U.S. Congressional candidate Clayton Thibodeau answered readers' questions during a live streaming interview with Temecula Patch last week.
This is a summary of that interview.
Anotherview asks: Does (Thibodeau) mean to end Medicare, Medicaid, disability insurance and such programs for young and old? Both the state governments and the federal government have been involved with the funding of medical care for a long time.
Thibodeau says: We as American citizens have come to depend on those. I have relatives who depend on those. Without those programs, seniors, people who are disabled, young and old, they would all be suffering. Ending the programs is not a good idea.
Stanley asks: Fifty million Americans have no health coverage. Meanwhile, big pharmaceutical companies rake in billions in profits and buy off politicians. How much do you stand to get, Clayton?
Thibodeau says: Every nickel we get for our campaign comes from private, individual donors, but what Stanley might be getting at a deeper problem. Candidates become representatives, which is obviously my objective, they go to Washington and are flooded with bribes, if you will, from all these big conglomerates… That's a legitimate fear because it's been going on for so long. Then if affects the legislation that our representatives roll out of Washington… it's bad business. It's exactly that kind of corruption we need to address in Washington.
DM asks: Mr. Thibodeau, after visiting your website, I get the feeling that even though you want us to exploit our own oil reserves to help us be energy independent, that you want more green energy also. Is that correct?
Thibodeau says: It is critical that we as a nation explore every type of energy that's available. Oil is plentiful right now, it may not be plentiful 100 years from now, so we either address that issue, or we don't. It's silly not to address that issue.
GVNI asks: How can you help the 42nd district attain more jobs for everyone as well as transitioning adults such as teens in high school? What can you do to provide that demographic with the tools, knowledge to better prepare them for life after high school. Overall, what are your goals for teens other than sending them to Uncle Sam?
Thibodeau says: The best thing the federal government can do for our young people to help them get employed is to get out of the way.
Temecula Patch asks: How do you feel about the state of medical marijuana in Riverside County?
Thibodeau says: I find nothing in the Constitution… that gives the federal government the authority to regulate marijuana. I'm not saying they don't do it. I'm saying there's nothing in the Constitution that gives them the authority to regulate it. However, the Tenth Amendment says that all authorities not given to the federal government reside in the people and with the states, in our case, the state of California. The State of California has the authority to say it's legal, so it's legal.
Temecula Patch asks: What do you think of the Liberty Quarry controversy?
Thidodeau says: I think the unfortunate situation we're in now is we have a company that purchased land and expected it to go through normal channels, but it went against them because the public outcry was too loud. I would say it's an unfortunate situation, but probably at this point, this particular construction company's probably going to be selling that land for a loss. I think if they go in and try to pull another permit, they'll be shot down, because the public has the right to protect itself.
Temecula Patch asks: What do you think of the constitutionality of red light cameras?
Thibodeau says: The constitutionality's really simple. They're unconstitutional, but not for a lot of reasons we hear, like invasion of privacy, because we don't have any rights to privacy when we're outside… we do, however, have the right to face our accuser, and you cannot face a camera.
