Watchdog.org's interview with Libertarian gubernatorial hopeful Rob Sarvis

7/28/2019 Watchdog.org's interview with Libertarian gubernatorial hopeful Rob Sarvis

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Watchdog.orgsinterviewwithLibertariangubernatorialhopefulRobert

Sarvis

Note:Thiswasanin-personinterview,transcribedword-for-wordasaccuratelyaspossibleinordertopreservetheflowbyKathrynWatsonof

Watchdog.orgsVirginiaBureau.Shecanbereachedatkatie@watchdogvirginia.org.

WD:Tellmeaboutyourfamilyandhowyougotintopolitics.

Sarvis:Iguessthebestplacetostartisjust,howIvealwaysbeeninterestedin

politics,fromaprivatecitizenpointofview.Ivealwaysfollowedit.Myfamilywasfairlycognizantofwhatwasgoingonthroughoutmychildhood.Igrewuparound

here,sowelivedprettyclosetoD.C.andfollowedbothlocalbudgetaryissuesand

alsothenationalpolitics.ButitwasonlyinthelastseveralyearsthatIreallybecameinterestedindoingsomethingkindofdifferent.Because,Isawthe

RepublicanandDemocraticpartiesnotreallypresentingchoicesintheinterestoftheaveragecitizen.

WD:Wasthereanyoneissueoreventhatreallysparkedyourinvolvement?

Sarvis:Itwasprettymuchacrosstheboard.TheRepublicanPartyisfairly

untrustworthyoneconomicissues.Theysayalotofgoodthingsaboutsmallgovernmentandunleashingbusiness,entrepreneurship.But,theydontfollow

throughonit.Thetransportationbillwasaperfectexamplewhereitsjust,noprioritizationwhatsoeverofspending,andjustalotoftaxincreases.Andthe

Republicannomineeforgovernorhasessentiallysaidhesnotgoingtotrytoundo

anyofthat.So,thatsaproblem.Andthen,onsocialissuesaswell,youjustkindofseethegoodchangesthatareoccurringareoccurringorganically.Andthemost

youcansayisreallygovernmentisgettingintheway,tryingtoimpedethose

changes.So,twoyearsago,IranasaRepublicanforstatesenate.Anditwasaninterestingexperience.Ilearnedalot.ButoneofthethingsIlearnedisthatthe

RepublicanPartyisnotagoodplaceforalibertycandidate,somebodywhothinksthatweshouldbe,inthefirstinstance,freetoliveourliveshowwewantto.Andso,

whenthiselectioncamearound,theLibertarianPartywaslookingforagovernor

candidate.AndafewofthemhadaskedifIwouldbeinterested.Ibasicallylookedatwhattheracewasgoingtobelike,andwhenitbecameclearthatitwasgoingtobe

TerryMcAuliffeagainstKenCuccinelli,Idecided,whynotrun?BecauseVirginia

reallyneedsanotheroption.Ithinktheothertwocandidatesreallyepitomizeexactlywhatswrongwiththeirrespectiveparties,andreallyshouldntbetrusted

withthereignsofgovernment.

WD:Howso?

Sarvis:Ithinkinbothcases,foronething,wecanstartwiththeideaofcrony

capitalismandbusinesssortofbeinginbedwithgovernment.Ithinkneitherparty


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hasanycredibilityonthatissueatall.Certainly,TerryMcAuliffedoesnt,because

hewasthebigmoneyguyforDemocratsforalongtime.TheRepublicansdonthaveanymorecredibilitythantheDemocratsdo,atanylevelofgovernment.Andyousee

thiswitheverythingthatsgoingonwithStarScientific,bothintheMcDonnelladministrationandalso,connectionswiththeRepublicannominee.Andthereareso

manywaysinwhichRepublicanstalkaboutsmallgovernment,buttheydontgoaftersomeoftheregulationsandtheoccupationallicensurelawsthatreallyprotectincumbentsratherthanprotectthepublichealth.So,thatsonething.

IthinkthattheRepublicanPartyissortoftryingtofoistasocialconservativeagendaontothegreaterpopulous.Irespecttheirviews,fromthestandpointof,how

toliveyourownlivesandthingslikethat.But,Ireallythink,forexample,thegaymarriagebanfrom2006,Ithinkthatwasahugemistake.Idontthinkweshould

usegovernmenttoimpedesocialchangethatshappeningorganically.So,Ithink

thatsanexample.

KenCuccinelliwantstorunasalibertycandidate,buthesveryinconsistentwhenitcomestothingslikedrugsandfederalism,andontaxes,again.So,IreallydontthinkthattheRepublicansorDemocratshaveanycredibilityontheseissues.Anditreally

seemslikeVirginiansreallywantanotheroption,andpollsshowthat.TheresaWashingtonPostpollshowingthat40percentofpeoplewishsomeoneelsewas

running.SoImtryingtofillthatvoid.

