==Stephanie Sailor vs. The Machine==

Frequently asked questions

If you have a question that's unanswered on this page, feel free to email Stephanie at: Steph@SailorVsTheMachine.com. If it's a popular and reoccurring question, she just might post your Q&A on this page. If you are with the media, the Sailor 2002 campaign grants you full permission to print Stephanie's statements from this page.

Campaign | Libertarian Party | Personal

>>NEW>>Specific platform/issue questions:

Pro-choice or pro-life?

Decriminalize drugs = disaster?

No way, no taxes? How can that be?

The Saddam Question.

Yipes! Terrorism? What to do?

Israel/Palestine?

Campaign

Stephanie, why are you running for congress? The Democratic Queen and Busybody Republican on the ballot don't represent my beliefs. When in doubt, run for congress.

Why are you running a campaign on $0? I'm an everyday citizen, not a career politician. I don't have the money to dump into a campaign. Nor do I care to be bought through campaign contributions.
Why a cyber campaign? I'm a busy woman. My hands are full with working my day job and overseeing several side projects. The internet is cost-effective and efficient, thus allowing little guys like me to compete against The Machine.

Why are you directing campaign contributions toward charity and private enterprise? It's a waste to blow money on campaign fluff and fanfare. Furthermore, private enterprise and charity deliver services to people at a far cheaper, efficient, and more accountable rate than the government. It only makes sense.

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Libertarian Party

I've heard of the Libertarians. You're with Lyndon LaRouche, right? Absolutely not. Sorry to sound like Sesame Street, but the only thing Libertarians have in common with LaRouchians is the letter "L." Literally. Listen, Lyndon LaRouche is a loser lunatic Democrat who usually runs for president while in prison, proposing a platform including irrigating the Middle East with tactical nuclear weapons, abolishing the 19th Amendment, and sending all blacks to Mars.

The Libertarians are hopelessly outnumbered year after year. Why isn't a vote for you a wasted one? Three reasons:

1. When you vote, you're not voting for who you think is GOING to win, you vote for who best represents your beliefs. A wasted vote is voting for someone who says one thing and does another. If you want a smaller government and lower taxes, you certainly won't get either by voting Democrat or Republican.

2. Ballot access requirements are designed to keep third parties out of political races, thus enabling the Democrats and Republican to maintain their monopoly on politics. Voting can help third parties' ballot access in future elections. In any given race, if Libertarians get a minimum of 5% of the vote, we are allowed ballot access for the next election. Otherwise, without ensured ballot access, Libertarians are subject to strict ballot access requirements that suck up our time, money, and energies.

3. The swing vote forces the dominant parties to listen to, and conform to, our beliefs. It's a way of voicing your opinion that you're entirely fed up with both Democrats and Republicans.

How many Libertarians hold elective office? Currently, more than 300 Libertarians hold elective office, more than twice as many as all other third parties combined.

Where can I find out more information on the Libertarian Party? Click here to check out the LP website.

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Platform/issues

Stephanie, if drugs were re-legalized, would Americans all become drug addicts and our society go down the drain? There is no reason to think so. This common question is based upon fallacy, assuming that people currently do not have access to illegal drugs. Anyone who wants to get illegal drugs can currently do so if desired. Millions use illegal drugs already. Many of those individuals peacefully take drugs without harming another person. Millions more use alcohol (a legal drug) occasionally but relatively few are socially impaired by it. Drug laws do not work. They do more harm than good.

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The Libertarian Party supports drastically reducing -- and possibly eliminating -- the income tax. But what about the the schools, the post office, the... There is every reason to believe we could survive without the income tax. There was no federal income tax before 1914. Before then, Americans prospered. Legitimate functions of the federal government can be voluntarily financed. This is already done today -- private, charitable, educational, and other voluntary organizations raise approximately $150 billion per year in money, material, and services from people who support such efforts.

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Does Saddam Hussein pose a threat that can be resolved only by an attack on Iraq? What measures should the U.S. take to contain Hussein? War is the worst brutality government can inflict upon its subjects. War is genocide, torture, and propaganda. Saddam Hussein may pose a threat but that cannot be resolved by attacking Iraq. War with Iraq will mean the death of hundreds -- or even thousands -- of Americans, and the death of thousands -- or even tens of thousands -- of Iraqis.

Attacking Iraq could trigger a September 11-like terror attack, cause US troops to be targeted with weapons of mass destruction, subject US troops and other Americans in the Middle East to a nuclear attack, harm the economy, cause the stock market to plummet even further, and force taxpayers to foot the bill for nation-building.

Embracing a libertarian foreign policy of neutrality, free trade, and responsible defense for Americans in America will increase our security. Compare this to the bipartisan policy of the Democratic and Republican parties, which has been interventionism, nuclear buildup, and counterproductive restrictions on peaceful trade and travel.

Which leads me to the next question...

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Considering the terror threat and the nation’s finite resources, what should the federal priorities be regarding anti-terrorism measures? Our best defense is to have no enemies. Enemies are created when the U.S. plays world cop, meddling in other countries’ affairs. Neutrality makes friends. The interventionist policies of Democrats and Republicans are a security disaster, and, more tragically, a waste of American lives.

(Note: Neutrality is not isolationism. If an individual feels strongly about helping defend people in other countries, they should be allowed to do so voluntarily. They should be able to go themselves, send money, food, medicine, or weapons at their own expense. An example of this is voluntary American Jewish aid to Israel. Taxpayers, however, shouldn’t be forced to fund intervention, no matter what country. Forced intervention via taxpayer dollars is coercion.)

