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Joel Goodman's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

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Official Position: Candidate addressed this issue directly by taking the Political Courage Test.
Inferred Position: Candidate refused to address this issue, but Vote Smart inferred this issue based on the candidate's public record, including statements, voting record, and special interest group endorsements.
Unknown Position: Candidate refused to address this issue, or we could not infer an answer for this candidate despite exhaustive research of their public record.
Additional Information: Click on this icon to reveal more information about this candidate's position, from their answers or Vote Smart's research.
Other or Expanded Principles & Legislative Priorities are entered exactly as candidates submit them. Vote Smart does not edit for misspelled words, punctuation or grammar.

Joel Goodman did not provide voters with positions on key issues covered by the 2022 Political Courage Test, despite repeated requests from Vote Smart and voters like you.

What is the Political Courage Test?
This candidate has responded to a Political Courage Test in a previous election. As a continued effort to provide the American public with factual information on candidates running for public office, these archived responses are made available here.

Tennessee Congressional Election 2008 Political Courage Test

The Political Courage Test asks candidates which items they will support if elected. It does not ask them to indicate which items they will oppose. Through extensive research of public polling data, we discovered that voters are more concerned with what candidates would support when elected to office, not what they oppose. If a candidate does not select a response to any part or all of any question, it does not necessarily indicate that the candidate is opposed to that particular item.

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding abortion.

a) Abortions should always be illegal.
X b) Abortions should always be legal.
c) Abortions should be legal only within the first trimester.
d) Abortions should be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape.
e) Abortions should be legal when the life of the woman is endangered.
f) Dilation and extraction or "partial-birth" abortion procedures should be legal.
g) Medicare, Medicaid, and federal subsidies should be prohibited from being used on abortion procedures.
The Congress does not have the right to make laws based upon religious beliefs. The argument on abortion mostly comes down to whether or not someone supports the sanctity of embryonic life as a religious tenet. The decision about an abortion should be between a woman and her doctor. The Federal government should not be involved in this decision. A particular state may not ban abortions because of Supreme Court decisions upholding Fourteenth Amendment rights extended to individuals. I support any group's right to practice pro-life policies; but their practices should not be forced upon those not agreeing with them.

Indicate what federal funding levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category, you can use a number more than once.1) Budget Priorities2) Defense Spending3) TaxesIndicate what federal tax levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category, you can use a number more than once.Family Income TaxesOther TaxesDeductions/Credits

Greatly Decrease a) Agriculture
Greatly Decrease b) Arts
Slightly Decrease c) Defense
Maintain Status d) Education
Slightly Increase e) Environment
Slightly Decrease f) FEMA
Eliminate g) Homeland security
Greatly Decrease h) International aid
Greatly Decrease i) Law enforcement (Federal)
Eliminate j) Law enforcement (State)
Slightly Decrease k) Medical research
Slightly Increase l) National parks
Slightly Increase m) Public health services
n) Scientific research
Maintain Status o) Space exploration programs
p) Transportation and highway infrastructure
q) United Nations
r) Welfare
a) Armed forces personnel training
Greatly Decrease b) Intelligence operations
Slightly Decrease c) Military hardware
Maintain Status d) Modernization of weaponry and equipment
Greatly Decrease e) National missile defense
Slightly Increase f) Pay for active duty personnel
g) Programs to improve troop retention rates
Slightly Decrease h) Research and development of new weapons
Maintain Status i) Troop and equipment readiness
a) Less than $12,000
b) $12,001-$40,000
c) $40,001-$100,000
d) $100,001-$180,000
e) $180,001-$350,000
f) $350,001 and above
Maintain Status a) Alcohol taxes
Maintain Status b) Capital gains taxes
Slightly Decrease c) Cigarette taxes
d) Corporate taxes
Maintain Status e) Gasoline taxes
Slightly Decrease f) Inheritance taxes
a) Charitable contribution deduction
b) Child tax credit
c) Earned income tax credit
d) Medical expense deduction
e) Mortgage deduction
f) Student loan credit
Undecided 4) Do you support the permanent repeal of the federal estate tax?
Yes 5) Do you support requiring the federal budget to be balanced each year?
Federal spending needs to be greatly reduced and refocused on the needs of the country. I differentiate between transportation, which could be water or land based and highway infrastructure.
The Department of Defense should be renamed War Department and prepare for that contingency. Our colonial military force and should return to a force requisite to our national defense. We should close most of our overseas bases and instead develop strategic naval / marine / special ops bases located in friendly countries. These bases should be developed around combined aircraft carrier and submarine task forces capable of rapid deployment. The all volunteer army should be replaced with a citizen military. The National Guard should be called upon for domestic situations. Wounded veterans must receive better care.
The income tax should be eliminated, replaced by a threshold based Federal sales tax. See my website ( http://joelgoodman.us ) for further clarification.
As taxes will be based upon sales, all existing taxes should be reviewd as to their necessity and apporpriateness.
I believe we must drastically reduce the size of the Federal Government. This reduction will affect the entire way in which our country functions; and will bring a needed equilibrium to our nation�s finances. We can not continue to spend and waste and expect a productive economy. The changeover must be slow but steady and determined. The estate tax must be reduced if not completely eliminated. There will be no need for an estate tax, once the state capitalistic government move towards a regulated free market economy.

