| Background |
Age: |
50 |
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| Marital Status: |
Single |
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| Religion: |
Unknown |
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| Education: |
Bsc. Indiana University |
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| Current Job: |
Instructor |
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| Previous Job: |
Computer Consultant |
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| Previous Elected Office: |
Unknown |
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| Military Experience: |
Unknown |
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| Financials (provided by Center for Responsive Politics) Last Updated on 2004-07-31 |
Money Raised: |
$328,657 |
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| Money Spent: |
$232,544 |
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| % Money from PACs: |
0% |
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| Position on Issues |
Stance on Iraq: |
The War in Iraq is a failure, and the U.S. government should never have waged it. As your president, one of my first tasks will be to begin the orderly process of bringing our troops home as quickly as can safely be accomplished |
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| Abortion: |
Michael Badnarik has a solution to the issue of abortion. Get the federal government out of the abortion issue all together! If abortion is to be a crime then it takes place in a town, city, county, or state just like all other crimes in this nation. Therefore, the issue of abortion should be taken care of on the state level and the federal government should not be involved. This solution takes the issue back to where it belongs, and where it can be properly managed and resolved on a state to state basis. If you don't like your state's position on abortion (regardless if you are pro-life or pro-choice) you can either peacefully make an effort to convince your state to change their position or move to another state. |
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| Gun Control: |
If I have a "hot button" issue, this is definitely it. Don't even THINK about taking my guns! My rights are not negotiable, and I am totally unwilling to compromise when it comes to the Second Amendment. |
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| Capital Punishment: |
When asked about the death penalty by the Wilmington, N.C., Star News, he sounded like a promoter of vigilante justice when he replied, "In my opinion, the best place to initiate the death penalty is at 2 a.m. at the ATM when someone comes up to take your money." |
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| Same Sex Marriage: |
Marriage partners, not government, should define the terms and spiritual orientation of their union in accordance with our nation's guarantee of religious freedom |
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| Economy: |
On Deficit: The Constitution delegates the power to coin money to Congress. As your president, I'll insist that they discharge that responsibility instead of fobbing the job off on an external entity like the Fed. And I'll veto legislation for any such operation that doesn't meet the true test of money: It is either made of gold or silver, or can be redeemed for a fixed amount of gold or silver. |
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| Employment: |
On Outsourcing: Managed trade is typified by President Bush's enormous steel tariff, and, more recently, with the obscenely high 198% tariff on Chinese furniture. Such policies hurt foreign workers and American consumers. They may help domestic industries in the short run, but they encourage irresponsible and inefficient business practices at home. The world economy and American prosperity suffer. Republicans and Democrats say such practices are necessary to prevent ""outsourcing,"" but the reason business leaves the country is that government regulations make it prohibitively expensive for all but the richest companies to compete in America. Another layer of government regulations is not the answer.
On Unemployment: The answer is too much regulation and too much government spending. In the 1980s, the number of federal regulators fell from about 122,000 to barely 100,000. The private sector added 3,500,000 jobs as a consequence. The loss of each federal regulator resulted in the creation of more than 150 new jobs, enough to hire the ex-regulator, most of the unemployed, and some of the able-bodied poor. The nation prospered! … Even when government spends for a good cause, society becomes poorer. Consequently, the Swedish government, which established elaborate social safety nets in the 1970s, can now barely create enough wealth to sustain itself. America will end up in the same situation if we continue to grow government. |
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| Healthcare: |
On drug costs: The average brand name prescription drug cost American consumers over $84 per month in 2003, making life-saving medications unaffordable for those on low or fixed incomes. Establishment politicians want to shift these costs to taxpayers or pharmaceutical firms. Making taxpayers foot the bill will only spread the impoverishment. Cutting pharmaceutical profits to make drug companies foot the bill will stifle innovation…New regulations made manufacturing more costly. Advertising had to undergo an approval process by the FDA. The American consumer reaped small safety benefits from these added regulations, but the cost, both in lives and money, was even greater. We could slash pharmaceutical prices overnight by ending these regulations. |
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| Stem Cell Research: |
Unknown |
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| Environment: |
Michael Badnarik’s plan for the environment includes: Strict polluter pays policies; eliminate EPA permits to pollute; rescind sovereign immunity for government polluters, as the US government is our largest polluter; hold both government and corporate polluters responsible and individually liable; protect the environment by defending property rights; allow private groups to acquire and preserve federal land after securing legal agreements to preserve and protect them; oppose the use of "eminent domain" (taking of private land by force); promote the development of alternative fuels, recycled products, and environmental innovation by allowing a responsible free-market to thrive ; end all corporate welfare (subsidies to oil companies, timber companies, corporate farms, etc). |
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| Candidate Bio |
| Born August 1, 1954 in Hammond, Indiana. Parents, John (retired from the oil-refinery and steel-mill industries) and Elaine (a retired executive secretary), still live in Indiana in a house they built when Michael was two years old. Two younger (but much taller) brothers, Chuck and Steve; both married and living in neighboring Midwest states (Southfield, MI, and Aurora, IL, respectively).
