Akiva Werbalowskyhas declared he is running for Congress. I emailed him and he agreed to be interviewed. As he is isn't as well-known in Ventura County partisan politics I am going to ask him a wide-variety of questions. After I post that the interview is over if he feels like taking questions from readers that is up to him. But for this interview the only posts are from the two of us.
This is from the Ventura County Star story:
...a Ron Paul supporter from Ojai announced he will be a candidate...
Akiva Werbalowsky, a permaculture designer from Ojai, became the third Republican to enter the race, saying he, like Paul in the presidential campaign, will advocate a libertarian conservative view.
"I consider myself similar to Barry Goldwater, who believed that personal liberty is the primary concern of a conservative," he said Thursday.
Werbalowsky, 47, said he had hoped to compete for the Republican endorsement. Told that the county GOP voted Wednesday to endorse Strickland, he said, "They can always turn that around."
He formerly managed the ecological agriculture and permaculture programs at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and said he is now working on a book on bioregional food security.
"Californians caring for ecological health deserve a strong voice in our nation's Capitol, and I ask to be that voice," he said. "Any debate between jobs or the environment clearly indicates we need smarter jobs."
Akiva Werbalowsky, click on continue reading for the first question.
Akiva,
Why are you running for Congress?
Ventura and our Nation's health, liberty, commerce, and nuanced qualities of life benefit from capable leaders at this time of amazing change. I'm confident in asking voters to see me as their Representative, inspiring what we can effectively and honorably accomplish together.
Do you view abortion as a privacy issue protected by the Constitution?
Akiva,
You said you are running as the most conservative Republican in the race. On what issues specifically are you more conservative than Tony Strickland?
Akiva,
A large part of your worldview on politics is local control and a focus on small communities. Can you tell us some local politicians that you respect for their work?
Akiva,
You have a passion for environmentalism and sustainability. Those aren't ideas usually mentioned by Republican politicians. Why do you think supporting the Republican Party is a good tool for promoting those values?
Do you think the war with Iraq was a mistake? What lessons from Afghanistan and Iraq should we apply when thinking about Iran?
Akiva,
Do you support the STOCK Act to ban insider trading by Members of Congress?
Why are you running for Congress?
"Ventura and our Nation's health, liberty, commerce, and nuanced qualities of life benefit from capable leaders at this time of amazing change. I'm confident in asking voters to see me as their Representative, inspiring what we can effectively and honorably accomplish together."
By Brian on February 5, 2012 7:12 PM
Do you view abortion as a privacy issue protected by the Constitution?
"Supreme Court precedents identify specific legal protections, and any substantive change in Federal Policy for this difficult issue remains with the Court. If legislation comes through Congress, I will ask all those I represent to inform me of their recommendations prior to any significant vote."
By Brian on February 5, 2012 7:13 PM
You said you are running as the most conservative Republican in the race. On what issues specifically are you more conservative than Tony Strickland?
"Mr. Strickland has spent his adult life as professional politician. I prefer the conservative American tradition of "citizen-legislature" with diverse private experience enhancing effective, short periods of public service. I represent common sense agility and policy independence, while he upholds the official party line protecting an obsolete status quo. Mainstream Democratic Party candidates are similarly restricted, burdened, and beholden to political and financial arrangements retarding needed solutions. The problem is not Tony Strickland the man, the problem is serving the imposition of restrictive political controls."
By Brian on February 5, 2012 7:17 PM
Akiva,
A large part of your worldview on politics is local control and a focus on small communities. Can you tell us some local politicians that you respect for their work?
"Rather than mentioning someone in politics, I'll "go off the board" and identify public service in business by Yvon Chouinard, for his progressive management design and environmental ethics which daily enhance my personal experience. Thrift store-purchased (rather than new) Patagonia clothes are of the same high quality, receive the same dependable repair guarantee, are one tenth the cost, and finding them is a treasure hunt treat for appreciative outdoorsmen like me. Effective design using ethical intention is both inspiring and smart."
By Brian on February 5, 2012 7:27 PM
Akiva,
You have a passion for environmentalism and sustainability. Those aren't ideas usually mentioned by Republican politicians. Why do you think supporting the Republican Party is a good tool for promoting those values?
"As the candidate most prepared for today's evolving communication realities, I believe all voters will eventually recognize me as their chosen Representative. Political parties are not the end goal, but social tools enhancing self governance. Improving ecological health benefits us all without exception, and by supporting such basic goals together strengthens and nourishes all other community endeavors."
By Brian on February 5, 2012 7:34 PM
Do you think the war with Iraq was a mistake? What lessons from Afghanistan and Iraq should we apply when thinking about Iran?
"War of choice rather than of necessity has never been an official American policy. When the Iraq War was somehow deemed by Congress as a war of necessity, massive costs, injuries, and death were incurred by the American people for decades to come, with collateral devastation of foreign communities and ecologies. American foreign policy must exercise our deepest ethics and highest skills engaging proactive, least costly alternatives to war to achieve much better results for everyone. In any case, especially while our nation is at war, civil rights and personal liberties of the American people are what always must be diligently protected."
By Brian on February 5, 2012 7:39 PM
Akiva,
Do you support the STOCK Act to ban insider trading by Members of Congress?
"Only public confidence that legislators can't profit from non-public information enables the effective functioning of government.This is a basic issue of trust."
Thank you for allowing the chance to share my answers, and ask that any interested people email VoteAkiva@gmail.com
I'm happy to consider questions from other readers, so alert me at VoteAkiva@gmail.com so I know when questions are posted. thanks.