Issues « Sean Patrick Feeney for Indiana

Issues

Sean Patrick Feeney’s stance on major issues of the day can be found below, in accordance with his belief in transparent government and full disclosure. If elected he will stick by his principled views. However, unlike many politicians, when new evidence is presented before him supporting a viewpoint he does not currently adhere to, he will make sound judgments on the merits of the new evidence. Such is the scientific method, and it is called “political science” for a reason

Lowering the driving age - Child labor laws let you work at 14 but you can’t drive yourself to work until you’re 16. An affordable, reliable, all-encompassing public transportation system simply does not yet exist in Terre Haute. Until such a system can be devised, let young adults fill their family role more adequately. If need be, the driving test could include some sort of maturity/responsibility index upon which a certain score would need to be achieved before granting drivers their license. Such an index could help with the post-teenage group as well.
Raising speed limits - Where safe, such as the majority of interstate highways. The Autobahn has far fewer accidents than US highways because of its recommended rather than enforced limits. The typical American is forced to spend too much attention making sure he or she is within the speed limit instead of on the road, not to mention the impact this has on the relationship between police and public. The risk of public overreaction to police on the side of the road would lessen, lessening the number of accidents as well. If need be, the driving test could include a “maximum safe personal speed limit” test administered in a computer-simulation. If caught driving recklessly, a driver who was found to also be over his or her personal speed limit could be fined. That way, not all state revenue made through tickets would be lost.
Lowering the drinking age - You can die for your country at 18 but you can’t have a drink until you’re 21. The rest of the world already understands this.
Federal Department reform - No federal law actually grants the IRS the power to collect personal income taxes. Either this law should be written or the IRS should be minimized to do what it’s legally allowed to do. The same is the case for many federal departments, and the same should be done for them.
US Credit System reform - Since 1999, US household spending has exceeded income, and it’s no wonder: US government spending has exceeded its income for quite a while. After the government is capable of being a good example again, we should focus on preventing unreasonable consumer debt. This will have to happen through a combination of changes on the creditor and debtor sides, as well as changes in the pricing of things consumers are forced to purchase (for example, education). Bankruptcy laws will also need to be adjusted.
K-12 reform - 21st century technology means that the learning paradigm has shifted. Textbooks are no longer relevant in any area outside of history/language class, even when they have accompanying “online resources.” Standardized testing or school uniforms are not the solution, especially those put forth by the US Department of Education. In Japan, schools compete against each other for students and this raises the bar. The geography may be different, but we must find a similar solution in the US, even if it involves private schools who would receive government funding per student (sort of like our current higher education system). Catholic schools often produce the same – or better – results as public schools, with a whole lot less bureaucracy. The US Department of Education could easily be reduced to merely administering the FAFSA and whatever voucher-like program would power a new K-12 system without a single percent of effectiveness lost in US public schools. The money could then be returned to teacher salaries, which need a major upgrade if we are to fix the system and encourage quality people to teach, especially in our internationally failing math and science programs. Technical education funding must also be raised dramatically: I’m tired of seeing programs at ATCs and CTCs disappearing because of funding. For some students technical programs are the only thing keeping them in school and this important motivator should not be taken away from them.
Social welfare reform - The Social Security / Disability System can’t continue to have band-aids applied to it. A new system must be developed (and not privatized) to ensure that our youth will have the protection they need. An example of the fundamental problem with the current system, and therefore the need for a completely new system, is that current recipients are paid by the tax revenue of the currently working. Your incomes taxes are not paying into some sort of fund that will gain interest and be available to you when you retire, your income taxes are given immediately to the currently retired. You are fooled into thinking that such a thing is okay, because the youth of tomorrow will pay for your retirement. Given current population statistics, that’s unlikely. That’s why I support allowing citizens the option to put the money that would otherwise have paid into social security into the savings mechanism of their choice, whether it’s a savings account, money market account, the stock exchange, or a government secured successor of the social security system. By allowing each person to have control of their own account, it promotes self-responsibility and allows for changes in the median age of the population.
On the topic of unemployment insurance, I believe that everyone should work for their fair share. Loopholes that allow people to be on unemployment for years should be closed, and job placement and educational training for those unable to get a job should be expanded. If they get some sort of educational credit in lieu of a job and fail their classes for more than x number of terms, they should be expelled from the program. If need be, we could reinstate some of the New Deal agencies to generate manual labor jobs cleaning up city parks or whatever the need may be, but otherwise healthy and capable people should earn their living. An exception should be made, however, reflecting the original intent of the law: if you had a job, and suddenly no longer do due to no fault of your own, you should be eligible for temporary unemployment insurance. The government shouldn’t be able to deny your temporary claim unless an employer can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you quit. This includes protection for workers who are encouraged to quit, by management intimidation or other means. Expectant and recent mothers are especially vulnerable to such situations. Employers also should not be allowed to discriminate based on where you live if you can prove you can meet their work schedule expectations.
