Biography: Hingham Public Schools; University of Maine, BS 1966; Vietnam combat, officer in charge of underwater demolition team detachment; commercial diver in oil industry, salvage and shipyards; managed home construction business. Reagan appointment to Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) initiated a high technology program for Navy SEALS, Army Special Forces, and Air Force Special Operations. Home renovation since 1988.
Question: Given the current economic climate, what are your priorities for the budget surplus and why?
Answer: Some part of the tax surplus should be used to privatize Social Security while ensuring that no benefits are lost to those who now receive it at or near retirement.
The highest priority for Congress is to take a long view toward the survival of America in this new century. At the top of the list is national security and this means rebuilding and modernizing our military and intelligence communities. It means making some hard decisions on how and why to deploy our forces. We must develop and deploy Ballistic Missile Defense. We must stop the social experiments that blunt our sword. We must remove government regulations that strangle our energy industries so that America may again achieve energy independence. We must stop equipping and rewarding our enemies. Please see www.bleicken.com for in-depth statements.
We must bring the forces of the free market into primary and secondary education because this is the foundation for wealth creation in America 's future. Most of what needs to be done does not require spending a tax ''surplus '' but merely requires cutting back the power and influence of government and letting the forces of free enterprise and the special genius of America thrive. Any tax surplus left after fixing Social Security and rebuilding national security should go back to its owners and Congress should refrain from overcollecting taxes in the future.
