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Editor’s Note: In June 2012, Civil Beat sent 10 questions to each of the candidates registered to run in the Aug. 11 primary for the 1st Congressional District. All five responded, including Roy “Sky” Wyttenbach. The questions and answers are reproduced below in full. Read the responses by Charles Djou and Colleen Hanabusa to see how Wyttenbach’s positions compare to those of his main competitors. Click on each topic listed below to read Civil Beat’s question and Wyttenbach’s response.

• Drone Strikes
• Transportation
• Federal Debt
• Economic Growth
• Health Care Policy
• Global Warming
• Bipartisanship
• District Distinctions
• 112th Congress
• Overlooked Issue

1. President Obama has significantly increased the use of drones to assassinate terrorist targets. The policy has been criticized for denying due process rights for at least one American living abroad, and for the collateral killing of civilians. Do you support this policy — why or why not?

There are two policies. The first is jurisdiction, which I support. People who commit acts that harm other people should not be able to avoid justice by fleeing to another jurisdiction.

The second is collateral damage, which should be treated the same as if it were taking place in the US. Combined with Big Brother tactics like spy blimps, the willingness to accept collateral damage in foreign lands that would be unacceptable if it happened here shows a racist attitude that creates serious hatreds. ↩ back to top

2. Transportation and infrastructure are critical to an island state — especially the neighbor islands. How would you work to increase federal support for Hawaii’s roads, airports and harbors?

This will be the first of the blank answers. It does not mean either that I don’t care or don’t know about the question. What it does mean is that I don’t have any particular personal bias or insight to add, and that I would do my best to vote strictly as a Representative, reflecting the wishes of the people. ↩ back to top

3.A divided U.S. Congress has not been able to come to agreement on how to lower the federal debt, in spite of bipartisan recommendations from the Simpson-Bowles deficit commission and others. What is your evaluation of those recommendations, which include hard decisions regarding entitlement programs, defense spending and taxes?

This is a very important issue. It is essential that the political parties work together to get our financial house in order. I suggest differentiating entitlement programs into “earned entitlements” and “unearned entitlements”.

Earned entitlements should be preserved. Unearned entitlements, giveaways that destroy incentive, should be greatly reduced.

Before any taxes are raised, loopholes should be closed. ↩ back to top

4.The major issue for most candidates is jobs and the economy. Can you identify a concrete example of how you as representative would go about stimulating growth both nationally and in Hawaii?

Recommend world championship crew races on the Ala Wai. ↩ back to top

5.Regardless of how the U.S. Supreme Court rules on President Obama’s Affordable Care Act, what would your goals be in terms of health care policy as a representative? Would you support universal health care?

No answer provided. ↩ back to top

6.Global warming is real, and rising sea levels will certainly impact Hawaii. What steps would you take as a U.S. Representative to mitigate the effects of global warming?

Global warming is real and serious. However, it may be partially caused by the Sun heating up, in addition to human activity. ↩ back to top

7.Longtime D.C. observers say the inability of the two major parties to work with each other has never been worse, especially in the U.S. House. Many experienced leaders are leaving office rather than continue in such a hostile climate. Is compromise necessary to governance — and if so, how would you reach out to your colleagues to craft and pass legislation?

The Aloha Spirit may be the key. ↩ back to top

8.How is the 2nd Congressional District different from the 1st Congressional District? Or are their issues largely the same?

No answer provided. ↩ back to top

9.What is the best thing the 112th Congress did, and why? What’s the worst thing, and why?

No answer provided. ↩ back to top

10. What is an issue you think is important to address as a U.S. House candidate — one that perhaps has not been given sufficient attention during the campaign?

Getting the facts. Upcoming decisions will be difficult enough even if the truth were correctly known.

Recommend a “War on Lies”, with penalties for government officials who knowingly lie to the people commensurate with penalties for people who lie to the government.

Also recommend, similar to the “Report to the Shareholders” regularly made by corporations, an easy to understand “Report to the Citizens” giving accurate audited numbers. ↩ back to top