EDITORIAL - The Small Government Times recently had the opportunity to interview author and presidential candidate John Cox. John Cox focuses on limiting the size of the government and believes in the individual liberties of people, not the regulatory power of the federal government, to lead our nation down a better path. John Cox's book is titled “Politic$, Inc”, and is available on Amazon.com.

The interview focuses on a variety of different topics important to small government, including the War in Iraq, our nation's many social programs, our flawed progressive income taxation system, religion and public schools and flag desecration. John Cox talks about specific goals that need to be accomplished in Iraq before our troops should be pulled out and addresses the increasing tide of American companies in search of cheap labor overseas. What is the job of the government, what amendments are necessary to keep our nation safe and how much regulation does the federal government have the responsibility of mandating on the American people? Find out John Cox's answers to those questions in this interview.

The interview below uses the following format: Questions asked by the Small Government Times are prefaced with the text SGT and appear in bold font. John Cox's answers are prefaced with JC and are italicized.

SGT: The Small Government Times is deeply concerned about the destruction of our Constitution in this age of big government control. What is your view of the Constitution? Under a Cox administration, is the Constitution a document to be followed AS WRITTEN and to the letter, or is it a living document where its meaning is merely “interpreted” based on the day’s events?

JC: I absolutely believe the Constitution should be followed to the letter. There should also not be provisions created out of whole cloth. There is no ‘right of privacy’ in the Constitution. If people feel there ought to be, which I might agree with, then they should follow the procedure included in the Constitution to change it. Get the approval of the states as is provided. Of course, the next question after that would be if a right of privacy would allow abortion. To me, the right of privacy is just that – a right to have some measure of privacy from big government interference. Abortion is murder – plain and simple – and that should be regulated by state law.

SGT: Social programs, like Welfare, Medicare and Social Security, are hugely expensive entitlements. Do you believe these programs are Constitutional? Under a Cox administration, will you strive to remove these social programs from the control of the federal government?

JC: The federal government’s role should be to defend the country and facilitate commerce among the states and internationally. Providing financial support for its citizens is not listed in the Constitution, as far as I read it. Promoting the general welfare is meant to deal with matters that impact the general economic conditions of the country such as security and enforcement of the rule of law. Clearly, there are some things that impact interstate operations, like air travel, etc that likely require a federal agency. Social security was an overreaction to a horrific financial situation that gripped the country – the Great Depression. It is with us now and is almost institutionalized – reality says we cannot get rid of it but we should restructure it to a private account plan to empower people, not government.

SGT: FOLLOW-UP TO QUESTION – How much oversight does the federal government have with these private accounts? Can the federal government mandate contribution to these accounts?

JC: Response – most of these plans say that distributions cannot be made except on retirement and death. The federal government will likely make the contribution directly as opposed to a mandate on individuals.

SGT: Our nation’s tax system is deeply flawed, and we respect your focus on fixing it. Why do you believe a consumption tax can be the most effective tax system in our country? Do you believe the 16th Amendment, which authorizes income taxation, needs to be abolished or changed?

JC: I absolutely believe we need to scrap the Code and get rid of the income tax. It is too complex, intrusive and wasteful. I favor the FAIR tax, the national consumption tax, which would be simpler, fairer, and less intrusive to Americans. We would reach the illegal economy, we would end the punishment of US manufacturers and we would encourage people to save and invest.

SGT: The problem of illegal immigration is on the increase, and our politicians seem unwilling to tackle this issue. Do you believe illegal immigrants should be covered under our nation's entitlement programs, such as Welfare, Medicare and Social Security?

JC: Illegal means breaking the law and that behavior should not be rewarded. That seems clear to me as it does to millions of Americans, with the exception of a few career politicians, who just want to keep getting re-elected.

SGT: Do you believe the Bill of Rights protects illegal immigrants? Do you support deportation for every immigrant in the United States illegally?

JC: People illegally in our country should not be here. While the career politicians dithered, 12 million cheated their way into the country. They need to leave. You don’t need to deport them – just end their ability to find work. Crack down on illegal employment and they will leave on their own and we will just have to deport the few that remain. That would be the most compassionate thing we could do for the countries they came from. Hopefully, after tasting the freedom and economic vitality of the U.S., they will go home and replace the governments they have so they, too, can enjoy that same economic vitality and freedom in their home countries. That is real compassion, not the fake compassion of the open borders crowd, who are just enabling corrupt governments like Mexico to maintain their corrupt practices.

SGT: The War on Terror is a deeply important issue facing our nation. Do you believe the war in Iraq was the right war to fight?

