Time for Change
Voters from both parties are supporting Ray because they know he works hard on their issues, and does not let partisan horseplay get in the way of real change. Ray has worked hard for residents in Potrero to fight off Blackwater, and he has been shining a bright light on the reality of the Sunrise Powerlink, pointing out why it is a lose-lose project. Ray wants to preserve the lifestyle of the backcountry and avoid over-developing properties just because the owner stands to make a bundle.
What has his opponent done? Nothing for the locals, that's for sure, and like a sorry broken record, his only actions are to put his name in lights. He has no real solutions, just complaints.
Let's compare the proposals by Duncan D. Hunter with those of Ray Lutz. The statements of Duncan D. Hunter were taken directly from his mailer without editing.
| Issue |
Duncan D. Hunter |
Ray Lutz |
| HEALTHCARE |
Repeal the Obama/Pelosi healthcare takeover and replace it with common-sense, free-market reforms that will force health insurance companies to be accountable and transparent while, at the same time, increasing the quality and access of healthcare in America and reducing costs |
The Healthcare reform bill was far from a "takeover" and only really dealt with the availability of health insurance. The elimination of unreasonable limits on benefits, the prohibition of recissions of policies or denying coverage due to pre-existing conditions, requiring coverage for preventative services and immunizations, uniform coverage documents so consumers can make apples-to-apples comparisons when shopping for healthcare insurance, all these steps and many more are actually common-sense free-market reforms. The only reason Hunter didn't vote for it was due to partisan politics. Ray would like to see us go even further, and take the cost of healthcare off the books of businesses to make us competitive globally, and allow those small businesses to flourish. |
| MILITARY SPENDING |
Maintain a strong national security policy that funds the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps at appropriate levels and doesn't cut defense spending during wartime for the first time in American history. President Obama's attempt to cut our military must be stopped. Islamofascism must be defeated. |
While I support a national security policy that funds our military at appropriate levels, to assert that no cuts should every be possible is ridiculous. The amount of outsourcing of our military is unprecedented, and I have fought to return support our public military and stop funding rogue mercenary forces like Blackwater. Our engagements in the middle east are based primarily on concoctions to secure the oil for the large oil corporations or to provide unending profits for the Military Industrial Complex, as predicted by President Eisenhower. It is time to get out of these wars and return to get our own house in order. Ray is also against "dirty" earmarks, such as Hunter's earmarks for the company founded by his uncle. Hunter says he has no financial interest, but when your uncle is involved, it is too close to be considered appropriate. |
| BORDER SECURITY |
Border Security that includes a COMPLETELY secure southern and northern border. Border security is national security. NO AMNESTY for those here illegally. |
Ray agrees with this statement 100%. However, he does not agree that border security means building hundreds of miles of border wall for millions or billions of dollars and can be defeated by a shovel or ladder. Instead, our Border Patrol must be fully staffed and equipped, and we must use high technology to help stem the tide of immigrants entering illegally. Ray does not support amnesty, because that implies that illegal immigrants can get off scott free. Instead, we must: a) crack down on cheating employers who hire illegal immigrants, b) require that all illegal immigrants register with the government and come out of the shadows, and c) require that they pay fines and back taxes, work, learn English, and go to the back of the line. Our immigration policies must be changed because they are UNFAIR and UNSAFE, but we must do the whole job, including renegotiating NAFTA to stop the dumping of dirt-cheap grain which has ruined the Mexican farming economy. Read more here. |
| ECONOMY |
Real Economic Growth that comes from a vibrant private sector. Fight the Obama/Pelosi takeover of every industry in the United States. Implement reform that will incentivize hard working Americans and entrepreneurs to create jobs. Bring manufacturing BACK from China and India to the United States. |
No debate that a vibrant private sector is very important, but it is false that current administration is trying to "takeover every industry in the United States." Sure, we want to create jobs, but how? My plan is to address our energy emergency and create jobs here by subsidizing 500 new solar panel manufacturing plants throughout the country, so that we build those panels here, and then retrofit all homes and businesses nationwide. Our energy situation is a National Security Issue and we must have the capability of providing our own energy needs, without relying on unstable foreign sources, and without ruining our shoreline with irresponsible drilling projects. There is plenty of energy from the sun if we use it, and if we work in this direction, new breakthroughs will make it even more economical. |