Increased public transportation infrastructure - Imagine the shift in how workers got to work, and where their home could be located in relation to their job, if high-speed trains using electromagnetic or electrodynamic suspension were installed above the median on interstate highways around the nation. These trains can travel upwards of 300mph and are revolutionizing travel in countries like Germany, Japan, and China. This would serve a dual purpose, as the environmental benefit from the number of cars that could be taken off of the road would outweigh the environmental impact of the electricity generation needed for the trains. In Indiana, I propose that the initial high-speed rail lines be installed outside of the traditional Indianapolis spoke system, enabling efficient transportation from cities like Terre Haute to destinations like Lawrenceburg and Gary.
Free Healthcare for All - In the EU and Canada, national healthcare systems care for the sick and injured quite adequately, despite what Republican propaganda would have you believe. The US spends more per capita (i.e. per person on average) on healthcare every year than any other nation! It’s easy to see the tax savings that would result by re-working or replacing the Medicaid/Medicare system and allowing all persons to participate. I support a true national healthcare system, not a “mandate” like proposed under the Obama or Clinton administrations. They claim the mandate would include provisions for the poor, but given the current Medicaid/Medicare system which serves the poor, it’s easy to see that what Obama and Clinton propose amounts to a subsidy to the existing corrupt HMO/insurance-company industry, an industry that makes its money by denying payment for all or part of legitimate claims after services are rendered, leaving the American family footing the bill, going into bankruptcy over medical bills, and amounting to the equivalent of that family not having health insurance to begin with! Under “ObamaCare” that scenario would continue to happen, but it would now slap hundreds of thousands of new families with a fine if any of those families figured out what was happening and chose not to pay into the HMO system! The true solution to the problem is not a subsidy to an already corrupt system hidden behind political slogans and propaganda, or a 100% free market system, but a system closer to what the EU and Canada have in place. A combination of a decrease in scope and funding for other government departments could easily offset the supposedly overwhelmingly negative tax costs that a true national healthcare system would need (ObamaCare, with all its inadequacies, still saves the American taxpayer in the long run, which is why the new Republican Congress had to exclude it from their Pay As You Go rules – a repeal would actually cost the taxpayer).

		Join Mailing List HomeAbout SeanIssuesEndorsementsPhotosContactDonate Issues Sean Patrick Feeney’s stance on major issues of the day can be found below, in accordance with his belief in transparent government and full disclosure. If elected he will stick by his principled views. However, unlike many politicians, when new evidence is presented before him supporting a viewpoint he does not currently adhere to, he will make sound judgments on the merits of the new evidence. Such is the scientific method, and it is called “political science” for a reason Lowering the driving age - Child labor laws let you work at 14 but you can’t drive yourself to work until you’re 16. An affordable, reliable, all-encompassing public transportation system simply does not yet exist in Terre Haute. Until such a system can be devised, let young adults fill their family role more adequately. If need be, the driving test could include some sort of maturity/responsibility index upon which a certain score would need to be achieved before granting drivers their license. Such an index could help with the post-teenage group as well. Raising speed limits - Where safe, such as the majority of interstate highways. The Autobahn has far fewer accidents than US highways because of its recommended rather than enforced limits. The typical American is forced to spend too much attention making sure he or she is within the speed limit instead of on the road, not to mention the impact this has on the relationship between police and public. The risk of public overreaction to police on the side of the road would lessen, lessening the number of accidents as well. If need be, the driving test could include a “maximum safe personal speed limit” test administered in a computer-simulation. If caught driving recklessly, a driver who was found to also be over his or her personal speed limit could be fined. That way, not all state revenue made through tickets would be lost. Lowering the drinking age - You can die for your country at 18 but you can’t have a drink until you’re 21. The rest of the world already understands this. Federal Department reform - No federal law actually grants the IRS the power to collect personal income taxes. Either this law should be written or the IRS should be minimized to do what it’s legally allowed to do. The same is the case for many federal departments, and the same should be done for them. US Credit System reform - Since 1999, US household spending has exceeded income, and it’s no wonder: US government spending has exceeded its income for quite a while. After the government is capable of being a good example again, we should focus on preventing unreasonable consumer debt. This will have to happen through a combination of changes on the creditor and debtor sides, as well as changes in the pricing of things consumers are forced to purchase (for example, education). Bankruptcy laws will also need to be adjusted. K-12 reform - 21st century technology means that the learning paradigm has shifted. Textbooks are no longer relevant in any area outside of history/language class, even when they have accompanying “online resources.” Standardized testing or school uniforms are not the solution, especially those put forth by the US Department of Education. In Japan, schools compete against each other for students and this raises the bar. The geography may be different, but we must find a similar solution in the US, even if it involves private schools who would receive government