JC: We were attacked on 9/11. I feel that President Bush was right to take the fight to the terrorists. If I were Mayor of Chicago, my hometown, and a couple of street gangs were threatening the city, and one blows up the Sears Tower, I would go after that street gang for sure but I also wouldn’t wait for that other street gang to blow up the Hancock building – I would go after them too in order to protect the people I am responsible for. Having said that, the post invasion rebuilding and security have been horribly mismanaged. We built a government and bureaucracy but didn’t rebuild the economy the way we did in post WWII Germany and Japan. Iraq should be a wealthy, prosperous country today and we better get going on pumping their oil and giving Iraqis the benefit and burden of their own security and rebuilding as soon as possible.

SGT: Many candidates are calling for the immediate withdrawal of American troops from Iraq. Some call this a “cut and run” strategy, while others believe the withdrawal will save troops' lives. Do you believe in an immediate withdrawal of our troops from Iraq?

JC: I would do whatever necessary to get their oil pumping at 100% of their capacity, rather than the 30% they are doing right now. Get the money into that economy, get the prosperity to the people and get our troops home. I would also get the Iraqi government to call on other democratic Muslim nations like Pakistan and Indonesia to put together a coalition of Muslim forces to replace Americans in the security role. That would allow us to redeploy to the borders and ultimately home.

SGT: In your view, when is the war in Iraq over? What specific goals need to be accomplished in Iraq before the United States can claim complete success?

JC: The unemployment rate in Baghdad is 50% or more. Get people working and prosperous – using their oil revenue, not money from U.S. taxpayers – and the security situation will stabilize and success will be achieved.

SGT: You have stated that, as president, you will veto every bill that is not balanced. How do you define a balanced bill? What does Congress need to do to convince President Cox to sign a budget bill?

JC: I run my businesses at a profit, not a deficit. The government runs a deficit because career politicians don’t have the nerve to say no to special interest groups or to make the tough decisions necessary to balance the budget. Certainly, national emergencies like WWII happen and you may have to run a deficit temporarily to address that type of situation. A balanced budget is just that – where revenues and expenses are in equilibrium. If Congress won't do it, I will go over their heads to their bosses – the voters who elected them and who can kick them out of office.

SGT: While the Small Government Times strongly opposes homosexual marriage, we believe marriage decisions need to be made at the local level. You support the Federal Marriage Amendment, which uses the Constitution to define marriage. Why do you believe the federal government has the constitutional authority to regulate marriage? What part of the Constitution authorizes the federal government to define marriage?

JC: Unfortunately, courts today are increasingly taking over the function of local state legislatures. I do not want the federal government to be involved in marriage but unfortunately, I would not be able to change the judiciary overnight as President. Therefore, I would favor an amendment to the Constitution to define marriage. I would also appoint strict constructionists as judges – people that believe in judicial restraint, not overreaching power.

SGT: FOLLOW-UP TO QUESTION - You stated in your response to our first question that you believe the Constitution should be followed to the letter, and indeed it should. Each responsibility the federal government undertakes needs to be directly authorized by the Constitution or, as we can plainly see today, the government becomes too large. How do you defend the Federal Marriage Amendment against the Constitutionally authorized powers of the federal government? Which portion of the Constitution specifically provides this authorization?

JC: Response – I do believe the Constitution should be followed to the letter, including amendments. The Federal Marriage amendment is just that, an amendment. It has to be approved by 75% of the state legislatures, like other amendments. I wish this weren’t necessary but because of activists judges it is. The Constitution doesn’t now provide for marriage but with this amendment it would. To me that is fine because the people will have voted for the amendment.

SGT: Under a Cox administration, will you support the current federal minimum wage? Do you believe the federal government has the constitutional authority to regulate wages?

JC: I do not support the minimum wage or have the government setting wages or prices. This always has backfired in American history. The free market is the best place to set wages.

SGT: The ACLU has argued cases against the Boy Scouts' right to recruit on public school grounds during school hours, claiming the Scouts discriminate based on a child's belief in religion. Do you believe the Boy Scouts, or any other religious organization, have the right to recruit on public school grounds?

JC: The Constitution protects freedom of religion – meaning no government religion can be established. It doesn’t say freedom from religion. The Boy Scouts should be able to require religious belief as a private organization.

SGT: FOLLOW-UP TO QUESTION – We understand that the Boy Scouts have the right to implement religious requirements as they see fit, but do the Boy Scouts have a constitutional right to recruit on public school grounds, during school hours?

JC: Response - The Boy Scouts are a private organization and likely don’t have a Constitutional right to recruit at a public school during school hours. I think the ACLU suit was intended to prevent them, claiming that the Constitution forbade them from being allowed there, because they somehow discriminate. That should be up to the school.

SGT: Do you believe the Establishment Clause in the Constitution prohibits any and all interaction between religion and children within public schools?

JC: Again, the Establishment Clause prevents the government from enforcing a particular religion but does not prohibit interaction with religion. Children in school should not be forced to pray if they don’t want to but those who do wish to pray should be given the opportunity. We should respect all rights – those who are religious and those who are not.

