To Be Announced...

MY FIRST NON-RADIO CANDIDATE INTERVIEW

I had an interesting experience the other day...a candidate stopped by my house to campaign. Little did he realize who he was dealing with.

I won't name names to save his embarassment, but it was sort of fun for me to give him a grilling. Since it wasn't on tape, I can only paraphrase the conversation. The juicy parts went something like this...

CANDIDATE: Our tax structure is causing businesses to leave...we need to make some changes.

ME: What do you mean?

CANDIDATE: Do you realize that there are some service businesses like architects and lawyers and such who pay no sales tax for their services.

ME: What do you plan to do about it?

CANDIDATE: Well, I'm going to go down there and look at it.../

ME: Yeah, but what do you plan to do about it?

CANDIDATE: Well, we'll look at it and make some changes and make it more fair...for instance, a plumber has to pay sales taxes on the service he charges, but an engineer - of which I am a former one from Rockwell Collins - doesn't. Did you know that roofers in this state pay no sales tax.../

ME: Yes...that may be true, but what do you plan to do about it?

CANDIDATE: We'll look at it and see where some changes need to be made.../

ME: You can look at it all you want, but what is your idea on how to fix that? I mean, you're doing a good job of describing the problem, but what do you personally believe should be done about it?

CANDIDATE: (at this point he trails off into talking about his family and his wife and years at Rockwell Collins)

All the while, my former radio head is spinning...looking for an opportunity to help this guy. His name isn't well known and I don't believe he has a snowball's chance to win...but as I was attempting to get an answer out of him I believe I was forcing him to take a stand...which might make him a better candidate.

ME: ...(to candidate)... it's my view that you can look at the problem all you want, but I want to know what you, personally - plan to do about the problem. In the past, we've had a number of people who say they're going to fix the "inequality" of the tax structure, whether it be income, sales or property taxes. Every fix has led to an increase on those whom we want to make it more "fair"...with a non-promise to lower things overall later. If you're right that an architect pays no sales taxes on his services and a plumber does...then how would you make that example more fair? Personally, I think you should lower the sales tax, and make any additional people you think should pay it, pay the same amount...but what I've seen before is the tendency to tax those that aren't paying first...then a promise to lower it for everyone never happens. It's my view you should LOWER FIRST...then FIX IT.

CANDIDATE: Hmmm...fix first.../

ME: No...make everyone pay the same amount...but a lower amount. If you want someone who doesn't pay sales taxes to pay them...fine. But lower it for everyone before you institute that change. I'm a little tired of people who say that their idea of fairness is to make someone else pay more. That doesn't do anything for me. It makes no difference in my life that my neighbor across the street is paying a rate that is 5-percent more than me. It would meet the definition of fairness if he was paying the same rate as me...everyone should pay the same percentage on their income, sales or property taxes...

CANDIDATE: So you're in favor of the Forbes.../

ME: I'm a registered Democrat...I'm just a little tired of people telling me that I'm somehow going to be helped by forcing someone I don't know to pay more.

This went on and on...back and forth. We talked about spending, the business climate, and a host of things - but seemed to always return to his idea of "looking at things" once he gets "down there" and I finally had to get the kids inside and feed them.

CANDIDATE: Well, I'd love to have your support...can I get you a yard sign to put in your yard?

ME: The only yard sign I have so far is one that is for the National Guard...but I can't promise you anything other than I'll look at it.

It reminded me of the months and years I spent trying to secure an interview with Tom Harkin. At every turn, he would agree only if I provided a list of questions in advance. Since I felt that it violated my right to interview him on my terms, he would never agree. Given his recent stupidity, I now understand why. More on that, in a post later today...

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coming soon - HARKIN MAKES A FOOL LOOK SMART