Sid Daoud running Libertarian for United State Senator of Montana
Thank you for the opportunity for this interview Sid Daoud. You are running for US Senate seat for Montana. For my readers can you provide a story about why you are running and a little more about who you are?
Who I am:
I’m a Montanan with a rich family history, representing two American dreams. On my mother’s side, the dream of early settlers in territorial Montana, and on my father’s, that of Armenian immigrants, coming to America to work hard and make a new life.
I was born and raised in Great Falls, proudly served my country in the US Army for 13 years, married my high school sweetheart and raised three great kids.
In 2006, we settled our family in the Flathead Valley, where we had the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors, send our kids to great schools, and make friends with wonderful people who come from many different social and political perspectives. I’ve had a long, thriving career, working in Information Technology for large enterprise operations and as a private consultant. I’ve volunteered with many outstanding organizations, such as Kalispell’s Cancer Support Community and Habitat for Humanity to deepen my connections in the Valley and give back to the community I love.
In 2016, I became more interested in local politics. Leaning on the values I was raised with, I wanted to make an impact locally. I am now about to serve my second term on the Kalispell City Council representing Ward Four.
The United States Constitution and its Bill of Rights form the core of my principals. Any issue I consider has to pass through the crucible of enhancing individual rights or support for the community free market.
With the troubling rise of pointless infighting and corruption found in politics and government, I have come to realize that I can no longer wait for someone else to help create a better world and help instill Montanan principals - it’s time for me to roll up my sleeves and get to work!
Why I am running:
Who is satisfied with Congress and our Federal government?
If you feel dissatisfied, you are not alone, Congress has an approval rating for 12%
Voters are forced to choose the lesser of two evils constantly
We have been forced into voting defensively
The two big parties have no incentive to change, or to stand for something, because we continue to sending their cloned candidates to the Senate
A third voice changes that dynamic, now candidates have to actually stand for something
I am giving voters with principles of Montanan values, adherence to the U.S. Constitution and the value of consent a candidate to actually support
As Republican and Democrat leadership have moved away from their own base I am now “stuck in the middle with you”, I call this the rational middle
When you view the voting and actions of Congress today they look much more like a Uni-Party than two separate parties – pushing an uni-party agenda that does not fit well with us here in Montana
Here is a summary of the three primary planks I am running on:
1 - We urgently need to address Inflation and the National Debt. Americans are in dire straits under current inflation and the stress on our economy due to the enormous national debt. Without immediate steps to reduce both, we are dooming ourselves, our younger and future generations. I will fight to make congress pass a budget, one that reduces spending and starts to pay off the debt.
Congress has completed appropriations before the start of the fiscal year only 4 times in the past 40 years. The last time Congress completed all bills on time was more than 20 years ago, in 1996
Give example of kids
2 - Our nation can no longer afford all the unconstitutional wars, police actions and worldwide troop deployments. I will fight to return us to the constitutional inclusion of the people, through their representatives, when determining when our troops are put in harm’s way. I will fight to remove the war pigs from Washington
I am the only anti-war candidate.
The constitution places the choice of when we go to war squarely on Congress as they directly represent us all. After war is declared the President then has the power to direct the war.
Congress has unconstitutionally given war powers over to the President.
James Madison writing to Thomas Jefferson on April 2nd, 1798, confirms that War Powers were not given to the Executive branch because “the History of all Governments demonstrates, that the Executive is the branch of power most interested in war, & most prone to it”
The President should not be able to start any war himself, he is not a dictator.
3 - I will be a moderator, bringing both sides to the table, in neutral territory, to find solutions for America
The leadership of the two big parties concentrate on investigating and indicting each other, leaving little time to take care of our great nation. We of the rational middle need to take back our country, disband the uni-party and return to the Constitution.
I am interested in real Solutions, not party politics, as a true outsider to both big parties I will be in a unique position to carve out solutions, engaging Senators of all flavors
If we change nothing then we will get the same results, and no one is satisfied with that
Think back to introduction of my words to you when I asked “who is satisfied with Congress and the Federal Government?”
Its time for something different and effective and I give you that – Vote Sid Daoud
1. What measures do you propose to address the economic disparities between rural and urban areas in Montana? I want to move us to a “freer” market, concentrating on promoting small local businesses – Local businesses have the biggest impact on your local economy. Less regulation, less government interference and support of local entrepreneurs is the key to human flourishing in both rural and urban Montana.
