As tuition costs rise, what, if anything, would you do to make college more affordable?

There are two related issues here: the cost of a college education itself and its affordability. No college education is affordable, no matter how cheap or expensive, if graduates are unable to get a job. The government is destroying the economy through increasing debt, crony capitalism, and Federal Reserve policies undermining the value of our dollars and causing inflation. I aim to reverse those policies and help get this economy moving, so students can get a job once they graduate. Second, I believe that there is no excuse for college costs rising as fast as they have. Inflation in college costs is nearly five times the general inflation rate, which is inexcusable. It’s well past time to rein that in.

What is your stance on “Obamacare”?

I oppose it and seek to repeal it. Instead, we should make targeted reforms to the health care system to improve it.

What direction should America go regarding Afghanistan?

Get out as soon as possible. As a high school teacher, I have seen my own students go off to war, and not all of them have come back. It makes me ill.

What role do you think the U.S. should play in foreign affairs, particularly with Iran and Israel?

The U.S. is not the world’s policeman and should quit trying to be. Israel is right to be concerned about Iran and its pursuit of nuclear weapons. I believe they have a right to defend themselves. But it is not the U.S.’s role to intervene.

In November, Minnesotans will vote whether or not to constitutionally define marriage as solely between one man and one woman. What is your stance on gay marriage?

I believe the citizens of Minnesota should have the right to vote on the amendment, and I will respect the will of the voters.

Students have cited the economy as one of their main concerns. What would you do to ensure a stable American economy as they search for jobs after school?

The single greatest threat to this economy and even our national security is the ballooning government debt. After four straight years of trillion-dollar deficits and money printing, our economy is in danger of an insolvency crisis.

We have to eliminate the deficit and reduce the debt, or this country will go bankrupt. The slow economy is a direct result of the debt crisis, as businesses retrench and wait out the storm. The Washington establishment has kicked the can down the road, and the road is ending. We need to reform entitlements, end the wars, quit picking winners and losers in the economy and restore confidence in the dollar.

Can the U.S. achieve energy independence? If so, what steps do we need to take for that to happen and how long do you think it will take?

Of course we can. North America is the most energy-rich continent in the world, and the U.S. is the most technologically advanced economy in the world. We need to reduce the impediments to environmentally sound energy production, increase funding for basic research (but not specific companies like Solyndra), and continue to promote innovation.

Our wars in the Middle East are directly related to our dependence upon their oil. We can achieve energy independence within the decade if we remove the barriers.

What is the most important issue our country must deal with today and how do you plan to address it?

The national debt and the undermining of our economy by the Federal Reserve simply must be addressed, or our economy will collapse within the decade. I strongly support [Rep.] Ron Paul’s efforts to audit the Fed, will fight to my last breath to reduce the debt and vote against every bill which promotes crony capitalism. I will vote to end the wars and reduce our troop presence abroad, and fight to get our financial house in order.