Seth King

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Should NH add a broad-based sales tax?

"I find the sales tax to be one of the least offensive taxes. It's non-invasive to taxpayers' privacy and doesn't require massive amounts of accounting for compliance. Property taxes, on the other hand, are very invasive. I'm offended that state agents get access to the inside of our homes every few years. And furthermore, their property value assessments can be arbitrary and capricious. If the opportunity arose to abolish property taxes in favor of sales taxes, I would strongly consider it. Still, I'm no fan of taxes and would prefer user fees or voluntary taxation when possible."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Should NH add an income tax on earned income?

"Under no circumstances will I support an income tax. It is the most invasive of all of the taxes, requires massive amounts of accounting for compliance, encourages loopholes and punishes the productive. The income tax is the second plank of the ten planks of the Communist Manifesto."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Should New Hampshire lower business taxes?

"Business taxes increase accounting costs and ultimately get passed onto the consumer. Business taxes do not 'stick it to the man.' Instead they stick it to the little guy, which is all of us."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Do you support the gradual phase-out of the Interests and Dividends tax?

"Interest and dividends taxes are invasive, just like the income tax. They must be abolished."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Should New Hampshire add a tax credit for businesses that contribute to student loan repayment for employees?

"This sounds nice. And I like the idea of businesses getting to keep more of their own money, and thus, lowering costs to consumers. But these sorts of mishmash rules just increase bureaucracy and accounting costs. I'd like to see taxes simplified, not convoluted more than it already is."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Should New Hampshire raise the minimum wage?

"We should abolish the minimum wage. A business can pay an intern $0 per hour, but they cannot pay an employee $1 per hour. How does this make sense? Not everybody or every job is worth $15/hour. There are many businesses who would love to hire and train new employees with no experience. But they cannot afford to hire zero-experience employees at minimum wage. Let me give you an example. Imagine a young teenager who wants to work at the local machine shop. He has no experience but he would love to start as the floor sweeper for $3/hour. He lives with his parents and his necessities are paid for, so the wage isn't needed to live on, but it gives him a sense of pride and encourages him to move up the ranks. Eventually, the employer decides to give the kid a chance and work the drill press where there's little chance of hurting himself or breaking anything expensive. He pays the kid $4/hour now. In time the kid learns more machines and his pay increases. It may come that the employer simple doesn't have a full-time position for the kid making $30/hour, but that's okay, because the kid now has machine shop experience. He knows his way around. He knows the names of all of the machines and how to clean and maintain them. And he even knows how to use a couple of the machines. He now has marketable skills that can earn him $10/hour somewhere. Within a few years this kid will become a professional machinist without having to spend tens of thousands of dollars at a trade school, going into debt. If we abolished minimum wage laws there would probably be a lot less people going to schools in professions they later find out they really don't like, only after having gone in to debt for tens of thousands of dollars. Increasing minimum wages, on the other hand, would only remove the bottom rungs of the economic latter and would increase unemployment and welfare."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Should the state do more to encourage municipalities to remove zoning barriers to housing development?

"I'm no huge fan of zoning laws. But I believe in decentralization and localism. The state should have no concern for how local municipalities organize themselves."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Should the state permanently increase how much tax revenue it shares with towns and cities every year, beyond public school funding?

"Ideally, towns would have their own sources of revenue independent of the state. I don't like the idea of towns being dependent on the financial solvency or the magnanimity of the state. A systemic failure in Concord could be devestating for all towns in New Hampshire, whereas if the towns were financially independent, their success or failure would be determined solely by their own financial discipline."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Do you support the state’s current system of public school funding, with each district’s total funding primarily dependent on local property tax revenue?

"This is difficult question to answer because it requires significant nuance. But I will say that I am 100% opposed to schools being funded or controlled by Concord or Washington D.C. Again, I support local control and local funding as much as possible."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Do you support the “Education Freedom Account” program, which gives students access to the per-pupil share of state school funding to spend on private school or home school expenses?