Joined the Cub Scouts at age 6 and began marching in Independence Day parades, where later as a Boy Scout he carried the American flag (a task that he undertook with great dignity and respect). Achieved the rank of Life Scout and missed his Eagle badge by only three merit badges. Served as assistant Scoutmaster in Bloomington (in college), and as an adult Scout leader for a total of ten years. (Cites his favorite part as helping Scouts to achieve their Citizenship merit badges.)
Enrolled in 1972 at Indiana University in Bloomington as a Marine Biology major (with dreams of sailing the oceans with Jacques Cousteau); later switched to Chemistry as a more practical career path.
While in college, served as volunteer for American Red Cross and as an Advanced First Aid instructor, CPR instructor, Water Safety Instructor trainer, and chairman of the Bloomington Volunteers and Disaster Action Teams.
Hobbies include photography (including darkroom developing), camping, sailing, canoeing, mountain-climbing, scuba-diving1 (starting at age 12), skydiving2, hang-gliding, snow-skiing1, shooting1 (pistol, rifle and bow-and-arrow) and motorcycling. He also enjoys exploring all types of museums and libraries.
Became interested in the U.S. Constitution in 1983 and began a life-long journey in self-study of this founding document of the country he is so proud to call his home.
Professional:
Became a Computer Programmer in 1977 for Commonwealth Edison at their nuclear power plant in Zion, Illinois; taught control room operators about computers. Was promoted to Senior Software Engineer for their Braidwood Nuclear Simulator project, which he managed from '82-'85 (his favorite job assignment, basically a $6-million "computer game" for which he was totally responsible).
Moved to Montebello, CA, and held a "secret security" clearance at Northrop to work on the Stealth Bomber simulator, '85-'87.
Relocated to San Luis Obispo, CA, in 1987 as a System Administrator and computer trainer at PG&E's Diablo Canyon nuclear plant; spent 10 years as a member of the Applied Technology Services Team writing software and traveling the state installing real-time data-collection servers to their remote power stations; was an instructor for hundreds of employees teaching state-of-the-art systems being installed.
Moved to Austin, TX, in 1997 where he was a programmer and a trainer for Evolutionary Technologies International. He quickly became the Senior Trainer and began traveling across the U.S., and to Canada, England and Australia, as instructor, consultant and "high-tech diplomat."
Became an independent computer consultant in 2001, but began to turn his attention (and talents as an instructor and communicator) to teaching his 8-hour "Introduction to the Constitution" class.
Political:
Was elected Executive Vice-President of his dormitory at Indiana University, and became a BMOC ('big man on campus') known for getting things done, while always maintaining the high principles instilled by his parents.
Was put-off by the "politics of politics" until his greater understanding of the Constitution led him to the Libertarian Party, and a renewed optimism.
Libertarian candidate for Texas House of Representatives (Austin-area) in 2000 and 2002.
Made official announcement as a candidate for the Libertarian Party presidential nomination on February 17, 2003 (Presidents' Day) and traveled over 25,000 miles across the U.S. in the 15 months leading up to the Libertarian Party National Convention in Atlanta and his nomination victory on May 30, 2004.
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| Vice President |
| Campagna - Richard Campagna is a multi-disciplinary professional who has a long and distinguished record in public and community service. He is also an international businessman, a university instructor and a legal/psychological counselor. He has degrees from Brown University (B.A.), New York University (M.A.), St. John's University (J.D.), Columbia University (M.A.) and the American College of Metaphysical Theology (Ph.D.). He is also a returning scholar at the University of Chicago.
A native New Yorker, he has lived in Iowa for 13 years with his wife, Odalys (also an attorney and college instructor) and his son Robert, a senior football player at Lawrence University, majoring in American History. Campagna is fluent in six languages and is an accomplished legal, literary and medical interpreter. He brings a philosophical approach to political discourse and is a staunch defender of the right to privacy, non-interventionism, personal liberty and economic freedom.
Campagna currently heads up a thriving consulting practice and teaches at Kirkwood Community College, St. Ambrose University-MBA Program in Health Care and Mt. Mercy College. He has lectured and led seminars in all 50 states and on every continent of the world. Campagna will help lead the nation and the world with a "bottom-up," practical and spiritual approach to education and life-long learning and political discourse.
In addition to being a staunch supporter of each and every one of the platform components of the Libertarian Party, Mr. Campagna is deeply committed to leading our government towards significant educational reform, downsizing at all levels through constitutional mechanisms, and a non-interventionist foreign policy.
Furthermore, as an attorney who has practiced, counseled and taught law for more than 25 years, Mr. Campagna is also deeply committed to a revival of our common law rights, civilly and criminally, so that our citizens can be protected against illegal force, coercion and fraud. Perhaps the major component of his platform is the introduction of a mechanism for "redress of grievances" as set forth in the U.S. Constitution. Such would be utilized by the populace to eliminate unconstitutional institutions, including but in no way limited to the Federal Income Tax.
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