WD:Obviously,eventhoughthesecandidatesarentparticularlywell-likedon

eitherend,theyatleasthavesomenamerecognition.So,whatdoyoufeellike

yourcampaignneedstopushontogetyournameoutthere?

Sarvis:Ithinkthatswhatwerestrugglingwithrightnow,justbecausewerenotyetconfirmedtobeontheballotyet.TheSBE,theBoardofElections,willhopefully

getbacktousinaboutaweekortwo.Andoncewehavethat.Ithinkthefactthatwe

hadtogothroughsomuchjusttogetontheballot,thepointofthoseballotaccessrules,aretokeepoutnon-crediblecandidates.Andsowhenyoureontheballot,I

dontthinkthattheresaverystrongargumentforkeepingmeoutofthedebates,forexample.AndIthinkthatifIminthedebates,Illwintheelection.InNorth

Carolina,theyhadaLibertariangubernatorialinthedebates,samefor2008.They

alsohadoneforSenatein2010.So,youknow,Ithinktheresaverystrongargumentforincludingme.Andwerejustgoingtodoeverythingwecantoget

myselfandmyargumentsandmyvisionforVirginiainfrontofthevoters.

WD:Whataresomethings,ontheflipside,thatyouasaLibertariancandidate

offerthattheothertwodont?

Sarvis:Imtryingtoavoidideologyandfocusonsolutionsthatarereallygoingto

work.Ihaveexperienceasalawyer,Ihaveexperiencestudyingeconomics.Ihaveexperiencestartingabusiness.Iknowwhatitsliketobelaidoff.Ihavealotof

experiencesthathelpmeunderstandwhatitsliketobepeopleinvariouswalksof


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life.SowhatIwanttodoisA),Iwanttofocusoneconomicgrowthandjobs.Andthe

waytodothatistryingtogetthegovernmenttostoptryingtofigureoutwhatthetechnologiesoftomorrowaregoingtobe,kindofunleashthepowerof

entrepreneurship,notjustintheindustriesthatwetalkabout,butalso,inthingslikeeducation.Iwanttofocusheavilyontheideaofschoolchoice,unleashingthe

powerofparentsandteacherstoworktogetherforthebenefitofourstudents,ratherthansortofbindingthemintoasystemthatsjustnotworking.Allaroundthestatetherearecountiesthatarereallystrugglingtograduatetheirstudentsandput

themeitherthroughcollegesorvocationalschoolstogetthemjobskills.Weneed

somebodywhoisgoingtofocusonhowtodothatbest,andIthinktheevidenceisverystrongthatthebestwaytodothatistoputparentsinchargeofthemoney

beingspentontheirkids.AndIthinkImtheonlycandidatewhosreallywillingtofightreallyhardforthat.AndIthinkthatssomethingthatsgoingtoresonatewitha

lotofvoters.

WD:Arecharterschoolsjustonepieceofthepuzzle?

Sarvis:Yes.Ithinkthatweshouldbemulti-facetedinourapproach.Icertainlyamnotsortoffocusingononesolution.Ithinkwehavealotofoptionsthathavebeen

triedthroughoutthecountryandthroughouttheworld.Andtherearealotofdifferentwayswecandothat.Charterschoolsareagreatone.Parentaltriggersto

createcharterschools,toputthemoutsidethepublicschoolregulationsrubric.

Also,directsubsidiesandtaxcredits.Publicschoolchoicematchingprograms.Iwanttopushallofthesethingsandfigureoutwhatthepubliciswillingtodo.Thisis

notanideologicalcampaign.Thisisa,letsgetthingsdonecampaign.Andso,Istartfromthepremiseof,whatispoliticallyfeasible,andletsdothebestthingwithin

that.

WD:Goingbacktojobs,doyouseeitasaprimaryresponsibilityfora

governortocreateanenvironmentwheretherecanbegoodjobs?

