Thank you to everyone who has submitted an “Ask Fred” question. I have very much enjoyed the exchange of ideas. Here are a few of my responses. Go here to submit your own “Ask Fred” question.
Social Security?
Q (from 07306): Why is it that the Government is looking to crush Social Security and Medicare when I believe there are other ways to fix them. Why not put Americans First before we keep giving billions away “Afghanistan for one.”
A: Because fixing it properly would require some difficult choices. Career politicians are not into that. It puts their livelihood at risk. Anybody else still for term limits? On Afghanistan, even worse—spending billions and still lose the war, which is where we’re headed. Thanks
Property Taxes Undermine Property Rights?
Q (from 60148): Since property rights are supposed to be inalienable, why have my property taxes increased by 400% to $7000/yr while my income (Soc Sec)is $640/Mo. My father, a WWII vet with 13 yrs in the Army worked his life to pay for this property. Now the County will probably foreclose and evict his family heirs. Do Americans actually OWN property, or do we just pay liege to the lords of the manor?
A: Wow, you make an excellent point, The right of govt. to tax is well established, so it becomes a political question you have to settle at the polls, generally (the state or local govt on property taxes). BUT at some point taxes can seem more like a “takings” like a condemnation, which is restricted under the constitution. Of course, the government would point out the increasing value of the property, an issue you can contest too.
Martial Law?
Q (from 59860): I am afraid that President Obama WILL DECLARE Martial Law suspend the Constitution, eliminate the US Supreme Court and disband Congress. This Guy scares the hell out of me. What is your thoughts ?
A: Lot of things to be concerned about but these are not among them. Let’s focus on the real concerns: our country sliding into bankruptcy and a European–type irrelevance.Thanks
Eliminate the Electoral College?
Q (from 20151): Are you supporting the compact to negate the electoral college? If so, why?
A: No, but there is a proposal out there that, while keeping the electoral college, would allow states to pledge their electors to the person who gets the most votes, nationally. The constitution gives the states this authority. The argument is 1) we don’t need the turmoil that comes from election someone with fewer votes. 2) Currently, most states are firmly red or blue and are taken for granted by the candidates, Only a handful of states matter, and 3) imagine Romney winning he popular vote and Obama concentrating on turning out big city votes in two or three key states and winning the electoral vote. The current system wouldn’t look so hot then to a lot of us. Would it?
“Obama All The Way…OUT!”
Q (from 11413): Why am I getting these emails I am neither a Fred Thompson supporter nor a republican. OBAMA ALL THE WAY!!!
A: Sorry, just thought you could use a little enlightenment. Guess I was right. I like your slogan with one small addition:”Obama, all the way…OUT”
Fred For Veep?
Q (from 55358): Honestly, any chance of you accepting the Vice Presidential spot on the upcoming Republican ticket to balance moderate Romney? You have been pretty silent until e mails the last three day, keep em coming.
A: Thanks for asking, pal but NOPE. Have to admit, since I’m poor, homely and have a conservative background, I would provide pretty good balance.
How To Defeat Obama…
Q (from 56601): What can we do to make sure Obama does not get another term?
A: For most of us Get To The Polls. For our leaders, don’t make stupid mistakes that take focus off of his record.
Why Afghanistan?
Q (from 54110): For the life of me, I have always been puzzled by what value there is in Afghanistan. I just don’t see them as a big trading partner and I believe that we can ill afford to be the world’s policeman. Every time I see that some local soldier was killed there, it makes me question why we went there in the first place. Can you explain this foolishness?
A: Fair question. First, you make my case that a president’s first duty, when he sends troops in harms way is to answer like yours and explain it the the American people. Obama has clearly not done this. He sees there’s no good short term politics in it for him. A good president would look to the long term interests of the US. He has information and access to expertise that we don’t have. Here’s the case in a nutshell. An operation like 9–11 probably could never be carried out without a safe haven for the jihadists. Afghanistan was their safe haven. It could very easily become one again. Many of the bad guys are hiding, and waiting for us to leave, next door in Pakistan, where they are already influential. Pakistan itself could be vulnerable to takeover by them and, of course, Pakistan has nuclear weapons. International terror is still very alive and while we must be smart as to where we target our efforts but we are not going to be able to hunker down at home and keep the rest of the world out— unfortunately. Thanks
Romney In Debates
Q (from 75050): How soon in the upcoming debates between Romney and Obama do you think it will be before the media confronts Romney about some of his characterizations of Obama? Do you think Romney will back down or affirm?
A: Having debated Romney, I’ve followed his performances pretty closely. He’s gotten a lot better. He’s tougher. We saw this with Newt in Fla. He knows that how the voter views Obama is the whole ball game, It’s a referendum on Obama. Mitt won’t back down.
Undoing Obama’s Agenda
Q (from 33477): I’m concerned that the things Obama is putting into place can’t be “undone” when we get our country back….please ease my mind…you would make a wonderful president….thanks.
A: It all depends on how many Republicans are elected to Congress. Past Congresses cannot bind future ones and new laws can be passed to undo old ones—a majority of votes in the House and 60 votes in the Senate, sufficient to defeat a filibuster. Also, if Obama is reelected a two-thirds majority will be needed to override his veto, a tall order. However it all depends upon us the voters.
Not Enough Billboard Space
Q (from 32968): How is Obama getting away with so many Constitutional violations? If Congress does not have the gonads to Impeach him, the congress members that won’t due what they swore to do Uphold the Constitution) should have their names plastered on every web site, billboards, and commentary programs as possible. Why isn’t that being done?
A: Sorry pal, there’s not enough billboard space.
