Candidate Positions

Original source: http://bush.ontheissues.org/2008/Mike_Gravel_Free_Trade.htm

Q: A lot of Americans are concerned with outsourcing of US jobs. What’s your solution?

GRAVEL: Outsourcing is not the problem. What is the problem is our trade agreements that benefit the management and, of course, the shareholders, and have neglected on either side of the issue, whether it’s in Mexico or in other countries or the United States. That’s the problem that must be addressed. So, no, it’s not outsourcing. But I would add to it, it’s the way all of these people want to finance health care, on the backs of businesses, that make them uncompetitive in the world. That’s part of the problem. And our system of taxation is also part of the problem because it makes us uncompetitive in the world.

DODD: I disagree. I think it’s a huge issue here. The fact of the matter is we’re exporting a lot of valuable jobs in this country and we shouldn’t be doing it.

BIDEN: The bottom line here is we’ve got to make it more attractive to have jobs here in America and for corporations to be here.

Original source: http://2008gravel.blogspot.com/2007/03/mike-gravels-views-on-climate-change.html

Global climate change must be made an issue of national security. We must act swiftly to reduce America’s carbon footprint in the world by passing legislation that caps emissions. However, any legislation will have little impact on the global environment if we do not work together with other global polluters. Fighting global warming can only be effective if it is a collective global effort.

As President, Senator Gravel will see that the U.S. launches and leads a massive global scientific effort to end energy dependence on oil and integrate the world’s scientific community to this task. A national public works program to rewire the country towards new energy technologies would create tens of thousands of new American jobs.

Original source: http://www.quickoverview.com/election2008/mike-gravel-overview.html

During his first term in the Senate, Gravel authored a book titled Citizen Power. In it, he advocated the implementation of numerous populist ideas, including a guaranteed annual income (dubbed the “Citizen’s Wage”), public financing of elections, a progressive tax with no deductions or exemptions, steps against the military-industrial complex (which he calls the “Warfare State”), a national law to do away with voter registration and other barriers to voting, abolition of the death penalty, universal health care, school vouchers, a drastic reduction in government secrecy, and an end to what he viewed as an imperialistic foreign policy. The book also contained the complete text of the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and the complete platform adopted by the Populist Party during the 1892 presidential election.

Original source: http://www.gravel2008.us/issues

2ND AMENDMENT RIGHTS

While Senator Gravel fully supports the 2nd Amendment, he believes that fundamental change must take place with regards to gun ownership. The senator advocates a licensing program where a potential gun owner must be licensed as well as properly trained with a firearm before they may own one.

Original source: http://www.gravel2008.us/?q=node/516

Senator Gravel favors protecting our borders and stemming the flow of illegal immigrants into our country. He also favors a guest worker program and naturalizing those workers presently living in the US.

We cannot begin to discuss Mexican immigration without discussing NAFTA and the concept of “free trade.” NAFTA has been a disaster for the working class of both the US and Mexico and has been a godsend for corporations. A study by the Economic Policy Institute found that through 2004 over 1,000,000 US jobs were lost as a result of NAFTA, a third of them manufacturing jobs. In Mexico, 1.3 million farm workers lost their jobs in the same period. This has led to a wave of immigrant workers looking for work in the US job market.

Major structural changes must be made to NAFTA in order to restore lost jobs. Reforming unfair trade policies will stimulate job growth on both sides of the border and allow Mexican workers to remain in their motherland. We must make fair trade a priority if we are to rebuild the American middle class.

Original source: http://www.bluestateobserver.com/2006/07/scones-with-senator.html

Stem Cell research is something the Senator feels strongly about — and believes that it is wrong to limit the advancement of science. He spoke of the day when using a corpse for medical research was unheard of, and condemned — and pointed out that that would lead to many medical breakthroughs.

Original source: http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewPolitics.asp?Page=/Politics/archive/200704/POL20070419a.html

Another Democratic 2008 hopeful and former U.S. senator, Mike Gravel of Alaska, declared himself “disappointed in today’s ruling or any ruling that places restrictions on reproductive freedom.”