Sarvis:Ithinkthebestwaytothinkaboutitisthatfirst,thegovernmentshoulddo

noharm.Theresalotofbusy-bodyingbythegovernment,tryingtodothingsthattheythinkwillimprovethejobclimate,wheninfact,itsoftentimesmakingthings

worsetheunintendedconsequencesandperverseincentivesthatitcreates,

takingmoneyfromonesetofindustriesortaxpayersandtryingtogiveittoanothertogetgrowththere.Ithinkweshouldgetoutofthatbusiness.But,weshouldalso

lookatalltheregulations,occupationallicensurerules,taxrules,andjustkindof

haveamoreintelligentsystemmoreefficienttaxes,fewertaxes,getridofalotofthebusinesstaxesthatjustcausealotofheadaches,replaceitwithaverysmall

numberoftaxesthatareveryeasytopay.Reducespending,cutoutalotofunnecessaryspending.Butreally,focusingonjustthejobclimate.Andoneofthe

importantpartsofthatisoursocialpolicy.Businessesandinvestorsdonotwantto

cometoaplacethatishostiletogayrights,forexample.Imeasilythemoststridentlyinfavorofrepealingthatbanfrom2006andrecognizingsame-sex


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marriages.So,theresalotofthingsthatwecandotomakethisthebestplaceto

startabusiness,tomoveyourbusiness.

WD:Aresocialissuesandeconomicissuesinseparable?

Sarvis:Absolutely.Andweseethatintermsof,ifyoulookatSiliconValley,who,alotofthesuccessfulentrepreneursthere,theyeitherhavesaidorhavesaidwiththeirdonationsthattheysupportsame-sexmarriage,recognizingsame-sex

marriage.Theatmosphereofaplacethatyouwanttomoveyourbusinessto,ifyou

areyourselfgay,orevenoneofyourmanagersorsomeofyourworkers,yourenotgoingtowanttomovetoaplacethattheyfeeluncomfortablebeingin,ortheyfeel

ostracizedasaperson.Andthisisntsimplyabusinessthing.Ithinkitstherightthingtodo.But,itsalsoonecomponentofthatargumentforbeinganattractive

businessatmosphere.Andsoyoucantsaybusinesspeopleonlycareabouttaxes.

No,thatsnothowitworks.

WD:Speakingoftaxes,whatisyouroveralltaxapproach?Sarvis:Iwouldliketoendalotoftaxesthatarejustplaininefficientorjustoverly

burdensome.Alotofthemarethewaylocaljurisdictionsraisemoney.So,wedohavetobeconcernedaboutthat.But,thatsnotaverydifficultproblemtosolve,in

termsofwhetherthepowertohaveasalestax.Themoneycanberaised,the

questionis,howdoyouraiseit?Youwanttoraiseitintheleastburdensomeandmostefficientway.Andso,generallyspeaking,Ithinkmosteconomistswillagree

thatconsumptiontaxesarebetterthanincometaxes,andcertainly,theyrebetterthanthingslikethebusinessprofessionaloccupationallicensuretax.So,Idjustlike

tomoveinthedirectionofmoreintelligent,evidence-basedpolicy.Andyouknow,I

thinkthatwillenableusalsotoreduceratesbygettingridofthe,Ishouldhavementionedthisasatotallyseparatepart,isgettingridofalotofthepreferential

treatmentofparticularindustries,ofparticular,wehaveevaluationrulesforcertain

industriesthatgivesthemataxbreak.

WD:AreRepublicansandDemocratsequallyculpableinfavoringcertain

industriesandtaxpayerswithincentives?

Sarvis:Oh,absolutely.Thatsunquestionable.So,theonlywaywecandothis,andoneofthethingsisthat,RepublicanoraDemocratisgoingtomeetresistanceinthe

GeneralAssembly,becauseeachparty,eachofthemajorparties,doesntwantthe

otherpartygettingcreditforwhatever.Theydontwanttheotherparties,constituents,towinoutattheexpenseoftheirown.Andso,theresactuallyareally

strongargumentforathird-partycandidatetocomeandsay,look,wecanendallofthesetaxbreaksforeverybody.Whenwedoitforeverybody,itsfair.Ifwehave

somethingthateverybodyhastopay,youcantreallyclaimthatitsoh,youresides

winningandmysideslosing.Theresalotmorethatyoucando.IfIhavetonegotiatebothwithDemocratsandRepublicansintheGeneralAssembly,theresa

lottobesaidforwhatwecando.So,IthinkthattheresifIcangetinfrontof


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enoughpeopleandmakethatargument,Ithinktheresnoquestionthatwill

resonatewithpeople.

WD:Gaymarriageobviously,yousupportitasapartofyourplatform.DoyouthinkthatyourpositionresonateswithVirginiaspoliticalidentity?Isthat

somethingmembersofbothpartiescouldrallyaround?Sarvis:Ithinktherearealotofpeopleinbothpartieswhoaregoingtoresistthe

change.But,Ithinkthatifweallrecognizethatthisiswheresociety,totallyseparate

fromgovernment,isgoing,therewillbeawillingnesstosay,OK,letsdothis,notmakeitintoapoliticalfootball.Ithinkmostpeoplerecognizethatitsgoingto

happenandthatitstherightthingtodo,sowhydontwecometogether?Doitproperly,throughdemocraticmeans,democraticallyreversingthebaninthe

Constitution,democraticallyenactingit.IthinkthatlldoalotforbringingVirginians

together,yeah.

