Chronicle: You've run your campaign without funds and fully on the internet. How do you think this has helped or hindered your campaign?Sailor: It's undoubtedly helped my campaign. Running on $0 reinforces the fact that campaign fluff and fanfare are of no interest to me. I'm fighting The Machine because I truly care about improving our sorry state of Big Government. I'm not in it for the money. As a product of this approach, people listen.
Furthermore, sticking to my people-before-politicians campaign strategy is a better use of money. Redirecting campaign contributions to charity emphasizes that the best way to help people is voluntarily, rather than being forced to fund unconstitutional government programs against our will. After all, taxation is coercion. Behind every IRS agent is a gun. People should be free to choose what they want to do with their money. They should spend it, save it, or donate it at their leisure.
The medium of the Internet also allows me to back up my statements with facts (via hyperlinks). Unlike my opponents, I'm not churning out empty promises and emotionally-charged fallacies. I wrote and designed SailorVsTheMachine.com. It all comes from me, not some speechwriter or propaganda whiz. My statements are supported with data. The net is inexpensive (actually, my site is free) and fast, allowing the little guy like me to stand up against The Machine.
Chronicle: If the current political parties are "machines," why does the American public embrace them when they claim they want honesty in politics?
Sailor: The Machine thrives because it plays Santa Claus to the public, offering special entitlements to certain groups. This takes on many forms (corporate welfare, citizen welfare, subsidies, gender and race entitlements, and on and on). The American public embraces The Machine because it gives them something. In other words, that's buying votes. And it's wrong.
Chronicle: What gave you the motivation to run for elected office? How has it changed your life?
Sailor: I become interested in running for elected office after realizing, and experiencing, how gun control laws bring unintended consequences. Severe consequences. Deadly consequences. (Read my story at: http://sailorvsthemachine.com/issues.htm#guns)
I cannot stand by silently while elitist politicians like Rep. Schakowsky pass gun control laws that do more harm than good. That is what motivated me to run for office. I am not a member of the NRA. I am not a hunter. I am not a "gun nut". I'm a concerned citizen, troubled by the imbalance of power that occurs when only elected officials, cops, and criminals have guns.
It's a crime that elected officials -- the very people who pass gun control laws, such as incumbent Schakowsky -- have the luxury of armed guards or the right to conceal carry a firearm for self-defense, but many citizens are not afforded that same means of protection. Guns are used defensively over 2.5 million times per year to prevent crime. The vast majority of the time, a gun need not be fired to serve as a deterrent. The right to protect our families (be it from criminals or terrorists) goes beyond the Second Amendment. It's a human right. A civil right.
After surviving several incidents in which my personal safety was at risk (including being shot at), I began to search for a means of self-defense. To my surprise, I discovered that it's illegal to own a handgun in Chicago. I also discovered that cities with the highest rates of gun violence are cities with the most gun restrictions, being that unarmed citizens are easy prey for thugs. When only the cops and the criminals have guns, the streets aren't safe.
Chronicle: What are you goals for the upcoming election?
Sailor: Goal #1: win the election.
If for some unforeseen reason Goal #1 falls through, Goal #2 is to garner at least 5% of the vote. Securing 5% will permit the Libertarian Party to have automatic ballot access in the next election. Otherwise, without automatic ballot access, third parties are required to gather thousands of petition signatures to gain access to the ballot. This can be very expensive and time-consuming.
Goal #3: Spread the libertarian word. Let people know we exist. Help the politically homeless find a home with the Libertarian Party.
Chronicle: Why do you think the libertarian view of government is not more embraced?
Sailor: Most people don't know about the "L" word, libertarianism. In fact, I didn't find out about the Libertarian Party until I was in college, when a friend told me about it. If more people were aware of the Libertarian Party's existence, they'd certainly embrace it, being that the LP is the only party that supports freedom from, rather than dependence upon, the government.
Chronicle: What developed your political views?
Sailor: Throughout my life, I've seen and experienced the positives that are a product of personal independence. On a personal level, as long as I can remember, I always questioned authority. I never trusted rule by force. Not in the government. Not at school. Not at home. Later, as a teen, I was incredibly independent, fending for myself and my little brother most of the time. Instead of turning to the government for assistance, I solved my problems on my own, and became a better person because of it.
Chronicle: As an educator, what is your view on the seeming lack of interest among younger voters?
Sailor: Most of our youth are products of government dependency, unlike their grandparents who turned inward to solve their problems. Dependency leads to apathy.
Meanwhile, those who do understand the negative consequence of living under a nanny state are incredibly disillusioned with our corrupt government. Feeling powerless also leads to apathy. It's easier to resign rather than fight The Machine. Trust me, I know. But indifference only leads to more government control and less freedom.
Chronicle: You use "The Constitution" as your platform, why is this document seemingly so forgotten in nowadays politics?
Sailor: Around the old school New Deal era, people started turning to the government to solve their problems, rather than themselves. Ever since then, elected officials have brazenly disregarded the Constitution, passing unconstitutional government-run programs left and right. Instead of abiding by their oath to uphold the Constitution, Congress plays Santa Claus to voters, promising particular groups of people special entitlements, thus buying votes. This unconstitutional activity has become the standard, norm, everyday activity in Congress. Career politicians wouldn't be able to remain locked into office if they paid attention to the Constitution. They'd be out of a job.
Chronicle: What are your future projects after this election?
Sailor: Possibly create an online database that tracks elected officials and their Constitutional violations (after all, they take an oath to uphold the Constitution). I also tinker with the idea of running for President someday, on a Spartan budget, of course. I'll continue to work with at-risk youth as I do now, teaching them computer skills for job placement, which will lead to self-sufficiency. I'll also continue to volunteer for child abuse and domestic violence causes, teaching people personal autonomy and independence.
Chronicle: Why is the Republican candidate for this office seemingly inactive in your opinion?
Sailor: Gosh, he's so inactive I can't even comment on it. There's simply nothing there. Do a Google search. Nothing. No website. Nothing about his background, beliefs, or volunteer work. He's a classic candidate for office: lawyer, period. Nothing more. And you know what that means. Lawyer = more laws, less freedom.
