May 19, 2008 12:55 PM

Libertarian presidential contender Dr. Mary Ruwart

Mark_Wolf(Q) Both presumed nominees of the Democratic and Republican parties have released health care plans. Two questions: What is your position on national health care/insurance? What do you think of those of Sens. Obama and McCain?
Dr._Mary_Ruwart(A) My health care plan is posted on my website, www.votemary2008.com, both as a video and as a written paper. Excess regulation is the primary cause of high health care costs, accounting for about 80% of pharmaceutical prices, for example. This regulation is "excessive" because it harms many more people than it helps. Since most, if not all, regulation is excessive, we can lower health costs greatly without any sacrifice in quality. In fact, quality will improve as detailed in my issue paper "Deadly Secrets Behind Soaring Pharmaceutical Prices," found in the "issues" tab of my web site, votemary2008.com.

Mark_Wolf(Q) You've said most poverty is caused by government. What do you mean?
Dr._Mary_Ruwart(A) Difficulty finding steady employment is the primary cause of poverty in the U.S. today. The number of jobs is limited by excess regulation. The average regulatory destroys somewhere around 150-180 private sector jobs per year. Nations that have deregulated thereby decreasing government spending, find that their economy booms, especially when coupled with tax cuts and free trade. Britain in the 1980s, Ireland in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and New Zealand in the early 1990s, all became "economic miracles" by doing all three. We can decrease poverty and stimulate the economy with these simple steps simultaneously!

Mark_Wolf(Q) How would you propose to deal with the rising price of gasoline?
Dr._Mary_Ruwart(A) The price of gasoline is about the same as it was 50 years ago if you measure it in ounces of gold. Gas prices are high because our government spends so much and inflates the currency (prints money) instead of taxing us. Most of this spending in recent years has gone in to Iraqi war. In addition, our invasion of the Middle East has caused disruption of the oil supply, further adding to increases in gas prices. The best solution is to bring home our troops as part of an overall program to stop government spending.

steve_g(Q) One of your opponents, Bob Barr advocates the Fair Tax and denying gays the same privileges as hetrosexuals. He seems to be closer to Mike Huckabee than Ron Paul, yet he claims to have the support of Ron Paul supporters. What is your take on this?
Dr._Mary_Ruwart(A) I've worked with Ron since 1988, when he was the Libertarian Party nominee. He was kind enough to endorse my book, "Healing Our World," (free download at www.votemary2008.com) and write a letter to President Bush on my behalf encouraging him to appoint me as FDA commissioner so that I could do a de facto privatization of that agency. Ron Paul supporters are supporting me in on-line chat groups, by working with my campaign in Denver, and through endorsements. I have this support because unlike Bob Barr, I support an end to all drug prohibition, replacing the income tax with nothing, and honoring the choice of each and every individual to marry as they see fit without government penalty and oversight.

fstopper9(Q) If elected,how long do you think it'll take to disengage from Iraq?
Dr._Mary_Ruwart(A) I would bring the troops home as fast as they can safely be extracted. I would rely on my military advisers to give me an exact plan, but I won't hesitate to get other opinions if I think that my advisors are stalling and dragging out the evacuation. Our brave young men and women are willing to lay down their lives for us. They only ask that we do not put them in harm's way unnecessarily. I intend to support them by not risking their lives in a Middle East Vietnam.

Mark_Wolf(Q) Your position on child pornography recently made news. You said, "Bans on child pornography are like bans on drugs and prostitution. They don't work. They only make a bad situation worse. We've driven the child pornography market underground, where profits soar and criminals abound. That's why thousands of children are kidnapped each year and forced into sexual slavery." How would you propose to deal with child pornography?
Dr._Mary_Ruwart(A) Child pornography is not a federal issue, but a state one. As President, I would have little authority to deal with this issue at all. My focus, as President, will be to end the Iraqi war, stimulate the economy by slashing government spending, and cutting health care costs up to 80% by getting rid of excess regulation.

mark__scrib(Q) Dr. Ruwart, Wayne Allyn Root uses the term Islamo-Facism a lot. He sounds a lot like Rush Limbaugh. Do you agree with Mr. Root. He seems to dislike Muslims, just because a small number of them take part in terrorism. He scares me to death. I thought Libertarians practiced tolerance. Am I confused or is the LP being taken over by neo-cons?
Dr._Mary_Ruwart(A) Some delegates are indeed afraid that our top tier candidates have not fully embraced the Libertarian philosophy. Such candidates will not be able to teach the American public what they themselves don't know. They are like newly converted "born-again" Christians who want to become ministers just a few days later. They are likely to lead the public and the Party astray because they simply haven't totally absorbed the multi-faceted diamond of liberty.

