Valerie Meyers
will represent the people of
Georgia's 8th Congressional District
by working hard to:
- Oppose government takeover of our healthcare by supporting health freedom legislation that gives you 100% tax credits for all healthcare costs;
- Demand the audit of the Federal Reserve to account for the trillions of dollars poured into Wall Street banks considered "too big to fail;"
- Ensure that laws, policies and regulations are Constitutionally sound by ending federal abuse of both the General Welfare clause and the Interstate Commerce clause;
- Strengthen protections for our God-given rights to life, liberty, and property.
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The federal government is rapidly expanding its influence over every aspect of our lives, moving us at an alarming pace further and further from the country we inherited from our founders. We must rein it in and return to sound constitutional principles before our country becomes unrecognizable.
As your representative in Congress I will work tirelessly to put a leash on Washington bureaucrats to stop this federal overreach and protect the values of life and liberty upon which our nation rose to greatness.
- Valerie Meyers
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| Valerie Meyers on the Issues
We are the future of the country and of the Republican Party. Those in leadership positions who continue to promote their own self-interests have betrayed our party's long-standing principles of limited government. As a result, our Constitution is under attack in all three branches of our government. It is our duty to hold our leaders accountable when they do not take seriously their oath to uphold the Constitution. It is up to us, the base of the Republican Party, to reclaim our party - and our country - before it is too late.
I support protecting all Americans' right to live free and independent.
Our personal liberties have gradually been eroded. The federal government has asserted that it has the authority to mine, collect, and store information on the personal matters of American citizens based on security or expediency, often in violation of our 4th Amendment guarantees against illegal search and seizure, and our 5th Amendment guarantees against self-incrimination.
We can prosper and protect our national security without intruding into the personal lives of American citizens. I vow to fight on behalf of preserving our personal liberties. (top)
I support a fiscally responsible federal government that does not unfairly burden our children.
Our national debt is fast approaching $12 Trillion dollars, or roughly $39,000 for every man, woman, and child in America. This figure does not account for the nearly $56 Trillion dollars of unfunded obligations that will come due as America's population grows older and Baby Boomers become increasingly dependent on Social Security and Medicare.
Thomas Jefferson said in 1816 "I sincerely believe... that the principle of spending money to be paid by posterity under the name of funding is but swindling futurity on a large scale." We put the future of our children and grandchildren in harm's way when we refuse to be realistic about the danger of our mounting national debt. I am committed to cutting government spending, balancing the budget, lowering taxes and maintaining a long-term perspective on resolving our current debt crisis. I will not support bailouts or stimulus packages which favor industry or special interests at the expense of ordinary Americans. (top)
I support a sound monetary policy that is transparent to all Americans.
Blame for the recent banking and financial industry crisis can be placed directly at the feet of the Federal Reserve and those like Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan who, after the terrible events of 9/11, sought to prop up the American economy by keeping interbank lending interest rates artificially low.
Overspending, overdevelopment and a bubble in the real estate markets were a direct result of the Federal Reserve's actions. While many on Wall Street and in Washington said they "never saw it coming" there were others who were not surprised by the eventual collapse of the mortgage lending market or the collapse of the collateralized and securitized debt and derivatives market along with it. Currently the Fed is doing everything it can to prevent market corrections from occurring. These actions only prolong and intensify the eventual devaluation of our dollar and the destruction of the buying power of the middle class.
This cycle is not new. It is a direct result of market intervention by the Federal Reserve. As long as the Federal Reserve is allowed to continue to protect banking interests as "too big to fail," those corporations behaving irresponsibly will continue to be rewarded for their risky behavior.
It is long past time for Congress to exert its Constitutional authority over monetary policy to ask the Federal Reserve to open its books and show the American people where our money has gone. An audit of the Federal Reserve would be the first step in regaining some control over an institution that has too long been reckless with our money - and our trust. (top)
I support a Constitutional approach to foreign policy that ensures a strong national defense.
We have the most powerful, most advanced military in the history of the world, and when we fight a war we fight to win, boldly, quickly and conclusively. However, in recent decades we find ourselves mired in conflicts where no declaration of war has ever been made by Congress as required by the Constitution. These conflicts are often begun in the name of defending our national interests, but ultimately devolve into long-lasting low level guerrilla policing campaigns that cost us precious human life and resources and inadvertently hand terrorists exactly what they want.
