I have many, many questions I'd liked asked of the Republican candidates. I wanted to share them with someone, but my partner is sick of hearing me talk politics. This seems like a good enough place.
1. Herman Cain, you keep touting Chile's privatized Social Security system, so you must be aware that the government mandates individuals to pay 10 percent of their income, up to $250 per month, into government sanctioned private investment firms. Additionally, if a low wage earner can't afford to pay that 10 percent they're subsidized by the government. Are you saying you support a government mandate for Social Security (a la Obamacare) and providing welfare for low wage earners?
2. Everyone except Jon Huntsman: You support the concept of open markets and supply and demand, but you don't believe in climate change. However, many of the governments of the world are shifting their infrastructures and R&D investments toward green technology. Even if you don't believe in climate change, don't you think it might make good business sense for the United States to invest in green technology so we can compete globally and in the future have products to export?
3. When asked how you'll attract Latino voters why do you all assume the most important issue to Latinos is immigration?
4. Rick Santorum, the best way to attract Latino voters is by making English the national language? Really? I mean, you're completely serious?
5. Jon Huntsman, you didn't answer the question, how best can the United States support the rights of Afghan women?
6. Everyone except Jon Huntsman: How do you reconcile the existence of dinosaur bones?
7. Ron Paul, 25 percent of Texans do not have health insurance, do you believe the church is currently providing for those individuals or is the church waiting until the government is completely dissolved? Also, if a Jew lives in a highly Christian area where there isn't a nearby Temple can he get health services from the church, too? What about an agnostic or atheist?
8. Gov. Perry, last week to much aplomb from the audience, you doubled down on your support of the death penalty. However, in two of the 234 cases new data has been produced that suggest the executed may have been innocent. Do you believe a judge and jury can never be wrong or do you see occasional errors as collateral damage?
9. Gov. Perry, you said the stimulus created zero jobs, but the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office says otherwise. A federal report suggests the Lone Star State saved or created more than 47,000 jobs thanks to you accepting the stimulus money. Is the CBO filled with liars?
10. Herman Cain, you said you'd fill the EPA with people who've been targeted by the EPA. Would you also appoint the CEO of Massey Energy as head of the MSHA?