2. How do you plan to support the conservation efforts and protect the natural resources unique to Montana while balancing economic development? Montana’s communities should be the guidepost for our conservation and natural resource use, especially the communities that support that sector. Government has a way of interfering with natural resources and conservation both. There are free market conservation methods and Montana is already a leader in this space. The Property and Environment Research Center (PERC) is a great example, out of the Bozeman area.
3. As a Senator, how do you envision bolstering healthcare access and affordability for Montanans, especially in remote or underserved areas? Even greater support for telemedicine, especially as we grow out rural broadband is a key. During Covid we found many federal regulations that were in the way of rural healthcare so they were stripped back, making sure government is not a blocker to rural health is important and we should look for more blocks to remove such as letting insurance providers cross state lines and compete – your closest hospital may not be in Montana.
4. What strategies would you advocate to promote job creation and sustainable economic growth within the state? I do not see lack of jobs as being a problem in my corner of Montana, we have jobs, but we do not have workers to fill the jobs due to lack of housing. Government has to be throttled back as they are the primary reason for the expense of development and housing cost and until we can have more units available we will not see soaring rent prices come down – restrictive zoning HAS TO GO and we need to build in more density, not only because the infrastructure is cheaper (lowering rates and taxes) but because we want to preserve our surrounding natural beauty and outdoors.
5. In light of growing concerns about climate change, what policies do you plan to implement to transition Montana towards renewable energy sources? I think we keep developing renewable energy, but it is not ready or cost effective yet – our hydro-electric dams are under attack, as illustrated by states to our west – and that has to stop – Nuclear power is the one sustainable source that everyone shy’s away from but we need to incorporate it at this time to reduce fossil fuel consumption. I am incredibly happy to hear about recent breakthroughs and that we are closing in on fusion technology and believe that is our future.
6. How would you work to improve the education system in Montana, ensuring high-quality education from K-12 through higher education? Our education system in America is not only dated but extremely ineffective as covid unveiled to all. I don’t know how we can fix public education in the near term, but we can catapult it forward by embracing private pod schooling and other education solutions that will compete with public schooling. Parents should oversee the federal and state funding for each student, and if they choose to put that into public schooling, they can, but they would have other choices as well that would compete. Public schools would improve or vanish, teachers would be paid more, and we would be forced to get rid of many administrative positions to compete. Good for all.
7. Given the importance of agriculture to Montana’s economy, how do you plan to support farmers and ranchers while addressing environmental concerns? Farmers should be paid to grow food and ranchers to raise animals. I am extremely concerned that the government is paying many of them not to. If you want to see what happens when the government cracks down on farmers and ranchers over carbon concerns etc. look at what is going on in Germany and France, well all over the EU actually to include Canada right now. Don’t mess with the people who grow your food. Government regulations and subsidies are not the way, communities should be the center of any environmental concerns not blanket policies.
8. What steps would you take to strengthen national security without compromising civil liberties, particularly in an increasingly digital world? You are safe enough. Any new public safety or national security proposal should be shot down immediately. They attempt to provide security but only give the illusion of safety and no one ever checks after that fact if they actually do make anything safer. Our own government needs to be put in check by the people. At this point the freer you are, the safer you are.
9. How would you approach bridging political divides and fostering bipartisan cooperation in the Senate for the betterment of Montana and the country? I will be a natural force for the two warring parties to compromise as they both will have to attempt to get my vote on close issues. Without a third-party present all you get is more of the same useless left-right war. Suddenly with a third party in the mix the Republicans and Democrats will have to stand for something.
In the context of global tensions, particularly with China and Russia, what specific diplomatic strategies or policies would you pursue to prevent a thermonuclear conflict while safeguarding American interests? We have to stop the unconstitutional endless wars and I will demand that congress declares war before troops can be placed into conflict. Switching from “policing the world” to economic competition with the world will reduce the number of enemies we have and reduce tensions with China and Russia. We need to send diplomats again instead of troops. I do not feel that Congress or the executive office place value on our troops like they should. These are peoples lives that are ruined and many come back broken to a sleeping country populated by citizens are against our endless wars and they ask “what was it all for?” China is in big trouble right now and in no shape to take us on and Russia cannot take a weak country next to them that has no military might – don’t fall for the propaganda.