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding campaign finance and government reform.

a) Support increasing the amount individuals are permitted to contribute to federal campaigns.
b) Prohibit Political Action Committee (PAC) contributions to candidates for federal office.
c) Allow unregulated soft money campaign contributions to political parties or committees.
d) Remove all contribution limits on federal campaigns and parties.
X e) Support prohibiting ads containing candidates' name that are paid for by third parties from airing 60 days before a primary and 30 days before a general federal election.
f) Support instant run-off voting (IRV).
g) Support designating Election Day as a national holiday.
h) Support giving the President the power of the line item veto for items concerning appropriations.
X i) Support limiting the President's use of signing statements in order to prevent an alternative interpretation of the bill.
X j) Support a federal shield law to protect reporter-source privilege.
The entire election must be restructured. Support for elections must be re-organized in such manner that issue oriented campaigning is prioritized. It is possible to put a candidate?s positions and principles on several sheets of paper. It does not take hundreds of thousands and hundreds of millions of dollars to get a message across. Large expenditures advertise a person not their ideas. We have the best government money can buy. It will only change if we desire to change it. Our inaction is costing us our country.

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding crime.

a) Support the use of the death penalty for federal crimes.
X b) Eliminate the use of the death penalty for federal crimes.
c) Support programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released.
d) Support programs to provide prison inmates with drug and alcohol addiction treatment.
e) Reduce prison sentences for those who commit non-violent crimes.
f) Support mandatory jail sentences for selling illegal drugs.
X g) Support strict penalties for internet crime (e.g. hacking, identity theft, worms/viruses).
h) Require that crimes based on sexual orientation be prosecuted as federal hate crimes.
Criminal statutes and prosecutions must be returned as much as possible to the states and removed from Federal Jurisdiction.

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding education.

a) Support the federal government funding universal pre-K programs.
b) Allow parents to use vouchers to send their children to any public school.
c) Allow parents to use vouchers to send their children to any private or religious school.
d) Allow teachers and professionals to receive federal funding to establish charter or magnet schools.
e) Increase funding for the Pell Grant program.
X f) Decrease interest rates of Stafford Loans.
g) Support federal tax incentives to help families save for college.
h) Ban university financial aid officers from owning stock in or accepting gifts from student loan lenders.
i) Require universities to disclose financial relationships with lenders.
j) Support federal education standards and testing requirements for K-12 students (No Child Left Behind).
X k) Eliminate all federal education standards and testing requirements for K-12 students (No Child Left Behind).
As in other areas, the Federal Government must use its power to promote the general welfare. It can best serve by leaving more money at the county and state levels. For areas of the country that are culturally and economically deprived, the federal government should expand the education programs out of Americorps and establish an independent program to recruit teachers and professionals to visit communities on both a temporary and long term basis to enhance the local teaching process. NCLB is a rote based program and must be replaced with the educational ?transfer of learning? concepts of education.

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding employment.

a) Increase funding for national job-training programs that retrain displaced workers or teach skills needed in today’s job market.
b) Reduce government regulation of the private sector.
c) Encourage employers to offer child care services, flex-time scheduling, comp-time, and unpaid leave for family emergencies.
d) Increase the federal minimum wage.
X e) Support the right of workers to unionize.
f) Eliminate all federal programs designed to reduce unemployment.
g) Include sexual orientation in federal anti-discrimination laws.
h) Include gender identity in federal anti-discrimination laws.
The economy must be market based, but at the same time with tighter government oversight to protect the individual against monopolistic and predetory acts by large companies.

