OCF Candidate Survey 2006

Candidate: Rich Whitney
Party: Green Party
Running For: Governor
State: Illinois

1

QDo you think organic agriculture should receive a fair share (at least 2.5%) of government resources spent on agriculture?

A Yes

Comment: It should be higher than that, considering that the public interest demands moving away from petrochemical-based and pesticide-herbicide-based agriculture, which cannot be sustained. We should be allocating some public resources to assist farmers who wish to transition to organic.
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:
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:
6a

QDo you support mandatory labeling of foods containing genetically engineered ingredients?

A Yes

Comment:
6b

QDo you support mandatory pre-market safety testing for all genetically modified foods and crops?

A Yes

Comment: At this stage, I would support a complete moratorium on the introduction of any new GMO foods and crops, until a proper and thorough testing and labeling regimen is in place. The precautionary principle demands at least this much. The testing regimen must be under the aegis of scientists with no ties to agribusiness.
7

QDo you support universal testing for Mad Cow disease and a ban on feeding slaughterhouse waste to farm animals?

A Yes

Comment:
8

QDo you support a restructuring of trade-distorting US farm subsidies?

A Yes

Comment: This is one of the biggest causes of the recent influx of immigrants from Mexico -- and then the Right in this country has used that influx to blame the victims, criminalize humanitarian efforts, call for militarizing the border, etc. Let's address the causes of the problem and allow Mexico to build a healthier economy.
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:
10

QDo you support a significant shift in subsidies to help US farmers adopt conservation and renewable energy practices on farms?

A Yes

Comment:
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: Of course, the bigger task here is to eliminate poverty itself, which must again became a basic goal of government policy.
12

QDo you support universal health care with a preventive focus and a major emphasis on better nutrition?

A Yes

Comment: I am campaigning for single-payer health care in Illinois. For details, visit www.whitneyforgov.org.
13

QDo you support 80%-by-2050 reduction in climate destabilizing greenhouse gas pollution?

A Yes

Comment: Here again, I am campaigning for a comprehensive "New Deal" to promote sustainable energy production, focusing on solar, wind, geothermal and biomass energy, along with energy efficiency and conservation and sustainable transportation.
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 Yes

Comment: The invasion and occupation of Iraq is a violation of the Nuremburg Principles that this country championed at the end of World War II. If elected Governor, I promise to veto any further federal mobilization of the Illinois National Guard for service in this illegal and immoral occupation, which is fueling more chaos and making us less safe, not more.
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: We should be counting votes with at least the same rigor and care as the IRS counts money! Voter integrity is fundamental to a democratic republic.
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 No

Comment: No, the better answer is to ban corporate campaign contributions and reclaim the public airwaves. The Fed. Communications Act of 1934 declared that the airwaves belong to the people. Broadcast companies were issued licenses -- a privilege, not a right -- only if they agreed to serve the public interest. This required them to inform voters of candidates' views. Broadcasters were also required to provide equal air time to all candidates. However, that rule was removed by the Reagan Administration. Thus, candidates could broadcast their message to the public only by buying it from broadcasters. This is one reason why campaigns have become so dependent upon big money. To rely on "public funding" is to go along with this system -- but have you, the taxpayers, pay for it, and subsidize the big media corporations that are already reaping big money from OUR airwaves! Instead, broadcasters should again be required to provide free and equal time for all candidates for public office.
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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