The only changes I made on these responses were spelling. If you want to look as these candidates websites or their stand on policies please reference to this link:
http://www.melvagifford.com/2017/05/04/2017-state-republican-candidates/
- What do you feel is the responsibility division between the Federal government and state government?
- Some individuals feel that nothing is being done at the Federal level because of global influences. Do you feel there are such individuals as globalists in government and how do you feel Utah State could maintain state sovereignty from the globalist influence?
If you get elected, you will in a position of influence and I wanted your opinion on these two topics.
Robert Anderson (State Party Chair)
Yes I do think there are people working within the government who espouse globalist views. I think we work where we have areas of influence; namely, we educate locally to ensure we elect people to represent us in Washington DC who espouse the values we Utahans hold sacred.
Joe Levi (State Vice-Chair)
Hi again, Melva!
The division between the Federal Government and the governments of the several States was clearly understood when the Founders were meeting to replace the Articles of Confederation with what would become our Constitution. The Federalists wanted a strong central government, but one that was deliberately and specifically limited in scope. The Anti-Federalists were vocal objectors, feeling that the Constitution didn’t go far enough to enumerate Rights and limit the power of the Central Government. The Federalists felt the proposed Constitution was sufficiently limiting to the Central Government and that the Anti-Federalists concerns were unwarranted. Nonetheless, to secure ratification, the Federals worked with the Anti-Federalists to incorporate the Bill of Rights to further clarify (and specifically enumerate) Rights and Powers to the States and to the People – the Tenth Amendment being the catch-all.
Over the years the Federal Government has assumed more power than they was provided to it through the Constitution. If something isn’t specifically written into the Constitution, it falls to the States or to the People – from health care and education to environmental protection and marriage.
The frustration with the Federal Government not “getting anything done” can be seen as both a good thing and a bad thing. When viewed through the lens of the Constitution, the Federal Government doesn’t have a lot that it SHOULD be doing.
It’s important to maintain a friendly relationship between the States and the Central Government, but States must do more to re-take what Rights and Powers were rightfully delegated to them in our Constitution. We have long been seen as the “Global Police Force” and meddle in the affairs of other countries under the excuse of “stabilization”. While we need to be conscious and aware of the circumstances and conditions of our friends around the world, we need to first take care of ourselves, and then be open to the requests of our friends. To me this is no different than individual responsibility: as a person, I need to first take care of myself (food, water, hygiene, exercise, education, etc.), then I take care of my wife and family, then I can voluntarily help my extended family and community. This same approach not only works on the larger scale, it’s arguably more efficient than the bureaucratic waste which plagues our Government today.
Don Guymon( State Vice-Chair)
Thank you for your questions.
1) The division between the federal government and state is outlined in the US Constitution. The Constitution gives the federal government specific duties (for example national defense). Any duty not given to the federal government in the Constitution should go back to the states.
I believe the state of Utah should exercise more sovereign control. I wrote about this a couple of years ago: https://www.utahpoliticohub.com/utah-needs-to-move-beyond-10th-amendment-saber-rattling/
2) Our politicians should do all we can to make our state and nation as strong as possible. I have opposed the United Nations on many fronts because we surrender sovereign control. I also believe this to be the case with many trade agreements we have signed. While I do not oppose free trade, I do oppose when we give up our sovereignty to a foreign agency to dictate what we can do in our country.
If you have any further questions please contact me.
Joni Crane (State Vice –Chair)
Good questions, first I believe in the United States of America as a government of the people, by the people and for the people, who’s powers are derived from the consent of the governed. A democracy IN a Republic, a Sovereign Nation of many sovereign states, one and inseparable. A perfect union.
Yes, I believe political globalization and its supporters exist. I believe one of the main goals of political globalization is to create a decline in the importance of the nation-state and to give more power to organizations like the United Nations. These same people would like the US to follow international laws that supersede our constitution. I will never support usurping U.S. sovereignty and I will never support candidates who would push this agenda.
I am running for vice chairman of the Utah Republican Party and as such would be in a position to help facilitate our delegates in their selection of nominees who support the ideals and values of our platform. The platform very clearly states that we support state sovereignty. If you haven’t seen the platform I’d be happy to bring one to Convention for you. Thank you for your questions. Give me a call if you have questions. My phone number is 830 308 7380 and my website is JoniCrane.com