"I am very much a supporter of private schools. This country is tearing itself apart because of the politicization of education. Ideally, parents would send their children to the types of schools they prefer, be they Montessori schools, parochial schools, protestant schools, you name it. There would be much more diversity this way as opposed to the one-size-fits-all approach which has now failed generations of children in this country. That being said, these "education freedom accounts" are a half-measure that could, I'm afraid, lead to greater government control over private education. He who pays the piper picks the tune, as the saying goes. I do not believe Concord or Washington D.C. should have any say in how children are taught. It really shouldn't even be any of their concern. To be clear, I support reducing the size and scope of government. I don't believe in cradle-to-grave government involvement. Imagine how much more happy the country would be if all parents decided where their children went to school and just respected the choice of other parents to teach their children differently?"

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Do you support the state law that bans teaching certain concepts, such as the idea that people may be "inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously"?

"As I said in the previous question 'he who pays the piper picks the tune.' The Democrats long supported banning teachers from teaching anything religious in schools. Now the Republicans want to ban concepts they don't like. This knife cuts both ways. It's time to end government involvement in education, be it funding, curriculum, anything. That being said, I also support localism. There is no reason why Concord or Washington D.C. need to be involved in educaion. If you support government run schools, fine. Do it at the county level. Decentralization is preferable to centralization."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Should New Hampshire ban discussions about sexual orientation and gender identity in grades K-3?

"As I said in the previous question 'he who pays the piper picks the tune.' The Democrats long supported banning teachers from teaching anything religious in schools. Now the Republicans want to ban concepts they don't like. This knife cuts both ways. It's time to end government involvement in education, be it funding, curriculum, anything. That being said, I also support localism. There is no reason why Concord or Washington D.C. need to be involved in educaion. If you support government run schools, fine. Do it at the county level. Decentralization is preferable to centralization."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Should New Hampshire repeal the ban on abortion after 24 weeks gestation?

"I used to be pro-choice for the first 35 years of my life, so I greatly sympathize with people who hold this view. I know all of their talking points because I used them myself routinely. Furthermore, as a small-government libertarian I'm always reticent to ban or criminalize things. But I switched sides for the following reasons. Should government exist? If the answer is yes, then... Should government punish those who destroy *innocent* life? I answer yes. Are the pre-born innocent? I answer yes. Are the pre-born alive? I answer yes. And this is where the real debate comes down. Are the pre-born alive? I think if a person is honest they have to answer yes. Now, that naturally has profound consequences. And because many people are unhappy with these consequences they will lie to themselves and pretend that the pre-born are not alive. But they are alive. And while we may have the *power* to destroy innocent life, it doesn't make it right. Now, that all being said, the pro-life crowd should be careful to really think about the consequences of criminalizing abortion. This sort of action could lead to a slippery slope. For example, if it's okay for the government to punish the killing of the pre-born, what about the harming of the pre-born? Could the government ban women from drinking alcohol or smoking while pregnant? What about eating fatty or sugary foods? As somebody who is a very vocal opponent of the war on drugs, how do I square my pro-life stance with abortifacients that come in a pill form? Clearly, the same government that has utterly failed at preventing people from doing recreational drugs will also fail miserably at stopping abortions with the use of pills. So, in conclusion, the abortion debate is, for an honest and reasonable person, very difficult and nuanced. There are many people on both sides that take an all-or-nothing approach. I'm not one of them. Count me among the many who struggle to find any perfect solution."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Should New Hampshire guarantee the right to access abortion before 24 weeks?