-Fred Thompson
I’ve seen you play Ben Franklin, Gen. Grant, Gen. Pershing and Patton, but I prefer your role in the Final countdown with Kirk Douglas. I guess I’m even glad you turned down the role of Custer as that might have stopped your film career. So now to my most pressing question: After this election the media backlash will be relentless as to why Pres. Romney hasn’t gotten everyone back to work by this Christmas. I want you to pass this small hint onto the new President.. IF he drops the corporate tax rate in this country to between 5-8% you will see such an influx of companies and jobs, we won’t have enough people to fill them come this time next summer.
Thanks for listening and remember. vote early and often, the democrats will.
Hello again Fred, This is Greg
In Biology we are learning about embryo transfer and I was wondering if you could tell me a few things about it. I would really appreciate it.
Yours Sincerley
Greg
Fred, I jumped on your bandwagon early, and I still believe we’re kindred souls! God I would like to see a Palin/Thompson ticket (or Thompson/Palin)! I do believe Romney is firming up and I am beginning to get optimistic that all is not lost. Maybe I won’t have to change my name to Winston after all! Speaking of 1984 and Julia, I agree we conservatives need to vote early and often, after all Julia died at age 75 and voted Democrat until age 92!
[...] having way too much fun with this, too: Q (from 55358): Honestly, any chance of you accepting the Vice Presidential spot on [...]
Sen. Thompson :
I beleive Property taxation began in rural areas as a way to pay for fire protection. Assessment was created mostly to “equalize” taxation among farmers. Farmers with huge farms would pay more because they had more to protect. I think property taxes were initially very low. My complaint with the assessment and taxation of real property is the fact that it is tied to your home, business, etc. Basically, under the real property tax system, a home owner is posting or collateralizing his home to guarantee a tax. THIS IS OUTRAGE. And, since your home is collateralizing your property tax, this means that your continued ownership of your own home is dependent upon paying your property tax. It may have been inoccuous in the beginning. But even a small unpaid tax is recovered by local governemtn by “selling” leans to “real estate speculators”. Such real estate speculators who buy a tax lean against your home can forclose on your home after only one year. BTW, the local governments NEVER go to any court to secure that lean. This means that the judicial branck of local governmenets have been removed from the process of securing leans to begin with, let alone selling them. The taxation of real property and asseessment for same are tatally unconstitutional.
I favor a “digressive” rate income tax . A digressive rate income tax is a tax that decreases with increasses in income. The Digressive rate income tax is the ONLY capitalist tax rate. The Digressive rate tax rewards acheivement, promotion, invention, production, investment, etc. The Digressive rate tax is pro-capitalism. The Digressive rate tax would increase jobs while decreasing the effect of taxation. It is a pro growth tax, The “Progressive” tax can be found in the Communist Manifesto. There should be only one tax for the Fed gov, one for the State gov, and one for the local gov. And that should be the Digressive rate income tax. And, NO tax shoulld be tied to our wealth, our homes, our capital, etc. Elderly people don’t pay property taxes to secure services, they pay prop taxes merely to hold onto their homes. This is terrorism ! To the contrary, a Digressive rate income tax removes government from itrs ability to take your home, your wealth, etc. and renders government dependent upon working people for its revenue. A digressive rate income tax reverses the terror.
Thanks for opertunity to comment.
RSVP
I grew up in the 40′s, 50′s joined the service, got out, got married, had a family. Worked for over forty years. I am God fearing, law abiding,Love my Country,never been arrested. I am a Free American til I die. I owe this to my education, at Home.School, Church, and relations with my neighbors give and take. Today, one will-not find that kind of feelings just anywhere! evcept among my Peers. Lets put the Schools back to JUST the FIVE-R’s Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, RESPECT, and RESPONSIBILITY! and leave everything else to the other two. Social Security,
IS NOT AN ENTITLEMENT!!!!! GOVERMENT FOR THE PEOPLE! BY THE PEOPLE!!!
SO HELP ME GOD! PLEASE
“A: Thanks for asking…but NOPE. Have to admit, since I’m poor, homely and have a conservative background, I would provide pretty good balance.”
Thanks for the hilarity. You and Jeri Thompson have more good looks in your little finger than the two “frontrunners.”
PS Not a single republican vote was cast for Obamacare. So how did we get a candidate who has said Romneycare is “good for his state,” and said it would make a good plan for the country? Romney is running on the sucess of Romneycare as a large part of his executive experience as a governor. It is running billions over projected costs, by the way. The other cornerstone of his policies as governor were energy and co2 emissions mandates.
What is the response going to be as democrats claim that the hated health madate was “a republican idea,” and had “bi-partisan support.” ?
Since when has Ron Paul ever dropped out of the Republican race? What a coincidence that Romney can’t even tolerate a Ron Paul and that Ron Paul has dropped out. I never liked him, but I did think he was consistent. Now I can’t even become a Paul supporter for fun and laughs.
If you have ever read both Healthcare plans, you would realize that Romney’s Healthcare plan is almost NOTHING like Obama’s Healthcare FRAUD.
I HAVE A BIG Q; Why do we as a gun club (NRA) constantly defend the constitution and the president / gov’t does not? A.A..
Social Security Is An Obligation
YOUR WRONG FRED! NO WHERE IN THE CONSTITUTION IS A REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE A TAX FOR WELFAIR UNDER ANY CONDITION OR OBLIGATION. THIS WEALTH TRANSFER!
WE ARE A REPUBLIC AND “NOT A DEMOCRACY”
BUT UNDER A SOCIALISTIC GOVERMENT THIS THE NORM!!!