Chase Oliver for President Libertarian Candidate
Economy
Economic Strategy: "Mr. Oliver, as a Libertarian, you advocate for a free-market economy. How do you plan to balance the need for economic growth with ensuring that the benefits of that growth are widely distributed among all Americans?"
It’s not the role or responsibility of the Federal Government or any government to try and plan or manipulate the economy. That said, currently the Constitution authorizes the Federal Government to mint money. We’ve been doing far too much of that whenever it’s convenient, but it comes with a price–inflation. So returning to sound monetary policy and reducing inflation will cause prosperity for all Americans, especially those in lower income brackets whose dollars will start to have more buying power.
Health Care
Health Care Reform: "What specific policies would you implement to create a health care system that reduces costs, increases accessibility, and respects individual freedoms?" 1- I would be working with Congress to pass the proposed 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, The Medical Freedom Amendment. All individuals have the right to decide on their health however they choose. This means that no government (federal, state, or local) can make any law or regulation that impedes an individual’s health care rights. Individuals have the right to bodily autonomy and informed consent. Bodily autonomy is the right to control what happens to your body without any threat or use of force, violence, or negative consequences. Informed consent involves patients receiving all vital information regarding their medical care, including benefits and risks associated. Patients can then choose if the care is right for them, and which providers the patient believes are most qualified These are fundamental principles of medical freedom. 2- Repealing the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act (NCVIA) of 1986, and the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREPA). Both laws eliminate the possible financial liability of vaccine manufacturers for vaccine injury and death claims. NCVIA’s purpose was to ensure a stable market supply of vaccines, and to create a “cost-effective” arbitration for any vaccine injury or death claims. PREPA shields pharmaceutical manufacturers from financial liability and affords immunity from any actions related to the testing, development, distribution, and administration during the event of a declared public health emergency. The lack of accountability and culpability of vaccine/biologic makers has interfered with the free market and inadvertently led to less checks and balances on the safety and efficacy of vaccines. 3- Remove the U.S. from WHO and oppose the IHR Treaty (proposed binding international treaty) which would give the global entity to make medical decisions. 4- Eliminate the CDC to do away with regulatory captured by the pharmaceutical industry. 5- Stop payments from CMS for required vaccination of healthcare workers and patients. Also, abolishing CMS’ authority to mandate healthcare worker medical procedures. 6- Remove HHS from operating in the competing roles as a promoter of vaccines and the safety monitor. 7- Ensuring the importance of the doctor-patient relationship
https://www.votechaseoliver.com/blog/chase-oliver-would-have-pardoned-assange
War with Russia Over Ukraine
Foreign Policy on Ukraine: "Given the current tensions with Russia over Ukraine, what is your stance on U.S. involvement in this conflict? How would you approach diplomatic and military strategies to avoid escalation while supporting allies?" As a government the US should not get more involved in the conflict, however it is necessary that action should be taken to free up action by private individuals and companies. As it currently stands the US government makes it hard for military equipment to be sold outside of the US without approval of the government. The International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) currently dictates the export of defense related equipment and services. These items are listed under the United States Munitions List (USML), however a lot of these items can be considered dual-use and thus action should be taken to move them from the USML to the Commerce Control List (CCL), moving the regulation from ITAR to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). This will encourage US based companies to sell more equipment to our allies and Ukraine and strengthen their militaries as well as our own industrial base. Diplomatically it is important to reaffirm the commitment of NATO as a defensive alliance. By reaffirming our commitment to defense we are deterring aggression and preventing escalation. Self defense is a core American value and we should continue to express that value on a global scale.
War with Iran Over Gaza
Middle East Policy: "In light of potential conflicts with Iran over Gaza, how would you handle U.S. relations in the Middle East to promote peace and stability without getting entangled in another prolonged military engagement?" When it comes to the Middle East the best way to promote peace is by talking to local community leaders and supporting the individuals in the area. Terrorism is wrong and we should condemn it no matter who commits the acts, however Israel is using more force than is necessary to defend themselves and we should not be giving them the funds and weaponry to do it. What’s more is that we should begin to pull our troops in the Middle East back home. The best way to avoid entanglement in another war in the Middle East is to not have our troops there in the first place. Israel does not need our help to fight a war and their actions are putting our troops in danger. By pulling back home we will indicate that we seek peace in the region, and that will allow us to play the role of mediator in the Middle East.
War with China Over Taiwan
China-Taiwan Relations: "With rising tensions between China and Taiwan, what is your policy on U.S. involvement in the region? How do you propose to support Taiwan's sovereignty while maintaining peaceful relations with China?" We need to remain strong in the Pacific and support Taiwan as one of the leading democracies in Asia. The best way to both support Taiwan and maintain peaceful relations with China is through trade. With a rehaul of our current export control regime we can make it easier for voluntary trade between private citizens and corporations and both China and Taiwan. However we cannot let China believe that it can bully its way to dominance. We must indicate that we are committed to defending the sovereignty of Taiwan and our allies in the Pacific. This stance allows our olive branch to not just be a worthless gesture. We are willing to work with China and maintain peace and prosperity in the Pacific so long as China is willing to be an honest partner for peace. Trade between our countries will help lift both of our economies to new heights and we should do everything we can to encourage honest and peaceful trade between all partners in the Pacific.
Economy and Taxes
Tax Policy: "What changes would you make to the current tax system to simplify it and make it more efficient, and how would these changes stimulate economic growth and innovation?"
