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| John Frostad |
DM: Welcome to the Liberty Chronicle Independent, John. Let's dive in right away; what's your position you're running for and why?
JF: I am running for State Representative for the 31st legislative district. I have recognized the increasing frustration that people have been having with growing government. People have been talking for the last several years about the top 1% of Americans, but what about the bottom 1%? There are a ton of government laws, rules, and regulations that are preventing the advancement of the poor, the addicted, and the troubled. That is my primary motivation to run.
DM: I'm glad to see you running with a focus on those who are struggling, in mind. Libertarians have had a stereotype placed upon them as not caring about those who are less fortunate within their communities, but we see that is the exact opposite with candidates (especially at the state and local levels). Let's talk about how you plan on changing things locally for your district. What regulations are holding your community back, for example.
JF: There is a lot we can do. Zoning and land use laws are often prohibitive for affordable, alternative housing construction. For many, criminal records are a huge obstacle to employment and secure housing for themselves and their families. We need an efficient way for people to clear their records when they have served out their sentencing. Many occupational licenses were created by industries simply to decrease new entries into the field. We need to eliminate some licenses and greatly reduce requirements for others. Many who are struggling to find employment, might otherwise make employment for themselves. We've made it far more difficult than it needs to be to start a very small scale enterprise or simply to do odd jobs until you can land regular employment. As you can see, there are a lot of things we can do to provide access to the things most people get to enjoy, but those that are struggling do not.
DM: These are answers we would not traditionally hear. It's certainly the age of thinking outside of the box. How do you plan on helping empower local education options? Trade/Charter Schooling, etc.
JF: I think schools succeed when they meet the needs of their local communities. I think school districts should have general directives from a state level, but broad authority as to how to implement them on a local level. I think parents, teachers, administrators, and the community at large should be able to steer their schools on a local level. I am supportive of charter schools, voucher programs, Running Start programs, and the like as alternatives available to parents and students. Diversity in education is absolutely a necessity to ensure that all kids have an environment where they can thrive.
DM: What are your plans in regards to small business? What can small businesses expect as far as tax breaks or deregulation that could be currently crippling them?
JF: I have been a small business owner for 20 years, I can empathize with a lot of what we all deal with. When I see large corporations getting billions of dollars in tax breaks, it raises my blood pressure. Those tax breaks mean tax liabilities for the rest of us business owners. We need fair taxation of business across the board not tax punishments for small businesses and tax perks for the politically well-connected corporations.
Hiring each employee is a very stressful decision for any small business. It is a big commitment. Forces in Washington are trying to make that decision even more complicated. Hiring en employee creates a lot of paperwork, financial liability, and complications. Terms of employment should be negotiated by the employee or union, not legislated.
DM: It's been very informative speaking with you, John. Readers will appreciate all of your efforts. What social media links, websites, how to volunteer or donate to the campaign are you able to provide?
JF: People can reach me via my website www.johnfrostad.com or connect with me on facebook.com/frostadlp
DM: Excellent. We'd love to follow up with you as election time draws closer. What final thoughts would you like to leave with the readers and voters?
JF: It is a new day in politics and people are starting to see a third way emerging. People need to see that the Libertarian party is a pro-people party, because we are. We reject the politics of fear, greed, and self-interest that have polluted our legislative process. We can further the interests of people without the government playing new roles, creating new powers, or raising taxes. I am looking forward to being that voice in Olympia.
This contribution is from Seattle-based independent journalist, David Malekar, Lead Contributor for the Liberty Chronicle Independent; who publishes content to the WashCo Chronicle and other online publications. The interviewee John Frostad, is running for State Representative - District 31 in Washington State as Libertarian. You can find more information on John at the website www.johnfrostad.com and follow on Facebook at facebook.com/frostadlp