WD:WhatarethemajorchallengesyouseefacingVirginia?Sarvis:Therearealot.Ithinkcertainlyeducation,closingeducationgapsracially,

socioeconomically,therearealotofvestedinterestsinfavorofthestatusquo,andeducationisgoingtobereallyhardtomakeresourcesavailableinthewaythatI

wastalkingabout.But,thatssomethingthatpeoplerespondto.TheD.C.voucher

programthattheDemocratskilledIthinkin2009orso,thatwasverypopularwithpeoplewhohadanopportunitytobeapartofit.AdrianFenti,theformer

DemocraticmayorofD.C.hassaid,mypartyisonthewrongsideofeducationreform.Unfortunately,theRepublicansarentreallyeffectivelypushingfor

somethingthatcreatesamarketforeducationalservices.Andthatswhytheresthis

bigvacuum.Soeducationisahugeone.Obviously,ourtransportation,thewaywedotransportationinVirginiaiskindoftheresalotofwaysinwhichitdoesnt

makesense.Itsverybureaucratic.Itsverycentralized.Itsunfair.Therearealotof

geographicsubsidies.Theresalotofhiddensubsidiesofdifferenttypesoftransportation.Imoftheviewthatweshouldberelativelyagnosticwithregardsto

modesoftransportation.IthinktheDemocratsandRepublicanshavethisroadversusrailfight,whichreallydoesntmakealotofsense.Thetransportationbill

movesusinthewrongdirection.Itmovesusawayfromasystemwhereuserspay

fortheconstructionandmaintenance.Itmovesusmoretowardsasystemwheretheresageneralfund.Thetaxincreases,alotofthem,aregoingintothegeneral

fund.Howdoweknowthatsgoingtogototransportationconstruction?So,thatsa

hugethingwhereweshouldactuallydoaredooftransportation,focusingonprioritizingallofstatespendingsotransportationeverybodyknowsitsahuge

priority.Weshouldactasifitis,andmoveasmuchaspossibletowardsauser-paysystem.

WD:Alongthoselines,whatareyourthoughtsontollroadsandthe

proliferationofpublic-privatepartnerships?


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Sarvis:Generallyspeaking,Iminfavorofpublic-privatepartnershipsandtoll-

basedapproaches,aslongastollsarentusedasthiscashcowtofundunrelatedinfrastructureorevenotherthings.IthinkthattheDullestollincreases,thetoll

increasesthatpeoplearetalkingabout,soundprettyproblematictome.Ithinkitsbasicallytaxingonesetofpeopletosubsidizeanother.Andyouknow,thatsbeing

donebyanorganizationwhereVirginiahasaminorityinfluenceovertheMWAA.Generallyspeaking,iftolls,ifwehadasystemwhereconstructionwasdoneaccordingtothewaybigcapitalprojectsareoftendonetheresaborrowing

phase,therestheconstruction,andthenthetollspaytopaydownthedebt,and

thentollsalsopayforcontinuedmaintenanceofthoseparticularroads,andyouhaveaprivatecompany,thepublic-privatepartnershipistheadministrationofthe

road,theupkeepofitandthingslikethat,thatsnotproblematictomeatall.Ithinkthatsagoodwayofdoingthings.Andifyouhaveintelligenttollingwhereyoudont

havetostopandcreateatrafficjamwhenitsactually,youknow,youcandrive

throughatfullspeed,thatsnotgoingtocause,thatshouldntcausevotersmuchconcern.Wherevotersgetreallyupsetiswheretheyvealreadypaidforthe

construction,andtheyrejustpayingtollsjustbecausethesystemissomessedup,andthepoliticiansjustwanttoraiserevenue.Sothatsoneofthemainreasonspeopledontliketolls,isbecausetheresawayofjustaddingontotheburdensof

thetaxpayers.Andso,ifyougetawayfromthatsystemtowardsasystemwheretollsaresimplyyouknow,doneinaneconomicallyandintelligentway,theyretied

totheproject,therearedifferentcompaniesthataredoingdifferenthighwaysor

whatever,andthenyouknowtheresalsotheconcernaboutprivacy.Thatsagoodthingwhenyouhavedifferentprivateorganizationsrunningthedifferenthighway

systems.Therearerulesforthemhavingtobeabletohookupproperly.Buttheprivateinformationiskeptinprivatehands.Thegovernmenthastocometothe