To date we have troops in over 120 countries yet our own borders are unprotected. It makes no sense to fight terrorists abroad when our own front door is left unlocked. Nearly a million illegal aliens cross our borders each year without our knowledge, which constitutes a clear threat to our nation's security.
Although often not as well publicized as our military activities are our less-noticed financial interventions. Through misspent foreign aid, embargoes, and special trade agreements, we end up perpetuating a cycle of inefficiencies and impoverishing vast numbers of people. The Founding Fathers warned us that foreign alliances sacrifice our independence and integrity as a nation. In Thomas Jefferson's First Inaugural Address, he proclaimed that America should have "peace, commerce and honest friendship with all nations - entangling alliances with none." Today, America's interests are undermined by subtle deference to foreign entities such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, World Trade Organization (WTO), and the United Nations (UN).
Rather than building military bases in countries around the world or aligning ourselves with those who expect us to sacrifice our interests, we should focus our efforts and resources on eliminating trade barriers in order to promote the ideals of which Jefferson spoke, and so that people of all nations will benefit from the improved standards of living that free trade and open commerce brings. (top)
I oppose legislated term limits.
Basically, term limits appear to be addressing the problem of lecherous career politicians which, to me, are just a symptom of voter apathy and disinterest. I'm not saying I wouldn't support term limits if the people of my district wanted them, but they don't address the underlying issues that lead to a lack of participation by voters in the election process. Term limits further remove the voter from his/her responsibility to hold elected officials accountable. The flip side of term limits is that good politicians (an oxymoron, right?) are tossed out with the bad, strictly based on their years of service.
Congress members get such a sweet salary, pension, and benefits it's no wonder they want to stick around forever and ever. Not to mention all the power and political clout that comes from years of service in a public office. Let's cut the salaries in half, eliminate the pensions and healthcare first and see who sticks around because they really want to help the country.
The Constitution only mandates that Congress meet once yearly! So why are our politicians behaving like full-time employees? It's fun to hang out and schmooze in Washington when you're rich and powerful! Not so fun if you have to get back home to your day job to put food on the table. If you took away all the perks of the office, most members of Congress would need to move on to make a living.
I already hear you complaining that then only rich people would hold office because they'd be the only ones who could afford it. I make the argument that a rich person willing to do it for nothing is just fine by me. Besides, middle income folks could afford it, too, if Congress weren't in session all year long.
Another issue with term limits in the House and Senate is the committee system in place now is seniority based. Term limits, in theory, may result in committee chairmen who are relative rookies. I agree that there doesn't need to be a Capitol full of career politicians, but one or two of them need to know what's what to be effective. Speaking of the committee system, it needs to be merit based anyway, and not based on seniority, like most well managed businesses in the information technology age.
The issue at hand is how to keep voters involved and caring enough to participate in this process so that 'BAD' politicians are voted out on election day. That is a subject for a whole other post. The answer, though, is not term limits, which puts the election process on near 'autopilot' and disengages the voter from the election process even more. (top)
I support parents, educators, and local leaders in their efforts to make decisions on how best to educate the children in their communities.
Prior to 1980, our public schools were run and paid for by each state. Local school districts controlled the curriculum, teachers' wages, retention, and school schedules. With the creation of the Department of Education came federal intervention, mostly in the form of standardized testing. Parents, teachers, and administrators complain that the current system sends our education tax dollars to Washington where a portion of that money is returned to us conditionally. Georgia's roughly 22% drop out rate is but one indicator that the system statewide is not functioning. Federal control is the problem - not the solution. (top)
I support protecting Americans from unfair and unreasonable taking of their wages and income through excessive taxation.
Those who claim to be conservatives must always support the principle of keeping taxes low. Low taxes are good for average working men and women because they encourage saving, spending, and investing. They are also good for businesses because lower taxes encourage both economic and job growth.
I support in principle the proposed consumption-based Fair Tax introduced in recent years. However, the 16th Amendment authorizing the federal income tax must first be repealed. (top)
I support your right to determine your own healthcare.