"I used to be pro-choice for the first 35 years of my life, so I greatly sympathize with people who hold this view. I know all of their talking points because I used them myself routinely. Furthermore, as a small-government libertarian I'm always reticent to ban or criminalize things. But I switched sides for the following reasons. Should government exist? If the answer is yes, then... Should government punish those who destroy *innocent* life? I answer yes. Are the pre-born innocent? I answer yes. Are the pre-born alive? I answer yes. And this is where the real debate comes down. Are the pre-born alive? I think if a person is honest they have to answer yes. Now, that naturally has profound consequences. And because many people are unhappy with these consequences they will lie to themselves and pretend that the pre-born are not alive. But they are alive. And while we may have the *power* to destroy innocent life, it doesn't make it right. Now, that all being said, the pro-life crowd should be careful to really think about the consequences of criminalizing abortion. This sort of action could lead to a slippery slope. For example, if it's okay for the government to punish the killing of the pre-born, what about the harming of the pre-born? Could the government ban women from drinking alcohol or smoking while pregnant? What about eating fatty or sugary foods? As somebody who is a very vocal opponent of the war on drugs, how do I square my pro-life stance with abortifacients that come in a pill form? Clearly, the same government that has utterly failed at preventing people from doing recreational drugs will also fail miserably at stopping abortions with the use of pills. So, in conclusion, the abortion debate is, for an honest and reasonable person, very difficult and nuanced. There are many people on both sides that take an all-or-nothing approach. I'm not one of them. Count me among the many who struggle to find any perfect solution."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Should New Hampshire ban abortions during the second trimester (e.g. after 15 weeks gestation)?

"I used to be pro-choice for the first 35 years of my life, so I greatly sympathize with people who hold this view. I know all of their talking points because I used them myself routinely. Furthermore, as a small-government libertarian I'm always reticent to ban or criminalize things. But I switched sides for the following reasons. Should government exist? If the answer is yes, then... Should government punish those who destroy *innocent* life? I answer yes. Are the pre-born innocent? I answer yes. Are the pre-born alive? I answer yes. And this is where the real debate comes down. Are the pre-born alive? I think if a person is honest they have to answer yes. Now, that naturally has profound consequences. And because many people are unhappy with these consequences they will lie to themselves and pretend that the pre-born are not alive. But they are alive. And while we may have the *power* to destroy innocent life, it doesn't make it right. Now, that all being said, the pro-life crowd should be careful to really think about the consequences of criminalizing abortion. This sort of action could lead to a slippery slope. For example, if it's okay for the government to punish the killing of the pre-born, what about the harming of the pre-born? Could the government ban women from drinking alcohol or smoking while pregnant? What about eating fatty or sugary foods? As somebody who is a very vocal opponent of the war on drugs, how do I square my pro-life stance with abortifacients that come in a pill form? Clearly, the same government that has utterly failed at preventing people from doing recreational drugs will also fail miserably at stopping abortions with the use of pills. So, in conclusion, the abortion debate is, for an honest and reasonable person, very difficult and nuanced. There are many people on both sides that take an all-or-nothing approach. I'm not one of them. Count me among the many who struggle to find any perfect solution."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Should New Hampshire ban abortions during the first trimester (e.g. after 6 weeks gestation)?

"I used to be pro-choice for the first 35 years of my life, so I greatly sympathize with people who hold this view. I know all of their talking points because I used them myself routinely. Furthermore, as a small-government libertarian I'm always reticent to ban or criminalize things. But I switched sides for the following reasons. Should government exist? If the answer is yes, then... Should government punish those who destroy *innocent* life? I answer yes. Are the pre-born innocent? I answer yes. Are the pre-born alive? I answer yes. And this is where the real debate comes down. Are the pre-born alive? I think if a person is honest they have to answer yes. Now, that naturally has profound consequences. And because many people are unhappy with these consequences they will lie to themselves and pretend that the pre-born are not alive. But they are alive. And while we may have the *power* to destroy innocent life, it doesn't make it right. Now, that all being said, the pro-life crowd should be careful to really think about the consequences of criminalizing abortion. This sort of action could lead to a slippery slope. For example, if it's okay for the government to punish the killing of the pre-born, what about the harming of the pre-born? Could the government ban women from drinking alcohol or smoking while pregnant? What about eating fatty or sugary foods? As somebody who is a very vocal opponent of the war on drugs, how do I square my pro-life stance with abortifacients that come in a pill form? Clearly, the same government that has utterly failed at preventing people from doing recreational drugs will also fail miserably at stopping abortions with the use of pills. So, in conclusion, the abortion debate is, for an honest and reasonable person, very difficult and nuanced. There are many people on both sides that take an all-or-nothing approach. I'm not one of them. Count me among the many who struggle to find any perfect solution."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Should New Hampshire legalize the recreational use of marijuana by allowing home-growing and private use without sales?

