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Third party candidate challenges the status quo
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Phil Maymin, 31, is running for United States Rep. For the Fourth District against incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Chris Shays and Democratic challenger Diane Farrell.
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Maymin, the Libertarian party candidate, runs his own financial management firm and is a Justice of the Peace in Greenwich.
He completed a Master of Science in Applied Mathematics and a Cum Laude Bachelor of Arts degree in Computer Science from Harvard University. He currently is completing his Ph.D. in Finance from the University of Chicago.
His family immigrated to America from Russia when he was 5. He lives in Greenwich with his wife and baby daughter.
Phil Maymin believes that the purpose of American government is to secure the rights and liberties of Americans. He supports a deadline for Iraq within the next year. He would secure the borders and opposes amnesty for illegal aliens.
He would slash taxes, phase out spending and pay down the debt. He also would shrink the government to its Constitutional functions, eliminate special privileges for special interests and bring freedom back to Americans.
Following are Maymin's responses to questions presented to him by Hometown Publications' editorial board.
What should our homeland security strategy be to prevent attacks in the future?
1) Seal our borders. We can't allow potential enemies unfettered access. 2) Deport illegal aliens who don't voluntarily leave. Several of the 9/11 hijackers had expired visas or fraudulent documents.
3) Bring all our troops home from overseas so we have fewer enemies. We must fight wars only for national security, not to police the world or spread democracy. 4) Allow free trade of art, commerce, science, and literature with all nations. Sanctions do not work and only encourage war.
There's no question that traffic issues are a major problem in Connecticut, especially in the Southwest corner. What are your plans for addressing this issue?
Federal regulations make construction and maintenance long, slow, and of poor quality. Connecticut can do a much better job if we slash federal taxes, let people keep their money, and let the state decide what to do about highways.
Some cheap and simple suggestions once the federal department of transportation is abolished: 1) allow passenger cars on the breakdown lanes during high traffic times, 2) make toll collection at full speed, no slow down, no EZ Pass required, 3) allow more reasonable speed limits. No progress is possible until the federal government stops its unconstitutional and immoral intrusion into Connecticut's domain.
Regarding the federal No Child Left Behind Act, what's your take on it? Where do we go from here?
Could you imagine a No Athlete Left Behind program for sports? Who would ever watch another game? The federal Department of Education is unconstitutional, immoral, and ineffective.
Education is as personal a decision as religion and should be kept as far as possible from the federal government. Sunday schools get along just fine without a Department of Sunday Education. Let's do the same for Monday schools, and Tuesday schools, and...
What are your thoughts on stimulating Connecticut's economy, which has been lagging behind the national economy?
Connecticut is the hub of many new and exciting industries such as hedge funds. Abolishing all federal taxes (including taxes on income, Social Security, dividends, gas, inheritance, etc.) and replacing them with a national retail sales tax would let more people in Connecticut create wealth for themselves and their families and to keep what they earn.
I would abolish the Securities and Exchange Commission and move from regulation, where 99 percent of us experience higher costs with no benefits, to restitution, where the 1 percent of offenders are prosecuted for fraud both civilly and criminally without wasting the time and resources of the law-abiding.
Why should people vote for you?
I am the only candidate who unconditionally opposed the war in Iraq. I am the only candidate with an exit strategy for Iraq. I am the only candidate who would abolish all federal taxes and replace them with a sales tax so there are no more forms and no more threats of an audit. April 15 would be just another day.
I am the only candidate for small government. You stand alone in the voting booth. Statistically, your vote never determines the outcome. So it is about what kind of person you want to be. Don't waste your vote on the two parties who created the mess we're in. Have the courage of your convictions. Vote for a real chance at freedom.
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©Huntington Herald 2006
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