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding the environment and energy.

a) Strengthen the regulation and enforcement of the Clean Water Act.
b) Strengthen the regulation and enforcement of the Clean Air Act.
c) Support increased development of traditional energy resources (e.g. coal, natural gas, oil).
d) Strengthen emission controls on all gasoline and diesel-powered engines, including cars, trucks, and sport utility vehicles.
e) Strengthen fuel efficiency standards on all gasoline and diesel-powered engines, including cars, trucks, and sport utility vehicles.
f) Support domestic oil exploration in areas that are currently restricted.
X g) Encourage further development and use of alternative fuels.
X h) Support the use of ethanol as an alternative fuel.
i) Support research and development of nuclear reactors as an alternative energy source.
j) Allow energy producers to trade pollution credits under "cap and trade" laws.
k) Support international mandatory emission targets to limit global warming.
l) Support international voluntary emission targets to limit global warming.
Energy must be looked at strategically and not just tactically. We must promote the development of renewable fuel such as: wind, solar, tidal, hydro, tidal, hydrogen, bio, etc. and see that they are brought to the market place in such way that they will be competitive. Support for expendable fuels must be curtailed. Clean burning nuclear fuel and coal must be explored. Oil is needed for the manufacture of plastics and other commodities and it should not be penalized when used for these purposes, but it should no longer be looked at as "king" of the fuels.

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding guns.On (c) and (d), indicate what levels (#1-6) you support for the following categories.

X a) Allow individuals to carry concealed guns.
b) Ban the sale, ownership or possession of handguns except by law enforcement and other government officials.
c) Enforcement of existing restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
d) Restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
Guns in of themselves do not harm or kill. Unfamiliarity and resulting carelessness with firearms results in serious injuries. Guns help reduce crime more than they cause it. We must de-illegalize drugs and eliminate the crime-ridden black market in drugs, which is the cause of many gun related deaths. People should receive training in the use of firearms as a prerequisite for firearms ownership; with no associated registration or background check. Ubiquities gun ownership is a cornerstone of American liberty and must be respected; but because of our contemporary lifestyle, mandated training must now be demanded.

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding health.

a) Implement a universal healthcare program to guarantee coverage to all Americans, regardless of income.
b) Expand eligibility for tax-free medical savings accounts.
c) Allow the importation of prescription drugs into the United States.
d) Support expanding prescription drug coverage under Medicare.
e) Offer tax credits to individuals and small businesses to offset the cost of insurance coverage.
f) Support expanding child healthcare programs.
g) Providing healthcare is not a responsibility of the federal government.
The goverenment must no longer be responsible for fixed high costs of medical procedures. The cost of medical procedures must be brought down. Please see my postion on my website: joelgoodman.us

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding immigration.

a) Decrease the number of legal immigrants allowed into the country.
b) Establish English as the official national language.
X c) Support a temporary worker program.
d) Support harsher financial punishments for those who knowingly employ illegal immigrants.
e) Support amnesty for illegal immigrants already working in the United States.
X f) Illegal immigrants should have to return to their countries of origin before being considered for citizenship.
g) Illegal immigrants should be given a pathway to citizenship.
h) Support merit-based visas over family-based visas.
Please see my website for a full proposal on this issue: joelgoodman.us

International AidIndicate which principles you support (if any) regarding international aid.International PolicyIndicate which principles you support (if any) regarding international policy.International TradeIndicate which principles you support (if any) regarding international trade.

