Five Questions With John Barrow
Five questions with John Barrow
Kyle Dominy interviews Federal District 12 Representative John Barrow (D)
Q) What is your stand on the War on Terror?
A) I don’t support those who want to cut and run. We entered that country, we demolished the government, we disbanded his army, we destroyed his infrastructure, and I think that puts the responsibility on us to see the thing through until the time that the Iraqis can take care of themselves. As soon as that happens, I think we should come home.
Q) You are a big supporter of raising the minimum wage. Do you think that it will help Americans or just contribute to inflation?
A) Study after study has shown that raising minimum wage does not add to inflation, in fact, it pumps the economy because it puts disposable income in the hands of folks who are more likely to dispose of it. It makes folks who work at minimum wage better customers, it makes them better citizens and it makes them better neighbors because it gives them a better living wage. In this country you can work full-time at minimum wage and not make enough to lift your family out of poverty.
Q) You also try to raise awareness for protecting America’s food supply from acts of terrorism. So far, this has not happened on American soil, so why do you think it is something Americans should worry about?
A) I think it is important because it is only a matter of time before an act of terror is directed at our agriculture economy. It’s important because we could suffer huge economic loses in this country without anybody getting sick or without anybody dying. It’s a low cost and incredibly effective way of attacking the economy of this county, which, depending upon how good it is, could affect people’s lives. One out of eight people in this country work in agriculture; one out of six people in Georgia work in agriculture. And we can’t afford an attack that isolates and hits a sector of the agricultural economy, especially if it affects us.
Q) Your opponent, Max Burns, is using a negative campaign strategy. What is your campaign strategy to counter such negative attacks?
A) You can’t stop someone from doing what they want to do. I tend to focus on the things that I fight for and the things that I fight against. I am ranked one of the most independent members of Congress, and I think that is especially important today with the Congress as bitterly divided as it is.
Q) You debated in front of the students of GCSU, how do you encourage America’s young population to vote?
A) I can understand why young people today aren’t as interested in voting as they were when I was coming along. I think we need to help folks understand the connection between the decisions folks are making in Washington and the quality of their life. We need people in Congress who will be on the side of students.
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Sep 1 2006. Filed under News.
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