privateorganizationswithawarranttogettheinformationaboutanyparticularcar

thattheyrelookingfor.SoIthinkthatsasystem.Butitssoradicallydifferentfromsortofthestatusquoandwhereweremovingtowards.Ishouldntsaythatwere

notmovingtowardsthatinsomesense,becauseobviouslywevehadsomeofthe

HOTlanesandotherthingsbeingbuiltthatway.Butweneedtomakeitmorecompetitive,doitonalargerscalesothatwereunburdeningpeoplewhoarent

usingtheroadsasmuch,orarentusingthewaytheyredoingitintermsofoh,electriccarshavetopayasetamount.Well,thatdoesnttakeintoaccounthow

muchtheydrive.Itdoesntdistinguishhybridcars.Isitfairtothem,howtheyre

beingtreated?Theresalotofwaysinwhich,dowetrust140legislatorstohavegottenthingsrightatthelevelofhowmuchelectricvehicledrivershavetopay,the

whole,25percentofthefundinghastogotowardsmasstransit.Isthattheright

percentage?Imean,doItrust140legislatorsandagovernorandtheCommonwealthTransportationBoardorwhoevertocomeupwithanumberthats

supposedtomakesenseforalltime.Itjustdoesntmakesense.Andso,havingpricesonmoreofourinfrastructurewoulddoalotbetterjobofmakingour,ofjust

beingmorecost-effectiveinhowweproduceourtransportationinfrastructure.


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WD:WhatdoyoubringasanewcomertoVirginiapolitics?Somemightsaythatsadisadvantage.Doyouthinkitsanadvantage?

Sarvis:Idefinitelythinkthattheresanadvantageinit.Thedisadvantageisinlack

ofnamerecognitionandlackofthesortofepicfundraisingopportunitiesthattheothercandidateshave.ButthatsalsoanadvantageintermsofthefactthatpeopleknowthatIdontreallyhave,thatImnotbeholdentoanyindustry.Imcertainlynot

doingthisbecauseImaimingathigherofficeoranythinglikethat.Mostpeople

dontrunasLibertarianiftheyhavetheaspirationstohavealongcareerthatendsinhigheroffice.ButpeopleknowthatImdoingthisbecauseImjusttiredofwhatI

see,thedepredationsofthetwomajorparties.Thelossoffreedom,theincreasingburdentotaxpayers.IthinkthattheresalotofreasontothinkthatLibertarians

especially,butthird-partycandidatesgenerally,havemoreofaninterest,justfrom

thestrengthoftheirbeliefs,thattheyrewillingtorunasathirdparty.Thattheyrealittlebitmorewillingtostanduptospecialinterestsandrequestsforspecial

treatment.WD:Whatfewwordscharacterizeandsummarizewhatyoureallabout?

Sarvis:MycampaignthemeisaVirginiathatsopen-mindedandopenforbusiness.

AndIthinkthatreallyencapsulateswhatImtryingtodo.Onmywebsite,

somewhereIthinkinmybiosection,Italkabouthowinsomanyways,IamrepresentativeofsomuchofVirginia,intermsofourdiversity,ourincreasingethnic

diversity.ThefactthatRepublicansandDemocratsaretalkingaboutwhosmoreofarealVirginian,Ithinkthatsjustareallybadthingtogetinto.Anditssomething

thatIcertainlyIwasbornhere,Imtheonlygubernatorialcandidatewhowas

bornhere,Ihaveagreateducation,whichissomethingthatwereallyneedtoinvestin.Ihaveaverydiverseprofessionalcareer.Ithinkthatssomethingthatwereally

havetoappreciateinprettymucheveryaspectofoureconomy.Andwehaveto,I

shouldhavementionedthisearliertoo,somethingthatsnotreallygettingalotoftalkyetisthefactthatVirginiaissodependentonfederalgovernment.Averylarge

percentofoureconomyisdependentondirectfederaloutlays,andanothersignificantportionisdependentonmoreindirectoutlayspeoplebeingemployed

bythegovernmentandsuch.So,Ithinkmostpeoplerecognizethatfederalspending

hastocomedownatsomepoint.Andwehavetobeinapositiontotransitionoureconomy.Andthebestwaytodothatistomakeitasfreeaspossible,tohavean

educatedworkforce,tohaveentrepreneurswhofeelliketheycanstartbusinesses

here.AndIthinkthatwillnaturallyhappen,aslongaswedontdrivepeopleelsewhereoraslongaswekeepourlawsfairlybusinessfriendlyandmakethem

evenmorebusinessfriendlynottryingtopickindustriesthataregoingtodobetterthanothers.