Free trade promotes international peace. When people in different countries trade with each other, they benefit in numerous ways. They don’t want war to interrupt their trade. Interestingly, the U.S. government has never gone to war with another government while free trade relationships were in place.

The long-suffering American taxpayer funds the defense of wealthy countries in Europe, the Pacific, and Persian Gulf. These countries are capable of choosing their own military risks and how to pay for it. American military personnel should be brought home to defend American and the property here.

Under libertarian policies, American security would increase because of reduced tensions between the U.S. and Arab governments. Increased trade would improve peaceful relations between Americans and foreigners. And the prosperity of Americans would increase.

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What steps should the U.S. be taking to calm violence and find a long-term solution between Israel and the Palestinians? We must resist the impulse, however well-intended, to get more involved in this troubled region. Further meddling may well backfire and do nothing to achieve a lasting peace.

The Holy Land is full of U.S. tourists, scholars, and students who’ve been relatively safe from terrorist attacks. As disturbing as it is to watch news broadcasts of Jewish and Palestinian civilians losing their lives, more U.S. meddling will provoke anti-American groups (who see the U.S. not as an honest broker of peace, but as a hated ally of Israeli) into targeting American travelers.

To prevent such scenarios, we must demand our government to:

--Stop selling weapons to Israel and the Arab states

--Discontinue foreign aid programs that provide approximately $3 billion a year to Israel and more than $2 billion to Egypt and other Arab nations

--Refrain from placing troops in the region.

However, as stated before, if an individual feels strongly about helping defend people in other countries, they should be allowed to voluntarily do so by going there themselves, sending money, food, medicine, or weapons at their own expense.

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Stephanie, are you pro-choice or pro-life or what? Answer: or what. Really, that's the answer. You see, I'm neither pro-choice nor anti-abortion. This topic isn't a simple black and white issue. That's why, above all, I'm pro-adoption.

The Libertarian Party is strongly against tax support for abortion, so if a person is opposed to abortion, they will never have to pay for one. Some members of the Libertarian Party believe that abortion should be outlawed; most believe that women have the right to handle this private decision for themselves. Ultimately, abortion is none of the government’s business. Libertarians uphold the concept of self-ownership. Meaning, you own your body. It belongs to you. When the government tells people what they can/cannot do with their bodies, that is coercion.

While I find abortion to be a horrific form of birth control, I recognize that abortion -- whether legal or illegal –- will continue to occur regardless of whether or not I approve of it. Abortion has gone on through all of history, regardless of outlawing it. It’s a fact that women have always gotten abortions by any means necessary, and will continue to do so, regardless of religious prohibitions, cultural standards, or the law.

However, more important than abortion is adoption. Unfortunately, government meddling, control, and mismanagement in the area of adoption prevents willing parents from adopting unwanted children. Removing the government from the adoption process would place more children in loving homes. I'm personally a strong supporter of adoption. In fact, I'm redirecting a portion of her campaign contributions towards The Cradle, an Evanston, IL-based adoption agency.

Finally, here are some astute words from Libertarian Mary Ruwart:

If we truly want to stop abortion, we must make abortion obsolete. Because of its increased wealth and tolerance, a libertarian society is be equipped to do that. Libertarians advocate changes that support a woman in continuing an unwanted pregnancy. A prospective mother has more options in a society that encourages interracial adoption, honors contracts between prospective parents and surrogate mothers, and enjoys the increased prosperity that makes children more affordable. A libertarian society is best equipped to fund research in more effective contraception and in the ability to transfer a fetus to a willing mother. All of the advancements make abortion a less attractive and necessary option.

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Personal

Stephanie, I noticed all your professional experience, volunteer work, independent projects in your bio. How do you have time to run for Congress? I don't. Hence, the cyber campaign.

But really, how do you do it? I'm not a big sleeper. Never have been. However, I'm a fan of napping and ciestas. Being pro-nap-ist makes me pro-ductive.

Rumor has it that you're a cyborg. Is this true? Yes. I am a bionic woman, ready to take on The Machine.

Stephanie, you’re never in Chicago. What’s the deal? Hey, Congressqueen Jan Schakowsky is never in Chicago and she gets PAID to represent you. Okay, getting back to the question, yes, it’s true: I’m rarely in Chicago. But I’m a cyborg candidate so it doesn’t matter. I can run my electronic campaign from anywhere in the country, wherever I may be.

I need someone to create a website for me. Are you available for web design or freelance writing? Of course! I love to make money! Drop me an email at Steph@StephanieSailor.com, explaining what you need and we'll go from there. Being the Jane of All Trades that I am, I can do more than just webwork and writing. Click here to check out my other services.

I've never shot a gun before. Can you show me how? Why yes, I’d be delighted to teach you how to use a firearm. I’ll travel most anywhere in the country to host private handgun training sessions. Email me at Steph@StephanieSailor.com for more information, including rates and details on individual or group instruction. Special discounts for survivors of assault (male or female).

Stephanie, will you go on a date with me? Sorry, I'm currently unavailable. Perhaps you should try Match.com?

What kind of guy are you attracted to? While there's an exception to every rule, and divine men come from all walks of life, there is no doubt I generally have a weakness for computer nerds or creative types. That, and you have to be pro-gun. Or at least pro-self-defense.

Isn't that inappropriate to talk about the subject of dating on your congressional website? No. I'm just answering a repeatedly asked question. Besides, I might be running for congress but I'm still human. Er, cyborg/human.

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[People before politicians -- please give to charity]