Those in a free society must absolutely decide for themselves what kind of care they want when they are ill and by whom that care should be given. This includes the right to seek alternative remedies for care and the right to refuse care altogether.
In recent history, however, the government and the healthcare industry have become increasingly interdependent and intertwined. So much so now that many of our tax dollars go toward government sponsored healthcare programs and initiatives. This leads to Georgians receiving back only a portion of tax dollars sent in to Washington for healthcare with many strings attached.
While it may be difficult to untangle the alliance between the federal government and the healthcare industry, I believe over the long-term it is ultimately the only way for healthcare to become affordable. Alternative plans currently touted by GOP leadership do not go far enough in addressing the issue. I want to support a real alternative.
Right now in the House of Representatives good, solid healthcare-related legislation has been introduced that would:
Provide a tax credit for 100% of health care costs (source: HR 1495)
Provide a tax credit for premiums for High-deductible Insurance Policies that are connected with a Health Savings Account (source: HR 1495)
Allow seniors to use Health Savings Account funds to pay for Medigap policy (source: HR 1495)
Make all Medicare expenses tax deductible (source: HR 1495)
Forbid the government from forcing anyone to buy health coverage (source: HR 2629)
Allow citizens to purchase health insurance across state lines (source: HR 3217)
I will support legislation that combines these proposals into a comprehensive health freedom bill that will put you back in control of you and your family's care.
I oppose forced vaccinations for the H1N1 flu virus, when the data thus far shows it to be far less dangerous than seasonal flu. Likewise I oppose any forced vaccinations for HPV, especially as evidence has not sufficiently proven that it prevents cervical cancer. These decisions should be between you, your family and your doctor, and not made by bureaucrats as part of a cleverly crafted government marketing program for commercial products.
I also support eliminating restrictions on free speech in labeling for those food products, vitamins, and alternative medicines that are prohibited from claiming health benefits despite mountains of publicly available research which support such claims. (top)
Jobs
Currently we do not have a free-market system in the United States. We have a managed economy where the government through tax policy (primarily the individual and corporate income taxes) and control of the prevailing interbank lending rates via the Federal Reserve favors or protects certain industries and businesses. This is called Corporatism or Mercantilism. Some might go so far to call it Fascism or Socialism. Whatever you call it IT IS NOT CAPITALISM. Capitalism is not responsible for the technology bubble of the early 2000s, the housing industry bubble of the mid 2000s, or the failure of the financial industries in the last year.
The key to economic growth, and, in turn, job growth, now and forever is removing all government imposed barriers that impede or prevent business and industry from conducting business. Take, for instance, the barrier of corporate income tax. The corporate income tax is not paid by corporations but by consumers as part of a product or service's price. Corporate income taxes are only paid by those industries who conduct business within the U.S. This ultimately drives corporations out of the country, and makes domestic prices uncompetitive.
Our campaign is focused on creating what we are presently calling a 'Five Year Turnaround Plan' for Georgia jobs. This proposal is not about focusing power in government through central planning, but unleashing the innovative American spirit and encouraging ingenuity. We will empower entrepreneurs and small and home-based businesses by encouraging our state legislators to remove many of the licensing requirements and ending zoning restrictions. We will also eliminate restrictions that prevent private sector industry from competing against industries that are right now subsidized by the federal and state governments. Think of the way Federal Express and UPS have overtaken the role of the post office and you'll have an idea of what we want to accomplish.
Another way we can end the government's influence on the free market is to repeal the 16th amendment, the authorization of the progressive income tax. The income tax is a mechanism for wealth redistribution and is used to manage people's purchases via tax exemptions, credits, and deductions. Instead we will support a consumption or sales tax which would force those operating outside the current income tax system to pay for the public services they use for free today. A sales tax is a practical measure by which we will gradually wean ourselves off of our dependence on federal and state services. By slowly lowering the percentage of the tax over time, the size of the government overall will shrink and government services will eventually be returned back to state control or ended entirely. (top)
I support the right to self-defense.
The 2nd Amendment assures that each citizen has a right to keep and bear arms to defend his/her life, liberty, and property. I will always vote to protect that right. (top)
I support protection of the unborn.
I support individual liberty. As such I believe that the individuals whose liberties are most vulnerable are the unborn. We must agree to protect them and their right to life. (top)
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