"I don't like the way any of these questions are worded. I am 100% for ending the war on drugs, and that includes cannabis. People have the right to grow, use, and sell cannabis, whether the government recognizes that right or not. My goal is to end the government's unjust intrusion into our lives."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Should New Hampshire legalize the recreational use of marijuana by establishing state-run cannabis stores?

"I don't like the way any of these questions are worded. I am 100% for ending the war on drugs, and that includes cannabis. People have the right to grow, use, and sell cannabis, whether the government recognizes that right or not. My goal is to end the government's unjust intrusion into our lives."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Should New Hampshire legalize the recreational use of marijuana by licensing growers and private retail locations?

"I don't like the way any of these questions are worded. I am 100% for ending the war on drugs, and that includes cannabis. People have the right to grow, use, and sell cannabis, whether the government recognizes that right or not. My goal is to end the government's unjust intrusion into our lives."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Should NH pass stricter gun control laws?

"Not only should we not pass stricter gun laws, we should be getting rid of any gun laws that are on the books. Gun laws are immoral and unconstitutional and have no place in a free society."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Should New Hampshire extend the renewable portfolio standard past 2025, requiring public utilities to obtain more than 25% of electricity from renewable energy sources?

"I'm pro-energy independence, not just for the country, but for individuals. For that reason I like the idea of solar panels on homes. How sweet is that to be independent of the power companies? But solar is not as efficient as coal, nuclear, or natural gas. And for that reason, it cannot be as green as we're told that it is. To learn more, people on both sides of this issue should watch an excellent documentary called Planet of the Humans. It's available for free on Youtube."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Should New Hampshire government do more to address climate change?

"There are many environmental problems plaguing the world such as plastic in the oceans, overfishing, landfills, water shortages, deforestation, etc. Unfortunately, all of these problems have been ignored and our focus has been set on the phantom menace of 'climate change.' There simply isn't enough room to fully discuss this topic here, but let it be noted that... #1 carbon dioxide is plant food #2 higher concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere allow plants to grow with less water #3 the planet, according to NASA, is actually getting greener, i.e. more carboniferous vegetation #4 if we want a greener planet, then we have to get more carbon from somewhere #5 the fossil fuels we burn today used to be vegetation above ground when the planet was much greener I live in the country. I love nature and being outdoors. I have a vested interest in protecting not just *the* environment, but *our* environment. Unfortunately, many of the measures taken to protect the environment have had the oppositve effect. If a person truly love nature, they'll keep an open mind and be willing to learn what the "other side" has to say."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Should New Hampshire add a fee or mileage charge for electric vehicle owners to help pay for transportation and/or electric infrastructure?

"This would be just another intrusion to our privacy, which I am against."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Do you support the option of mail-in ballots for all voters, not just absentees?

"Mail in ballots are fraught with abuse. I'm surprised that in the 21st century we still haven't figured out a way to make a provably fair election system."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Do you support giving voters who register without ID on Election Day a ballot that only counts if they return identifying documents to the state before a deadline?

"On the one hand, I definitely do not support easy avenues for people to cheat. On the other hand, there is an argument to be made that these provisional ballots can give away who a person voted for. I think elections are publiziced well enough, early enough, that there is no excuse not to be registered in time. Same day registrations without an ID should not be allowed."