OCF Candidate Survey 2006
Candidate: Aaron Dixon
Party: Green Party
Running For: US Senate
State: Washington
1
QDo you think organic agriculture should receive a fair share (at least 2.5%) of government resources spent on agriculture?
A Yes
Comment: I fully support environmentally sustainable argriculture, not only because it is good for the consumers, but also because it is healthier for the planet, and not as harmful to the workers working in the fields. I believe organic products should receive a higher percentage of government resources because non-organic products have other hidden costs that are not reflected in their price, such as topsoil loss and pesticide runoff. These constitute hidden subsidies to the non-organic agriculture sector.
2
QDo you support strict standards for processed foods, dairy, and body care products that are labeled or marketed as organic?
A Yes
Comment:
3
QDo you support more aggressive government action to assess the harms of pesticides, take harmful pesticides off the market, and hold companies responsible for diseases and environmental damage caused by pesticides?
A Yes
Comment: Government regulation and oversight should be strenghened, and not only in the area of pesticides that persist in the food and reach the consumers, but also pesticides that might break down faster, but are more harmful to the workers handling them. Unfortunately, both corporate parties' candidates are receiving campaign contributions from the corporations that produce the pesticides and other harmful products. This is why we need Green Party candidates who are not beholden to the agribusiness and petrochemical industries.
4
QShould people have the right to pass consumer safety laws at the state or local level that require food labels to include information on dangerous ingredients?
A Yes
Comment:
5a
QDo you support Country of Origin and labeling that helps consumers choose local products?
A Yes
Comment:
5b
QDo you support government action to help US farmers develop local and regional markets and to reduce non-renewable energy use on their farms?
A Yes
Comment: This also constitutes a hidden subsidy for non-sustainable practices, because the generators of that pollution are not charged for it.
6a
QDo you support mandatory labeling of foods containing genetically engineered ingredients?
A Yes
Comment: This is a very important issue where the US government is out of step with most of the world. This can also be traced to the campaign contributions from Monsanto and their allies.
6b
QDo you support mandatory pre-market safety testing for all genetically modified foods and crops?
A Yes
Comment:
7
QDo you support universal testing for Mad Cow disease and a ban on feeding slaughterhouse waste to farm animals?
A Undecided
Comment: I definitely support a ban on feeding slaughterhouse waste to farm animals. I do not know enough about universal testing to make a comment about it at this point.
8
QDo you support a restructuring of trade-distorting US farm subsidies?
A Yes
Comment: I have stated publicly, on many occasions, that all of our so-called "free trade" agreements (NAFTA, CAFTA, etc.) need to be scrapped in favor of FAIR TRADE agreements that prioritize people and the environment over corporate profits.
9
QDo you support a significant shift in US farm subsidies to help family farmers and ranchers make the transition to organic?
A Yes
Comment: As I mentioned earlier, there is also the additional subsity to industrial agriculture associated with the public having to bear the cost of their pollution.
10
QDo you support a significant shift in subsidies to help US farmers adopt conservation and renewable energy practices on farms?
A Yes
Comment: Congress, as usual, is being penny wise and pound foolish. This is further proof that our current crop (no pun intended) of "elected officials" do not really represent us, but represent those who have funded their election campaigns. It is time to elect candidates from the Green Party. We are not in the back pocked of anyone, and we don't owe anything to anyone, except the general public.
11
QDo you support increases for WIC (Women, Infant and Children), the Farmers Market Nutrition Program, and other programs to help low-income Americans buy organic food?
A Yes
Comment:
12
QDo you support universal health care with a preventive focus and a major emphasis on better nutrition?
A Yes
Comment: Both my campaign and the Green Party are on record as supporting universal, single-payer healthcare. Please refer to my web site at http://www.dixon4senate.com/issues for details of my position on this issue.
13
QDo you support 80%-by-2050 reduction in climate destabilizing greenhouse gas pollution?
A Yes
Comment: I believe that the Kyoto protocol is a good start, but not nearly enough. Here in Washington, voters have the chance to support a move towards sustainable. The Green Party has already endorsed I-937, Washington's Energy Security Initiative.
14
QDo you support ending the Iraq war and redirecting funds from the $500 billion annual military spending in the U.S. toward greening the U.S. economy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and converting U.S. agriculture to organic practices?
A Not Answered
Comment:
15
Q Do you support requiring electronic voting machines to produce voter-verified paper records and election officials to use these records to conduct mandatory audits of election results?
A Yes
Comment:
16
QDo you support eliminating the distorting effect of special interest money on our elections and politicians by requiring full public funding for all federal, state, and local elections?
A Yes
Comment: Much of the problems described earlier in this survey can be traced to campaign contributions from agribusiness and the petrochemical industry. Without serious electoral reform, our elected officials will remain part of the problem, not the solution.
17
QDo you support legislation to prevent internet companies from rigging the system to serve only the highest-paying users and discriminate against users they don’t like?
A Yes
Comment:
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