| RECOVERY AND JOB GROWTH |
Tax cuts and fiscal responsibility are the keys to economic recovery and job growth. The American people are overtaxed and the government spends too much. We must have a balanced budget and every federal agency needs to be cut dramatically except for infrastructure and national defense. |
I take a different view on this topic, because I believe that the most important responsibility of the government is insuring that we have sufficient JOBS. That means we stop rewarding companies for off-shoring their work to India and China, and that we look ahead to what our country will be up against in the near future. I am not for overspending, and certainly we can always cut programs that are growing, but the concept that government spending hurts our economy is a myth. When the government funds workers and programs, that money does not leave the economy, unless the money actually leaves our country, such as when we buy expensive foreign oil or spend billions to first destroy and then rebuild countries halfway around the globe. This is a key myth in the Republican model, a model that even Alan Greenspan admitted was "wrong." My solar energy plan will turn our economy around, will promote national security, and keep our resources here. |
| ENERGY |
Energy Independence. The only way to free ourselves from terrorist despots who negotiate international policy using oil prices is to keep working on alternative energy while at the same time following an "all of the above" approach. We must build more oil refineries, build nuclear facilities, and drill. |
There is no disagreement that energy policy is central to our national security. But the "all of the above," as Hunter lists, only includes more of the same thinking that got us into this mess in the first place. We must embrace RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES, such as solar and biomass conversion in a massive Manhattan-style project that will bring the capability to manufacture and retrofit these technologies to America. We must not continue the dangerous practice of irresponsible off-shore drilling and nuclear energy which has no solutions for dealing with extremely hazardous nuclear waste. If you think the gulf oil disaster is bad, nuclear accidents have the potential to be much, much worse. |
| CIVIL LIBERTIES |
Individual liberty and personal responsibility are the cornerstones of our great nation. The federal government's role should be limited to protecting and defending our God given freedoms. |
I could not agree more with that statement. Unfortunately, Hunter's positions on social issues does not follow this guideline, and encourages the federal government to intrude into the most difficult and personal decisions people and families make. Instead, I support the "Strong Family Model" which means that the federal government does not get to tell families, and individuals what to do, even if some people may think those decisions are mistakes. This includes who is included in the family, including race and gender, when pregnancies are terminated, which is the responsibility of the woman, and end-of-life decisions -- when to pull the plug. I also support legalization of cannibis, since the "war on drugs" was long ago an obvious failure. We can't afford to incarcerate people because of drug related crime that would nearly disappear if we move this harmless (and indeed medicinal) drug into the open. I've been told that 96% of incarcerated women are there due to drug-related crime, and this detracts from the responsibilities of law enforcement to work on rapists and murderers. |
| OTHER ISSUES NOT ADDRESSED BY HUNTER'S MAILER |
| SOCIAL VALUES |
- AGAINST freedom of choice for women regarding pregnancy termination.
- AGAINST abolishing bankrupt "Don't ask, don't tell" policy; worries about "hermaphrodites"
- AGAINST medical marijuana
- AGAINST equal rights for couples who are not heterosexuals.
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- SUPPORTS trusting women and supports choice regarding pregnancy termination.
- SUPPORTS abolishing bankrupt "Don't ask, don't tell" policy. "You don't have to be straight to shoot straight."
- SUPPORTS legalization and regulation of cannabis, including medical marijuana, industrial hemp and other uses.
- SUPPORTS equal rights under the law for all couples based on his "Strong Family Values" philosophy.
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| WAR |
Wants to continue the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Hunter takes vast sums of money from the military-industrial complex, and will not be able to vote against war. |
Will push to bring our troops home and wind down these wars based on contrived intelligence and exist mainly for oil and war-machine profits. Ray does not accept money from any company (or PAC that represents any company) that contracts with the government. |
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