WD:WhatadvantagesdoesVirginiahaveasastate,justnaturally,without

economicincentivesandtaxbreaksfromthestatetocertainindustriesor

companies?


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Sarvis:Ithinkwehavealotofdifferenttypesofindustriesthatcanreallyexpandorabsorbpeoplewhoarelosingjobselsewhere.Imean,wehavetheabilitytobea

dynamiceconomy.Wealsohaveaprettygood,educatedworkforce,intermsofthepeoplewhoarealreadyhere,whethertheycameforsomeofthescienceand

technology,themicrochipindustryissizeablehere,lawyers.Andyouknow,theresafairnumberofcomputer-sciencetypepeople.Andifyougotothefarmingregions,youseeatransitionfromtobaccotosoybeansortochickpeas.IsawaNewYork

TimesarticlesaboutthechickpeaindustryinVirginia.Imean,thatsthekindof

thingwehavetodoisnotshieldpeoplenotshieldpeoplefromtheeconomicchangesthataregoingonleavepeopletocomeupwiththeirownways.Notas

individualsbuffetingthestorm,butascommunities,asbusinesses,localities,localjurisdictions.Reallyhelpingre-trainworkforcesorencouragingbusinessesto

changethedirectionof,notlooktogovernmentforcontracts,butactuallylookfor

otherwaystogeneraterevenues,etc.

WD:Anotherstatepolicyquestionforyou.Whatareyourthoughtsonhighereducationhowmuchthestateshouldbesupportingthat?

Sarvis:Somyviewsonhighereducationare,Ithinktheresalotofdemagogueryonhighereducation,whereanybodywhoisnttalkingaboutjustincreasingtheaid

tostudentsislookedatasanti-education.Ithinkthatsthetotalwrongwayof

lookingatit.Ithinkoneofthereasonseducationcostshavegoneupsodramaticallyisalotofthewaysinwhichwesubsidizeit.Ithinkthatalotofthetuitionincreases

merelycapturethebenefitsthatweretryingtogivetostudents,thetuitionincreasescapturethat.Anditgenerallygoestothebenefitsoftheinstitutions,the

highereducationinstitutionstheprofessorsandtheinstitutionsthathavemore

prestigebecauseofthat.Andthestudentsareleftinthesameplace,onlywithmuchmoredebtburdenswhentheycomeout.Sohowdoyougetpastthat?Well,you

moveawayfromthisone-size-fits-allsystem.Alotoftheproblemsthatwehave

throughoccupationallicensuretherearealotofdifferentlicensuresystemsandaccreditationprogramsthatreallylockinstudentsintoparticulartracks.AndIthink

thatweneedtogetawayfromthat,andstopsubsidizingparticularpaths.Highereducation,inasense,issortofasubsidyofwealthypeople.AndIknowthatwealthy

peopleappreciatethesubsidiesanddontwanttovoteagainstthosebeingtaken

away,butIthinkasvotershaverecognizedthetuitionincreasestakingawayallthoseadvantagesthatweretryingtocreateandmakingstudentsworseoff,Ithink

theyllbeopentodifferentsolutions.So,Ithinkthatifwehadabettersystem,a

freereconomy,afreermarketineducationalservices,startinginveryearlyeducationandgoingallthewayupthroughhighereducation,wecanmovetoa

systemthatsmuchmoredynamic,thathasalotmoreopportunitiesforpeople,thattherearesomanymoretrackswhereitsanapprenticeshipofjobs.Ithinkinafree-

marketsystemofeducationalservices,youwouldhavealotmorecompaniessaying

hey,wellpayforyoutogetadegreeinengineering,andyoullagreetoworkwithusacertainamountthroughouttheyearandforafewyearsafterwards.Andthose

kindofbenefitsarebothbeneficial.Theydontdrainthepublicfist.Andtheyre


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mutuallybeneficialtothestudentandtothecorporation.Therearealotof

programslikethatforgraduateschool.Therearentnearlyasmanyforundergrad.AndIthinkpartofthatisbecauseitssocheaptogetthesubsidizedstudentloans

andothergrantprocesses.

WD:MedicaidexpansionundertheAffordableCareActwheredoyoustandonthat?

