Dec 29 2007
Third Democrat Enters Senate Race
Fed up with the status quo and traveling the United States as an independent trucker has driven 37-year-old, Lexington resident Duskin Lassiter to run for U.S. Senate.
The first-time office seeker threw his hat in the ring in early November. So far, it looks like Lassiter, a democrat, will run against Jim Neal, a Chapel Hill financial advisor, and N.C. Sen. Kay Hagan, D-Guilford, for the party’s nomination. For a seat in Washington, D.C., the winner will face Sen. Elizabeth Dole.
Duskin………. I can’t get enough of those southern names. You can view his campaign Web site here.
I’ll go through a few of his issues. I don’t think his ideas on health care are feasible. He is, of course, pimping universal health care. That is too much of a monster to start getting into why I and about half the country oppose that idea. It’s been debated enough as to why I don’t support it. Universal health cards with computerized records makes the libertarian in me rather nervous. Limiting the profits on pharmaceutical companies is foolish as it will only result in less companies manufacturing certain drugs. That will create rationing thus sacrificing the health of many who need those drugs. Don’t believe me? Why do you think the country was short on flu vaccine a few years ago? See Hillary Clinton’s Vaccines for Kids program.
His bullet points on the Iraq War are reasonable, although I’m not sure it’s our place to dictate to the Iraqi government and spend our money on installing green technology in their nation. It’s not cheap.
I like his views on the environment, but I do have one objection. I disagree with mandating the use of fluorescent light bulbs. While I do use those bulbs in my home, they are considerably more expensive than the traditional halogen bulbs and that will put a burden on lower income Americans. Let the free market sort this one out, Mr. Lassiter.
On the economy he is so far in the outfield that he has left the ball park. I don’t disagree with repealing the free trade agreements, but this guy clearly has no understanding of a free market economy and how it functions. Pension plans are expensive and very burdensome to a company and that is why they don’t do them anymore. If companies start diverting more finances to pensions again, then that is less workers they will be able to employ. So a few more get a great deal, but a lot more are out of a job. Same with strengthening collective bargaining. Overly powerful and greedy unions have driven companies out of business and jobs overseas. If you want to see the result of powerful unions go visit Michigan. They were one of two states to actually experience a population loss this past year and one of four states the previous year. And a $12 minimum wage? I would take that as a joke, but I know he’s serious. Hell, why stop at $12? Let’s make it $20 an hour. Better yet, let’s be really ambitious and go to $25. We’ll all be rich, right? Unemployment will be at 20% but the rest of us will be rolling in the dough.
He discusses other issues as well involving education, illegal immigration, etc. I’m not impressed. He has too many foolhearty pursuits to be taken seriously and lacks a sufficient understanding of the Constitutional functions of the Federal government. I’m not overly concerned about Mr. Lassiter because I am quite certain that State Senator Kay Hagan will emerge triumphant in the Democratic primary.
