformation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, into an agency dedicated to the self-determination of the Amerindian Nations, to the point where they can be left alone, and over the course of time, prosper. What form that would take would be determined on a case by case basis.

49. Would you seek the endorsement of the Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service and perhaps have ads featuring this person or campaigning with him?

No. (By the way, that is the dumbest question you have asked so far.)

50. Given the choice of two evils, should a person abstain from voting or vote for the lesser evil?

No one is required to vote, period. Should they so decide, however, I suppose it would depend upon the evil.

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That does it for this week, and this series of debate questions, folks. Good thing a guy like me wouldn't even have a chance to run as Dog Catcher, eh?

[Questions are the intellectual property of their author, and are reproduced here without permission or shame.]