Sarvis:Ithinkitsaverybadideatoinvestinthefederalizationofourhealthcare.I

thinkthattherearethingswecandoatthestatelevel.Butoneofourmajorconcernsshouldbeinreversingthetrendoffederalcontroloverourpublicpolicy.It

justtiesourhands.Itendsupincreasingourspendingsothatthespendingwehavetodoonfederalprogramscrowdsoutthespendingthatwewanttodoatthestate

andlocallevel.Anditdoesntimproveourhealthoutcomesitonlywastesalotof

money.Therearealotofthingswecantcontroldirectlybecausetheyrefederalprograms.ButIthinkthata)weshouldbeadvocatingfortherepealofthose

programs,andthatcaninclude,therearealotofwaystodothat.Theresnodirectmechanism.Buttherearealotofwaystoexpressourdispleasure,certainly,andtocallforconstitutionalamendmentsorappeal,orcallforoursenatorstoactin

certainwayswithregardstothoseprograms.Butthenonthestatelevel,wecandoalotintermsofa)rejectingtheMedicaidexpansion,b)comingupwithwaysto

makeMedicaidmoreefficient.Moreoversightisobviouslygood,butachangein

focusIthinkwouldalsobebetter.Thesupplyofprimarycareissomethingthatwecouldmakehugestrideson.Virginiahas,foronething,Ithinkloosening

occupationallicensurelaws,includinginthemedicalfield.Rightnow,nursesaretryingtodomore.Theywouldliketodomore.Theyhavethecapacityandtheskills

todomore,buttheyarenotallowedto,understatelaw.Andwevehadagradual

looseningofthem,buttheyrestillsomewhatstrictinthat,anursedoesnthaveindependentpractice.Onlyacertainnumberofthemcanworkwithoneparticular

doctor.SoIthinkweshouldgetridofalotofthosethings.Therewasalso,Ithink,

somesortofpilotprogramforruralareasthatdonthavealotofprimarycaredoctorswherenursescouldworkindependently.Theargumentinfavorofthat

reallyapplieseverywhere.Iftherearepeoplewhocantafforddoctors,itdoesntmatterifsomeonecantseeadoctorbecausetheyliveinaruralareawheretheres

notenoughdoctors,sothepricetoseeoneishigh,orbecausetheyliveinanurban

areawheretherate(ofpeopleperdoctor)ishighsuchthattheycantaffordtoseeone.Theargumentsapplytobothsituations.Weshouldletpeople,nurses

especially,offerwhateverservicestheyfeelcompetenttooffer,andnotusethis

licensingsystemtokeepthesupplyofprimarycaresmallanddriveupcosts.Theresalotofotherissueslikethat,regulatoryissues.Wehavesuchabackwards-

healthcaresystem,andwerejustmakingitworsewiththeACAandtheMedicaidexpansionandallthatstuff.Weremovinginthewrongdirection.

WD:Wheredoyoustandontheabortionissue?AsaLibertarian,doyoueven

seeitasgovernmentsroletogetinvolvedinit?


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Sarvis:Ithinkitsareallyhardissue.Itkindofgoesbacktoapersons

philosophicalcommitmentsormetaphysics,religionandstufflikethat.Myviewofitis,Ithinkitsareallydifficultissue.Imfairlymoderateonit,mostlyforscopeof

governmentreasonsandruleoflawreasons.Ithinkthatyoucantusecriminalprohibitionsonsomethingwheretheresnotoverwhelmingpublicsupportforit.A

lotoftimes,youllseelawspassedthatcriminalizeabortionsafteracertainamountoftimewithoutatsomepoint,betweenconceptionandbirth,peoplesviewschange.Thepercentageofpeoplewhoarewillingtosupportprohibitionschanges.

Overhalfofabortionsoccurinthefirstnineweeks.Thepublicsupportforbanning

thoseisreallylow.IreallydontthinkthatIcanreallysaywhatthelawshouldbe.Itsahardissue.Ilegitimatelythinkitsahardissue.Peoplecandisagreeonit.And

whatIdontlikeissortofthedemonizationonanyissue.Andthatjustturnsmeofftotheentireissue.TherearetwoissueswhereIthinkthattheRepublicanswere

wrongon,andthosearethetwobillsthatpassedinthepastfewyearsthe

ultrasoundsandtheusinghospitalregulations,applyingthemtoabortionclinics.Ithinkthepro-lifepeopleshouldhavebeenagainsttheseonruleoflawandscopeof

governmentaswell.ThemisuseofpublichealthlawforthepurposeofmakingabortionclinicscompliantwithregulationscostlyenoughthattheyhavetocloseIthinkthatsanabusiveoftheruleoflaw.Ithinkthatsatotalmistake.Thetrans-

vaginalultrasoundrequirement,itgotchangedtoanultrasoundthatjustgoesonabelly.Butforawomantogointogetaprocedurethatislegalunderthecurrentlaw

andhaveherhavetoundergoaprocedurethatismandatedbythegovernment,that

juststrikesmeasjustwrong.Itsonethingtotryandconvinceyourfellowcitizenstoseeabortioninthewaythatyoudo,asprotectinglifeandthereforethatwe

shouldbaniteitherfromconceptionorfromthispointon,whatever.But,ifitsgoingtobelegal,Ijustdontthinkthatthegovernmentshouldbethenaddingon

thesemandatesofwhatdoctorsmustdowiththeirpatients,etcetera.AndIthinkits

alittlebitoddtoargueintheObamacarecontext,thatgovernmentshouldnotbeintheroomwithapersonandhisorherdoctor,butthenonthisissue,haveatotally

differentviewpoint.Sowithouttakinganabsolutistposition,weshouldbeableto

agreethatthesearemisusesofthelaw.