SGT: You want to repeal the No Child Left Behind act and move the burden of education to the local level. Do you support the complete elimination of the Department of Education?

JC: Yes. I would eliminate the Department of Education as one of my first acts as President. Bureaucracy doesn’t teach students, good teachers motivated by competition do. I favor school choice – Bill Clinton and Jesse Jackson chose competitive schools for their children – all parents should have that right.

SGT: FOLLOW-UP TO QUESTION – Ronald Reagan professed a focus on eliminating the Department of Education from our federal government but was unable to do so. Why do you believe Reagan failed in that regard?

JC: Response – I don’t really know the exact reason he failed but I suspect he decided fundamental tax reform and winning the Cold War were more important at the time. He also didn’t have a cooperative Congress at the time and other issues were swirling around. I am making the size of government a major issue along with the corruption that results – that is why the Dept of Education, as well as Energy and Commerce should just be ended.

SGT: American companies are relying on cheap labor overseas in an effort to reduce costs and increase profits. Do you believe this is a problem, and if so, what would a Cox administration do to address it? Do you believe government regulations are the cause of the relocation of labor, and would tax credits or other incentives encourage companies to employ more Americans in the U.S.?

JC: The flight of manufacturing from the U.S. has significantly weakened our economy and our standing for the future. We cannot stop other countries from growing but we can change our own policies to keep business here. The FAIR tax would end discrimination against domestic manufacturers. Regulation also needs to be streamlined – I owned a manufacturing company and had a dozen regulatory agencies to deal with and they all acted like I worked for them. That needs to change for the U.S. to stay competitive.

SGT: FOLLOW-UP TO QUESTION – Should American companies be legislatively punished for outsourcing labor to overseas nations?

JC: Response – No – the Congress should not step in the place of the free market, which ought to determine where business can locate. Having said that, the legislature should respond to problems and moving jobs overseas is a problem. You address problem by addressing the reasons why it is happening. In this case, jobs are moving overseas because of our taxation, regulation and litigation burdens. Change those and we will keep more jobs here.

SGT: Do you believe in Affirmative Action? Do you believe that the federal government has an obligation and constitutional right to support race-based policies that create protected classes of people, such as blacks, gays and immigrants?

JC: Affirmative action based on race is racist – plain and simple. I adamantly oppose racism of all kinds. Is there a place to help those who haven’t had economic opportunity? Yes, but we need to be very careful that corruption and cronyism are not part of the equation and unfortunately, that is often the case when government picks winners and losers in the economy.

SGT: Why do you believe our government has become so big? Do you fault the American people for repeatedly electing “career politicians”? Do you believe our Constitution authorizes term limits for members of Congress?

JC: Career politicians are the reason our government has gotten much too large. Career politicians benefit when government does so much because they can manipulate government for votes. I would like to think that term limits are not necessary – that voters can exercise a free choice to kick out a legislator who stays too long. Unfortunately, with the media the way it is today, we need to enact term limits to provide some measure of perspective in our Congress.

SGT: FOLLOW-UP TO QUESTION 17 – Please defend term limits against constitutionally authorized responsibilities of our federal government. The Small Government Times understands and recognizes the need for term limits, but 'need' does not translate into constitutional authorization. In your view, do term limits need to be constitutionally vetted, and if so, where specifically are term limits authorized?

JC: Response – term limits may not be authorized and may have to be instituted by Constitutional amendment.

SGT: Would a Cox administration support a flag burning amendment? Do you believe the government has the constitutional authority to regulate flag desecration?

JC: Again, due to judicial overreach, a flag burning amendment is necessary at this time and place.

SGT: FOLLOW-UP TO QUESTION 18 – Again, while the Small Government Times abhors any attempt to desecrate our nation's flag, is this type of legislation constitutional? Do you link flag desecration with treason?

JC: Response – Again, I am supporting a Constitutional amendment to ban flag burning because it is so objectionable to so many people and the courts are allowing it. If the Constitutional amendment is passed in a Constitutional manner, it should be effective. I don’t necessary equate it with treason but I do find it objectionable and it tends to incite hard feelings and violence.

SGT: Under a Cox administration, what is the obligation of the federal government to the American people? What is your main focus as the leader of the free world?

JC: The primary obligation of the federal government is security of the people and that will be my main focus as President.

SGT: You have relatively little political experience in Washington D.C. Why do you believe that you can seamlessly enter the political fray and push through governmental change in a city so solidified in their ways?

JC: First, I have a great deal of political experience. I have run for office, I was the President of the Republican Party in the second largest county in America. Second, I understand how to build and operate a successful business. I started with nothing and built a $100 million business. I have struggled and worked my way through school like most Americans. That gives me the experience and the drive to be successful and to never give up. Third, I believe in the American Dream and our future as a free nation because I have lived the Dream and received the full benefit of that freedom. That is the story of America and what we need to preserve for our future.