According to research by Adam Michel at Cato Institute, there are at least 6 different sets of code determining how having a child might qualify a family for tax benefits, 15 programs for higher education deductions, 18 different types af tax-savings accounts, and 14 itemization deduction schemes. The cost of compliance with this byzantine warren of regulations is $74 billion annually, which is a hidden tax of both cost and time on top of paying federal taxes.
Simply adopting a single-rate flat tax would simplify this mess, and would save Americans an estimated $100 billion annually in compliance and preparation costs. Additionally, removing the double taxation of business income, along with the costs of compliance with regulations that advantage larger firms over smaller, often more innovative firms, would boost productivity, increasing the number of jobs and allowing wages to grow.
Policies on Gas Explorations
Energy Policy: "How do you plan to balance the need for domestic energy production, including gas exploration, with environmental concerns and the transition to renewable energy sources?"
Chase embraces energy diversity because diversity breeds resiliency. The free market is the best vehicle to steer the energy transition, and is demonstrably motivated by transitioning to less carbon-intensive sources of energy and more energy efficient technology. Encouraging a blend of energy generation methods, including nuclear, and fostering innovation in the energy market is the best strategy for achieving energy independence and fortifying the nation against natural disasters and security threats. Outlawing specific forms of energy risks debilitating the nation and stifling a robust and adaptable energy landscape.
Throughout much of the 2010’s, long before Biden’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), new solar installations outpaced fossil fuels development. In 2019, solar accounted for 40% of new electric generation capacity in the U.S. Similarly adoption of EVs and hybrid vehicles steadily increased in the 2010s and saw a surge in 2020. Since passing these laws, America has experienced dramatic backlash, with over 15% of counties enacting bans or moratoriums on renewable development, skepticism from Native American communities, and greater skepticism on phasing out gas-powered vehicles from both left and right-wing Americans.
Government-induced marketing manipulations aimed at forcing the energy transition before the country is ready will cause more problems than it solves. The energy transition requires a 40-fold increase in lithium, and similarly large demands for cobalt, manganese, nickel, and natural graphite. Most of these minerals must be mined from countries with poor labor and environmental standards, for example the Democratic Republic of Congo, where an estimated 40,000 children work in cobalt mines. Creating an artificial demand for these resources through government stimulus will only motivate other nations and corporations to quickly extract resources with little consideration for environmental or social impacts. Democrat’s market manipulation to force the energy transition is the antithesis of the equity and environmental justice values they espouse.
Chase is committed to opening conversations with Native American Tribes regarding federal public lands they would like to reclaim while maintaining a similar level of protection. This includes lands currently managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Forest Service (USFS), much of which are used for gas exploration, mining, timber production, and other revenue-generating activities. As part of this land back program, Chase will transfer all leases to the Tribes so they can reap the billions of dollars of benefits that the government currently enjoys. As new parts of sovereign nations, Tribes will be free to use the land for exploration, production, or conservation as they see fit.
Chase also has a robust plan to revise inefficient and environmentally-destructive policies that will concurrently streamline permitting for clean energy, including:
Directing the Council on Environmental Quality (DEQ) to identify optimal locations for renewable generation, nuclear, and electric transmission facilities, and work with the Department of Energy (DOE) and other agencies to agree to shortened National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) approvals
Allowing greater flexibility for habitat restoration activities currently restricted under the Endangered Species Act (ESA)
Eliminating destructive soil testing requirements for most wetland delineation surveys under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (CWA)
Military Spending
Defense Budget: "In terms of military spending, what is your strategy for maintaining national security while ensuring that the defense budget is used efficiently and effectively? How would you address the balance between military readiness and fiscal responsibility?"
Simply refocusing on defense, instead of global policing, would allow for a lower, yet more efficient, defense budget. Military readiness and fiscal responsibility are not mutually exclusive, and we must remember that runaway debt is a national security issue in its own right.
Domestic Economic Policies
Domestic Job Creation: "What specific policies would you implement to stimulate job creation in the U.S., particularly in industries that are at risk of being automated or outsourced?"
The first thing that must be done is to reduce onerous regulations that place larger firms that can afford compliance costs at a huge advantage over smaller firms and sometimes even over small community businesses. We have been conditioned to think of these regulations as protecting workers and consumers, and while a small fraction do, the truth is that via regulatory capture, many - if not most - of these regulations simply protect larger, more politically protected firms from competition my smaller, more innovative up-and-coming firms.
Automation and outsourcing are not pejoratives. They are simply the outcome of progress and economic growth. Industries that are at a comparative disadvantage to foreign firms and automation utilize resources that would be more efficiently used in other industries. That may be an unpopular truth, but it is the truth. Yet, releasing regulatory shackles that create artificial barriers to entry and stifle innovation would allow for those jobs to shift, instead of being lost.
https://www.votechaseoliver.com/platform
Trade Policies
Trade and Tariffs: "What is your stance on current trade policies and tariffs? How would you adjust these policies to foster better international trade relationships while protecting American industries and workers?"
If I can trade freely with my next-door neighbor, and with a business in another state, then why can I not trade freely with a business across an international border? Tariffs are taxes Americans pay. And when we place tariffs on imported goods, we insert government coercion into an otherwise peaceful, voluntary transaction. Henry George said it well: “In time of war, we blockade our enemies in order to prevent them from getting goods from us. In time of peace, we do to ourselves by tariffs what we do to our enemy in time of war.”
Additionally, tariffs waste valuable resources, distort price signals, cause inefficiencies and black markets.