X a) Support the United States granting aid to countries when extraordinary circumstances cause disaster and threaten civilian lives.
b) Support the United States granting aid to countries when it is in the security interests of the United States.
c) Eliminate United States aid for any nation with documented human rights abuses.
d) Aid granted by the United States should be scaled back and eventually eliminated.
a) Should the United States continue to provide leadership in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process?
b) Should the United States support the creation of a Palestinian state?
c) Should the United States impose greater international sanctions on Iran if it continues to defy United Nations mandates?
d) Should the United States support the Lebanese government against insurgent forces?
No e) Should the United States maintain its troop levels in Iraq?
Yes f) Should the United States withdraw its troops from Iraq?
g) Discuss your proposals for Iraq.
No h) Should the United States apply greater economic and diplomatic sanctions against North Korea if it fails to abide by its agreement to suspend its nuclear program?
No i) Should the United States increase financial support for Afghanistan?
No j) Should the United States increase military support for Afghanistan?
Yes k) Should the United States trade nuclear fuel to India for civilian purposes?
Yes l) Should the United States decrease financial support for Pakistan?
Yes m) Should the United States decrease military support for Pakistan?
Yes n) Should the United States be involved in bringing an end to the violence in Darfur, Sudan?
Yes o) Should the United States be involved in bringing an end to the violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo?
p) Should the United States provide economic and military support to the Transitional Government of Somalia?
q) Should the United States use sanctions to encourage the government of Zimbabwe to end its human rights abuses?
r) Should the United States support the creation of an independent nation of Kosovo?
a) Do you support the United States imposing economic sanctions on China?
b) Do you support the United States imposing trade sanctions on Venezuela?
No c) Do you support the United States involvement in free trade agreements?
No d) Do you support the United States involvement in intergovernmental organizations dedicated to trade?
However foreign aid is structured in the future, it must no longer be associated with an economic advantage for elements of our country?s manufacturing community. Our purpose for aid should be humanitarian, expecting no more than that a well fed, healthy and well educated human being will grow to cherish liberty as we do, which in turn will help us in spreading liberty around the world. A truly free world and healthy world will be our best defense against terrorism aggression.
Our involvement overseas should be based upon what is necesary for our national defense and how direct help to citizens in foreigh countries will help them live more fruitful lives. At no time should we be buying the favors of "dictators" and supporting the enemy of our enemy on a shortsighted basis. We do not have the moral authority to determine how the rest of the world governs itself. In truth we only been helping those who can benefit certain economic interests close to our government. This should be stopped.
Our foreign policy must be reflective of our national goals, not reflective of the business neeeds of certain industries.

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding national security.

No a) Do you support using military tribunals to try suspected terrorists when ordinary civilian courts are deemed inappropriate or impractical?
No b) Should law enforcement agencies have greater discretion to monitor domestic communications, to prevent future terrorist attacks?
No c) Should the United States hold foreign states accountable for terrorists who operate in their country?
No d) Should the federal government increase funding to states and cities for homeland security?
No e) Do you support pre-emptive military strikes against countries deemed to be a threat to United States national security?
No f) Do you support the creation of a federal identification card system?
No g) Do you support long-term use of National Guard troops to supplement the armed forces in assignments overseas?
Undecided h) Should the United States expand its missile defense shield?
i) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding social issues.

a) Should same-sex couples be allowed to marry?
No b) Do you support a federal constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman?
c) Do you support federal funding for research on existing embryonic stem cell lines?
d) Do you support federal funding to create lines of stem cells from new embryos?
No e) Should the federal government consider race and gender in government contracting decisions?
No f) Should the federal government continue affirmative action programs?
g) Should the federal government regulate internet gambling?
h) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding Social Security.

a) Allow workers to invest a portion of their payroll tax in private accounts that they manage themselves.
b) Ensure the viability of Social Security by increasing the payroll tax.
c) Decrease benefits paid to retirees.
X d) Support proportional increases of Social Security benefits based on the cost of living index.
e) Raise the retirement age for individual eligibility to receive full Social Security benefits.
Social Security is here to stay for the short term, but it must be reformed. If it is to work it must be mandatory, even though in principle I beieve it is basisally wrong and unhealthy for the Federal Goverenment to be involved in entitlement programs such as this. It is an area of social welfare that must be re-examined.

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding welfare and poverty.

a) Require welfare recipients to spend at least 40 hours a week in a combination of work and training programs.
b) Continue to give states and local governments flexibility in and responsibility for welfare programs through federal block grants.
c) Support housing assistance for welfare recipients.
X d) Abolish all federal welfare programs.
Social welfare programs, if they are to exist, must be maintained at the state level.
�� End the Iraq and Afghanistan wars �� Protect Individual Liberty �� Affordable County Based Medicine - Reduce Costs �� Price/Threshold Consumption Tax - Change IRS Mission �� Prioritize & Promote Sustainable Energy and Rail Transit �V �� Protect U.S. Manufacturing Jobs �� Enforce & Reform Immigration Laws �� Protect the Environment for Our Children �� Defend Firearms Ownership Joel is a Certified NRA Firearms Safety Instructor

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