fstopper9(Q) Which candidates do you see as the front runners in the nomination process? What "coalition"of Libertarians is going to deliver victory to you?
Dr._Mary_Ruwart(A) Bob Barr, Mike Gravel, and Wayne Allen Root are probably my top competitors for the nomination. My main support comes from long-time Libertarian Party activists, such as gays, those who want to end drug prohibition, and those who want to do away with the income tax and replace it with nothing. My support comes from those who have deeply embraced the principles of liberty and understand that we can't have liberty if we aren't willing to first give it to others. This is a lesson that my top-tier competitors have yet to learn.

Ann_R._Key(Q) It seems to me that Steve Kubby and yourself are the only real Libertarians amongst the front runners. Both of you would make fine presidential nominees. What's up with George Phillies and his "middle of the road" soft sell of libertarianism? "Middle of the road reminds me of Muzak. Wake me up when his song is over!
Dr._Mary_Ruwart(A) George Philies does seem to have changed his message in recent years. I can't speak to his motivation, since he hasn't discussed this in depth with me. However, many other Libertarians have become discouraged and think that we must "soften" the message to attract voters. I'd like to point out that Ron Paul gained a great deal of support with his very radical message of freedom. It's time to strike while the iron is hot, not backpedal!

oregonlib(Q) Dr. Ruwart, what in your mind is the difference between anarchy(-ism?) and libertarianism?
Dr._Mary_Ruwart(A) Anarchy is a system that has competition in everything, including things like police, courts, and national defense that are traditionally monopolized by government. Libertarians believe in the non-aggression principle or Good Neighbor Policy (no initiation of force, fraud, or theft against others). Some libertarians believe that this prinipcle means no government monopoly on anything, while others believe that government must have a monopoly on defensive force. In 1974, both groups agreed that they would honor the Dallas Accord and not ask the Party to favor one positon over the other.

Jason_Gatties(Q) Dr. Ruwart. Many states (including my home State of Michigan) have either passed or are about to pass smoking bans for all businesses, including bars and restaurants. I realize this is a State issue, however, where do you stand on such smoking bans?
Dr._Mary_Ruwart(A) Businesses are private property and their owners should be making (or not making) smoking bans as they see fit. Customers should frequent the businesses that suit their particular inclinations. Government should not be legislating this issue.

Mark_Wolf(Q) To follow-up on the Iraq question: How should the U.S. pursue finding/apprehending/killing Osama Bin Laden?
Dr._Mary_Ruwart(A) We should put a price on his head and negotiate with foreign governments to help capture him. The Taliban offered to turn bin Laden over if we would just make some "fair trial/fair treatment" guarantees. Had we negotiated with them instead of asking for bin Laden's unconditional surrender, he'd probably be behind bars (or in the ground) by now.

libertypoint(Q) McCain, Clinton & Obama all want the Federal government to provide healthcare, or healthcare insurance, for all Americans. What is your response? How can poor people get healthcare if it's not provided by the government?
Dr._Mary_Ruwart(A) As I mentioned earlier, we could slash health care costs and insurance costs by deregulation the industry. I estimate an 80% savings on pharmaceuticals alone. Slashing drug prices means more innovation. Taking pills is much cheaper (as much as 90% cheaper) than surgery or hospitalization. Deregulation would also switch us from treatment-based to prevention-based medicine. "An ounze of prevention is worth a pound of cure" so we'd slash health care costs even more!

oregonlib(Q) Follow up on the follow up: how can the US make "fair trial" promises to the Taliban, which only recognizes the Shari'a and Muhammaden jurisprudence?
Dr._Mary_Ruwart(A) The Taliban didn't ask for Shari and Muhammaden jurisprudence. They were willing to turn him over to international or American justice, as long as we were willing to give him a fair trial. Since that's the American way, why did we balk? A great deal of evidence suggests that Bush wanted a war. See the 2003 edition of my book, "Healing Our World," for details!

fstopper9(Q) Dr Ruwart..Thank you and good luck and I look forward to hearing and meeting you here this week!!!
Dr._Mary_Ruwart(A) Thank you! See you in Denver!