BALTIMORE - Name: Mark Grannis
Party: Libertarian
Location: Chevy Chase (8 th Congressional District)
Website: GrannisForCongress.org
Please introduce yourself:
As a Libertarian, I believe the proper function of government is to protect our lives, liberty, and property from violence, theft, or fraud. I believe government is a key ingredient of a healthy society when it sticks to that limited function. But government becomes a huge liability for all of us when it tries to do too much and become all things to all people.
The other consequence of being a Libertarian is that I care more about telling you the truth about our problems than I do about getting elected. That’s actually one of my main qualifications for office.
For anyone who wants more information, my online bio is here .
Why are you the best candidate for this office?
I come from outside the two-party system that has created most of the problems we need so urgently to address. The people we send to Congress are supposed to sort out how much we pay in taxes and what we spend it on, but instead they have chosen to spend more than we can afford and send the bill to our children and grandchildren. They are supposed to decide whether we are at war or at peace, but they have given every modern president a blank check to send troops wherever he wants. They are supposed to uphold the law and preserve the Constitution, but instead they have trampled constitutional rights, invaded personal privacy, and restricted the economic liberty that should be the greatest source of hope for the millions thrown out of work by the current Debt-pression.
Elect me, and I’ll fight for a government that protects us from violence, theft, and fraud but otherwise respects our liberty.
Elect me, and I’ll demand balanced budgets and oppose new regulatory burdens.
Elect me, and I’ll stand for civil liberties, against foreign wars, and against our counterproductive war on drugs.
And if you elect me, I’ll work hard for structural reforms in Congress that will help to prevent a relapse.
Which answer best matches your view?
Same-sex marriage
Should same-sex couples be able to get married in Maryland?
Yes
Summarize your view on the issue
Privatize marriage! There is no reason for the state to play any role in any marriage. In fact, “common law” marriages (no license, no ceremony) have been recognized in the majority of U.S. jurisdictions at one time or another and are still valid today in 11 states and the District of Columbia. In light of this historical record, the case for state regulation of marriage is pretty weak. The case for federal regulation is weaker still; clearly this is none of Congress’s business.
Illegal immigration/In-state tuition DREAM Act
Should Maryland offer in-state tuition for college to undocumented immigrants?
No
Summarize your view on the issue
Unlike many opponents of the Maryland DREAM Act, I firmly believe immigration of peaceful and productive people is good for us . I’m in favor of expanding legal immigration, partly because that’s the best way to regain control over illegal border crossings.
But without comprehensive immigration reform, what good will it do to subsidize the education of someone who can’t work here legally? I have great sympathy for people who are brought to this country illegally as children, and end up unable to participate fully in the only society they’ve ever known. But it makes no sense at all to subsidize their college educations at state institutions if they’re ineligible to work and therefore unlikely to find jobs for which a college degree is even necessary.
Throwing money at the victims of our foolish immigration policies may make us feel compassionate, but it is no substitute for overhauling the law in a way that fixes the problem. And remember: We don’t have the money.
Should Maryland allow another casino to be built in Prince George’s County?
Yes
Summarize your views on the issue
No one should need state permission to open a casino. I don’t like the fact that the state grants favored interests special concessions for this purpose instead of permitting open competition, so I would much prefer to let anyone at all open as many casinos as he or she wants. But if we have to choose between crony casinos and no casinos at all, I’d choose the crony casinos.
What is the best option for healthcare in America?
Nearly all healthcare should be privatized.
Summarize your view on the issue
If we want healthcare to be affordable and widely available, we need the health care market to function freely, without excessive government interference. Unfortunately, government keeps trying to control the market, and the result is that it no longer works very well at all. Prices are phony. Neither patients nor doctors have any incentive to care what anything costs . And government tax policy keeps insurance tied to employment status, which is just crazy .
We do need to repeal
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