WD:Wouldyoupursueautomaticrightsrestorationforthosewhohavebeen

convictedoffelonies,butservedtheirtime?

Sarvis:Istronglyaminfavorofre-enfranchizingpeoplewhohaveservedtheirtimeandhaveshownthemselvestobecapableofavoidingrecidivism.Itsalittlebit

strangethatpeoplearetalkingaboutre-enfranchizingwithouttalkingaboutamajor

reasonwhypeoplearebeingdisenfranchised,andthatisthedrugwar.AndIthinkthedrugwarisahugeissuethat,theRepublicanandDemocraticpartiesarejust

obtuseon.Imean,thisissomethingthatisruining,thathasruinedandcontinuesruiningalotofcommunitiesandalotoffamilies,particularlyblackfamilies.Itleads

toarrestrecordsthatkeeppeoplefrombeingemployable.Whenwesendalotof

peopletojail,therearealotofkidswhoaregrowingupwithoutfathersintheirhouse.Thatsgoingtocauseproblems.TheincarcerationratesinAmericaarevery

high.Inalotofareas,therearenojobs,sosellingdrugsisoneofthefewthingsthat


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theyseepeopledoingthatcanputmoneyonthetablefortheirfamilies.Andthat

justplaysintoanotheraspectoftheproblemsincertainlocalities,whichislanduseandzoningordinancesanddevelopmentregulationsthatkeepjobsoutofcertain

areas,makesithardforpeopletoworkorstartbusinesses.Andthatdrivesalotofpeopleintodrugtrafficking.Thedrugissueisalsoanequalityandissueof

disparities,intermsofsentencingandwhogetspunishedandwhogetscaught.Imean,thenumberofrichwhitekidswhoaresmokingpotintheirdormroomsIthinkthelegalizationofmarijuanawouldhappenawholelotquickerifthosepeople

werebeingcaughtandpunishedatthesameratesasyoungblackkids.

Butyourquestionwasaboutdisenfranchisement,andIthinkthatthepaththat

peoplegofromusingdrugsandthensellingdrugsandthingslikethat,isaffectedinalargepartbecausewehavethisdrugwarthecriminalizationandjustthe

illegalityofititsendsalotofpeopletoprison,itruinsalotoflives,anditresults

inalotofdisenfranchisement.Ifwelegalizedmarijuanaandde-criminalizedalotofotherthings,Icertainlythinkthatthatwouldamelioratealotoftheseproblems.

Butyourquestion,Icertainlydosupportstreamliningtheprocessofre-enfranchisement.A,Iwouldsupportaconstitutionalchange.ButB,Ipersonally

thinkitcanpotentiallybedoneintheconstitution.So,Idliketositwithitandexplorethat,too.

WD:Anythingelseyoudliketoadd?

Sarvis:Intermsoftheguncontrol,gunrightsdebate,Imfairlystrongongunrights.ButthewayIliketolookatguncontrolisifyouwanttomakeabigdentin

gunviolenceandviolentcrime,again,letsgobacktothedrugwar.Thatsahuge

reasonforwhywehavealotoftheviolentcrimethatwedo,regardlessofifitsgunsornot.Itsahugereasonwhywehaveguntrafficking.Weredoingexactlywhatwe

didintheprohibitionera.Andwhathappenedintheprohibitionerawas,whenwe

gotridofprohibition,therewasadecade-longdecreaseinviolentcrime.Andtheresnoreasontothinkthatwouldnthappennow.Weveessentiallycreatedthroughthe

drugwar,awell-funded,well-armed,andviolentworldofviolentgangs,organizedcrimes,andetcetera.Alargeportionofourguncrimesandviolentcrimesare

committedbythosegangsandorganizedcrime.Sobychangingpolicyondrugs,we

canhaveahugeimpactonthethingsthatweretryingtogetatthroughguncontrol,withouthavingtoburdenlaw-abidinggunowners.

Watchdog.org's interview with Libertarian gubernatorial hopeful Rob Sarvis

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Transcript of Watchdog.org's interview with Libertarian gubernatorial hopeful Rob Sarvis