TU VOTER GUIDE 21 CD PRIMARY

Comparison

- Choose - Tracey Brooks (D) Darius Shahinfar (D) Phillip G. Steck (D) Joseph Sullivan (D) Paul Tonko (D)

- Choose - Tracey Brooks (D) Darius Shahinfar (D) Phillip G. Steck (D) Joseph Sullivan (D) Paul Tonko (D)

1. Biographical Information
   Web Site: http://journals.aol.com/loneran...

   Email: Lonerangeralbany@aol.com

   Marital Status: Married. Wife: Margaret.

   Family: 4 adult children. 5 grandchildren

   City/Town: Albany

   Birthplace: USA

   Experience: 40+ years experience including college/university Geography teaching, local and state political participation, local coordinator for presidential campaigns of Ted Kennedy and Jerry Brown.

   Community Involvement: President, Buckingham Pond/Crestwood Neighborhood Association, 1985 to present. Leadership in maintaining/improving neighborhood residential integrity and life quality including defeat of a big box store proposal for Krum Kill Rd at New Scotland Ave, defeat of a luxury housing proposal for Albany Municipal golf course, creation of Buckingham Pond Park, and setting aside a number of number of neighborhood green spaces and the Hartman Rd community garden site.

    
2. What, if anything, should the legislative branch do to change the course of the U.S. involvement in Iraq?
   Joseph Sullivan: Recognize that so long as imported oil is the lifeblood of our economy and way of life, the U.S. must maintain a military, naval and air presence in world oil producing regions. We owe it to our brave fallen and wounded military personnel, to prevail. The U.S. cannot abandon the people of Iraq, Afghanistan and Israel to Iran, Al Qaida, the Taliban and Hezbollah. Iran must be brought to heel. Stop supplying weapons and training that is resulting in U S military deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan. Iran must not be permitted to acquire nuclear weapons because Iran has sworn to destroy Israel and the U S. We can not allow Iran to strike first.

   Pakistan must cooperate with the U S to deprive the Taliban of a sanctuary in the NW Territory of Pakistan.

   Our priority should be training Iraqis and Afghans to secure, defend and stabilize their countries and be our allies in the War in Terror and prevent the takeover of Middle East oil by Iran or other hostile foreign powers.

    
3. What can the government do to alleviate the rising cost of health care while making care available to the millions of Americans who are uninsured?
   Joseph Sullivan: Homeland Security and Emergency/Disaster preparedness are top priorities. If we are not safe none of the other issues will matter. Government can't save us, we must prepare to save ourselves.

   Contrary to the other 4 Democrats in the 21st Congressional District, September 9 Primary, I do not support HR676 which would extend medicare to cover all Americans, or any similar proposal for establishment of a single payor system of universal health care, because existing choices in medical care would be eliminated, because huge tax increases would be required, and because those huge tax increases would fall most heavily on an already overburdened middle class.

   One might ask, why not extend the far better medicaid program, to all Americans? The answer is taxpayers can not afford to.

   Americans, including the poor, have to assume more personal responsibility for their own health and health care. This includes healthy diets and lifestyles; becoming better informed medically.

    
4. What specific proposals would you support to lessen the nation's dependence on foreign oil?
   Joseph Sullivan: In the short run, reduce fuel taxes, promote conservation, require auto manufacturers to produce vehicles that get 50 mpg or better, now; keep our strategic oil reserves full and drill for oil wherever it is to found, including offshore and the Arctic, provided it is done in a way to minimize adverse environmental impacts.

   Corn to produce ethanol has must end ,because this is the cause of increased prices American consumers are paying at grocery stores. Farm land must not be depleted to fuel our vehicles. Farm land is to be conserved for food production for domestic and export markets.

   For the long haul, we must develop alternative energy sources and adapt our way of life to survive in a world where oil will be scarce and expensive. Use our vast coal reserves and develop other energy forms including, solar, water and wind power.Rebuild railroad, canal waterway and port infrastructure to move freight, cargo and passengers. Renew the Erie Canal/Hudson River waterway.

    
5. What can be done in Congress to benefit the economy of upstate New York?
   Joseph Sullivan: As Member Congress from the 21st District, I will provide leadership promoting adaptation to a world where oil is scarce and expensive. Renewal of the Erie Canal/Hudson River waterway to move freight and passengers.Railroad expansion, including light rail to link cities with suburbs and rural areas.

   Scrap plans to dredge Hudson River PCB's. Reallocate the money to improve the aging water/sewer infrastructure of Albany, Cohoes, Watervliet, Toy, Rensselaer, Waterford, Schenectady, Amsterdam, Johnstown-Gloversville, Canajoharie, Ft Plain and other 21st District communities.

   Redevelop the Watervliet Arsenal as a major weapons manufacturing facility. End outsourcing weapons manufacturing to our enemies overseas.

   Promote expansion of local agriculture and food processing plants to provide food for the local and domestic markets, as well as for export, to help correct our balance of trade.

    
6. Do you support passage of a federal shield law for journalists?
   Joseph Sullivan: No. The First Amendment suffices. A law that defines and protects journalists as a special class, above and beyond the protections afforded all citizens, is not in the best interests of freedom of the press and free speech.

   Journalist and the media have become mouthpieces for politicians and political parties. Enactment of a federal shield law would only make this situation worse.

   Furthermore, we are a nation in grave danger from within and without. National security and survival of America must take precedence over special treatment of journalists, in particular those who are blinded to the dangers we face because of progressive (leftist) politically correct mindsets.

   The media should be leading the way toward campaign reform by (1) publicizing candidate web sites and (2) providing candidates equal time/space to present their positions on priority issues. Questionnaires like this are ok. Candidate comparative issue position charts based on web sites would be better.