Carson: Defending personal freedom key

Matt Carson is fired up about defending personal freedom.

In fact, the small businessman originally from Warrenton feels the No. 1 responsibility of government is to protect its citizens from tyranny and defend the Constitution. Period.

Carson, 34, is so passionate about the ideals of liberty and political choice that he’s running as an independent in the Nov. 3 election for 30th District seat in the Virginia House of Delegates.

First and foremost, the five-year resident of Culpeper would like to see the commonwealth repeal the federally enacted Patriot Act.

“In my opinion, it is one of the most tyrannical acts passed in the last 100 years in this country,” Carson said of the legislation put in place soon after 9-11. “It allows for roving wire taps, searches without warrant, various things that are unconstitutional. What I would have liked to see is the Virginia statehouse do is stand up and say that doesn’t apply here.”

In a recent interview at the Star-Exponent, Carson must have mentioned defeating tyranny about a half-dozen times, saying that he agrees with about 90 percent of the Libertarian Party’s agenda.

“I’m an independent because there is no party for me,” said Carson. “(Repealing the Patriot Act) is one of my major issues that if elected I’m going to be a bulldog about.”

An entrepreneur in the technology field and a fly fisherman, Carson is also interested in protecting Virginia’s waterways, personal political accountability and reigning in government spending. A husband and father, he spoke with vigor about his beliefs, not holding back during the recent interview.

Here’s a sampling of what Carson had to say about:

The economy and job creation: “I would like to see Virginia be one of the preeminent small business states. Everybody wins when small businesses thrive. Ford, Dell, Apple, Microsoft were all small businesses at one point. I think Virginia could continue to do better by doing everything it can to support small businesses.

“That means removing more red tape, providing more services, getting creative and talking to business owners to find out what they can do to help them. Eighty percent of the wealth in this country comes from small businesses and the employment base in this country comes from small businesses, and yet small businesses got zero bailout. Matter of fact, government didn’t even put in a way for small businesses to ask for a piece of the bailout.

“Small businesses have to compete on their own, starve, buckle down, survive by their wits and are the largest employment base in this country.”

Federal bailout of corporations: “At what point do we say these companies shouldn’t be here? Why do we reward executives that make bad decisions? Meanwhile, there are companies that didn’t want the bailout, but the government forced them to take it. If we decide we are going to be a bailout society, then we should create it so it’s equal for everyone. But we’re not going to do that, and I don’t understand the lopsidedness — where some have to compete and some don’t.

“I don’t think the federal government should be involved in business at all except to protect consumers.”

Virginia accepting federal stimulus dollars: “100 percent against it. I am 100 percent against a bailout of any kind. States should stand on their own two feet. Virginia definitely has the ability — it’s one of the wealthiest states in the country.

When hard times hit, you have got to make hard choices, buckle down and move on. (Federal stimulus) promotes the bailout mentality — if you get yourself in trouble there’s somebody there who can print more money to get you out of trouble instead of saying we have to live day-to-day like everybody else.

“I don’t understand the system where the federal government is $10 trillion in debt and no one takes personal responsibility for that.”

Wilderness Wal-Mart: “This is a fascinating one. We should sit down with the historical societies and figure out a list of places that should be protected at all cost because of their historical value and then pass legislation that protects those.

“The issue is normally they don’t come up or make news until somebody’s ready to build on it. And then at point you’ve got attorneys from Wal-Mart you’ve got attorneys from who ever and usually they get beat.

“What I would like to do is preempt that because history is a huge part of our area. We are not going to be able to protect every historic site, but let’s start the dialogue.”

Last year’s presidential race: “I wrote in Mickey Mouse.”

Deeds or McDonnell in this year’s governor’s race: “I’d rather see an independent, but I would say McDonnell.

Difference between Matt Carson and Republicans: “Social issues are the big one. I’m very socially liberal. I am pro-choice. I am very fiscally conservative — which Republicans are not anymore.”

The recent Tea Parties: “I support any type of protest, even if it’s against me. I had some friends that went and it seemed like the message was disjointed. I saw a lot of the pictures of the signs they were holding up and it didn’t seem like there was a clear reason everyone was there.

“I saw anti-Obama signs, anti-health care signs, anti-bailout signs, anti-everything signs rather than a clear cause, but I just love the idea you can say whatever the hell you want in this country.”

Protecting Virginia’s waterways: “A recent report from State Environmental Quality and Chesapeake Bay Foundation said 85 percent of Virginia’s waterways are polluted. Again to me that is failure of leadership. One of the top three priorities of elected officials is protecting our environment so future generations can enjoy it.

“Virginia is one of the most incredible areas in the world and if our state legislature cannot ensure that this environment is here to stay then they’re not doing their job. We need to pass legislation that prevents the dumping of anything into our waterways. That doesn’t cost a dime and that prevents the problem from getting worse.”

Reining in the state budget: “It’s simple — you can’t spend more than what the state makes. Make it a pay-as-you-go state. Republicans and Democrats tend to run on fiscal responsibility, but both parties over the years have gotten us into debt. The tax base the past year has been terrible for state income and they’re dipping into the rainy day fund because the budget’s not balanced.

“What we have to do is make hard choices just like a business or a home does. You’ve got to make cuts because states can’t live in debt — future generations have to pay for that.”

Not hiding behind a political party: “Parties are used as scapegoats too much — when you listen to the news or read an article, it says the Republicans did this or the Democrats did this. I think it would be great if there were a system where people voted more for independents based on what they stood for.

“Then they could say Matt Carson did this or Matt Carson didn’t do that — what a simple system. When that guy screws up, vote him out of office. That’s what the system is built to do.”

Differences between you and incumbent Ed Scott: “The big difference is I’m an independent so I don’t have a party to appease. The other difference is I am not accepting any money from companies with more than 50 employees and I’m not accepting money from political action committees, period.

“I’ve been offered money and I will not accept it because if I’m elected I want to enter the capital with a clear conscious owing nobody except the voter.

“In order to do the things I want to do I’m going to piss people off, that’s the bottom line. In order to clean up Virginia’s rivers, I’m going to piss off companies. In order to take on the budget, I’m going to p*** off interest groups. If you’re tethered by donors, it limits what you can say or do.”

What’s he hearing on the campaign trail: “That’s my favorite part. I would do this all over again, win or lose, just because I love the system of government that we have: that for $50 and a few signatures I can get my name on the ballot.

“If nothing else, by running, you change the dialogue. You bring new issues up. I love more than anything getting out there and talking with people.

“I have heard everything: transportation comes up a lot, health care, the economy. I told everyone I have spoken with I am not running for high school president so I’m not going to sit here and promise you everything. I’m not going to promise you better roads, I’m not going to promise you free health care. What I will do is promise you this is who I am, this is what I stand for and these are what I see as priorities.”

Second Amendment: “I think the laws on Virginia’s books right now are fine. I don’t see any reason to step in there.”

Transportation: “They all bring it up — it’s a top issue in politics. Personally that’s low on my list. I would rank our transportation system a 4 on a scale of 1 to 10, but in terms of my priorities it’s not even on my radar for a first term.”

Growth in Culpeper: “For the most part, I think it is good. I don’t think we’re overcrowded, I think we’re doing a good job of preserving our landscape.”

Looking ahead: “Capitalism has good days and bad days. We will have 10 great years of an economy and a few bad years of an economy and that’s been happening since this country started. It’s nothing new — it’s not great, I’ve been hit hard by it, have had to lay people off, cut expenses.

But I’m an optimist because America’s come back from way harder than this. America’s been bombed, gone into countless wars, Civil Wars, and we always come back.”