funding per student (sort of like our current higher education system). Catholic schools often produce the same – or better – results as public schools, with a whole lot less bureaucracy. The US Department of Education could easily be reduced to merely administering the FAFSA and whatever voucher-like program would power a new K-12 system without a single percent of effectiveness lost in US public schools. The money could then be returned to teacher salaries, which need a major upgrade if we are to fix the system and encourage quality people to teach, especially in our internationally failing math and science programs. Technical education funding must also be raised dramatically: I’m tired of seeing programs at ATCs and CTCs disappearing because of funding. For some students technical programs are the only thing keeping them in school and this important motivator should not be taken away from them. Social welfare reform - The Social Security / Disability System can’t continue to have band-aids applied to it. A new system must be developed (and not privatized) to ensure that our youth will have the protection they need. An example of the fundamental problem with the current system, and therefore the need for a completely new system, is that current recipients are paid by the tax revenue of the currently working. Your incomes taxes are not paying into some sort of fund that will gain interest and be available to you when you retire, your income taxes are given immediately to the currently retired. You are fooled into thinking that such a thing is okay, because the youth of tomorrow will pay for your retirement. Given current population statistics, that’s unlikely. That’s why I support allowing citizens the option to put the money that would otherwise have paid into social security into the savings mechanism of their choice, whether it’s a savings account, money market account, the stock exchange, or a government secured successor of the social security system. By allowing each person to have control of their own account, it promotes self-responsibility and allows for changes in the median age of the population. On the topic of unemployment insurance, I believe that everyone should work for their fair share. Loopholes that allow people to be on unemployment for years should be closed, and job placement and educational training for those unable to get a job should be expanded. If they get some sort of educational credit in lieu of a job and fail their classes for more than x number of terms, they should be expelled from the program. If need be, we could reinstate some of the New Deal agencies to generate manual labor jobs cleaning up city parks or whatever the need may be, but otherwise healthy and capable people should earn their living. An exception should be made, however, reflecting the original intent of the law: if you had a job, and suddenly no longer do due to no fault of your own, you should be eligible for temporary unemployment insurance. The government shouldn’t be able to deny your temporary claim unless an employer can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you quit. This includes protection for workers who are encouraged to quit, by management intimidation or other means. Expectant and recent mothers are especially vulnerable to such situations. Employers also should not be allowed to discriminate based on where you live if you can prove you can meet their work schedule expectations. Increased public transportation infrastructure - Imagine the shift in how workers got to work, and where their home could be located in relation to their job, if high-speed trains using electromagnetic or electrodynamic suspension were installed above the median on interstate highways around the nation. These trains can travel upwards of 300mph and are revolutionizing travel in countries like Germany, Japan, and China. This would serve a dual purpose, as the environmental benefit from the number of cars that could be taken off of the road would outweigh the environmental impact of the electricity generation needed for the trains. In Indiana, I propose that the initial high-speed rail lines be installed outside of the traditional Indianapolis spoke system, enabling efficient transportation from cities like Terre Haute to destinations like Lawrenceburg and Gary. Free Healthcare for All - In the EU and Canada, national healthcare systems care for the sick and injured quite adequately, despite what Republican propaganda would have you believe. The US spends more per capita (i.e. per person on average) on healthcare every year than any other nation! It’s easy to see the tax savings that would result by re-working or replacing the Medicaid/Medicare system and allowing all persons to participate. I support a true national healthcare system, not a “mandate” like proposed under the Obama or Clinton administrations. They claim the mandate would include provisions for the poor, but given the current Medicaid/Medicare system which serves the poor, it’s easy to see that what Obama and Clinton propose amounts to a subsidy to the existing corrupt HMO/insurance-company industry, an industry that makes its money by denying payment for all or part of legitimate claims after services are rendered, leaving the American family footing the bill, going into bankruptcy over medical bills, and amounting to the equivalent of that family not having health insurance to begin with! Under “ObamaCare” that scenario would continue to happen, but it would now slap hundreds of thousands of new families with a fine if any of those families figured out what was happening and chose not to pay into the HMO system! The true solution to the problem is not a subsidy to an already corrupt system hidden behind political slogans and propaganda, or a 100% free market system, but a system closer to what the EU and Canada have in place. A combination of a decrease in scope and funding for other government departments could easily offset the supposedly overwhelmingly negative tax costs that a true national healthcare system would need (ObamaCare, with all its inadequacies, still saves the American taxpayer in the long run, which is why the new Republican Congress had to exclude it from their Pay As You Go rules – a repeal would actually cost the taxpayer).
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