Frequently Asked Questions – Bartlett Responses

1. How do you propose spending the $1.2 billion surplus?  Return the surplus to the tax payers and continue to downsize government. With such surpluses there is a threat that nanny government programs will further erode individual liberties. Having such surpluses in the hands of a mostly liberal legislature is the most inefficient use of funds and erodes the ability of individuals and businesses to make capital investments which grow the wealth of individuals.

2. In what manner would you return some of the $1.2 billion surplus to the people of North Dakota ? Return the surplus money to where it came from and be cautious not to be redistributing wealth through this return. Remember that the bigger the state budget the less individual liberty we will have because bureaucracies tend to self-justify continual expansion and end in tyranny.

Aim for much less state government supported by a 2% state sales tax. Then taxes become optional based on purchasing choices and liberty from government intrusion into the affairs of individuals and businesses is maximized, as in early America .

Using the ND General Fund Revenue by Major Source table, go down the list and eliminate the first unneeded Revenue Sources from future collection. The first on the list that add up to approximately $1.2 billion would mean eliminating all but 2% of Sales and Use Taxes, all of the Motor Vehicle Excise Taxes, plus all of the Individual Income Taxes from future collections.

3. What is your position on allowing big game hunting on privately owned fenced game operations? Respect private property rights and let the owners decide what to do with their own land. The state should not interfere in any way. Government control of private property is the first plank of the Communist Manifesto.

4. What is your position on the initiated measure to cut Income and Corporate taxes? Good place to start downsizing state government by reducing these feed sources. Looking at the 2007-2009 legislative appropriations pie chart, I would recommend reducing state government operation to “General Government” only as a place to start. That would result in a 90% reduction in spending and revenue collection. North Dakota is presently a socialist state. Socialism has always been the enemy of individual rights such as life, liberty, and property. A 90% reduction in the state budget would make a huge impact on economic development because people would begin moving back to rural ND and start many small businesses because of the lower regulatory and tax and litigation burdens.

5. Is socialism really a problem in North Dakota? Yes, we are thoroughly entrenched in socialist ideas thanks to both Democratic and Republican leaders. In fact, America's Communist Party seems to regard North Dakota as one of their favorite states based on its early adoption of state-owned elevators and publicly owned state bank!

Read what the Communist Party of America says about replacing capitalism with socialism and note that the Democratic Party is saying the same thing as the communists.

They view competition between businesses as setting up class struggles, rather than healthy for the lowest price and highest quality products. And, "It is true: socialism will nationalize or socialize all large-scale production, property and real estate."

After reading Socialism USA, I need to rethink my own participation in the North Central Electric Coop, North Star Community Credit Union, and buying grain from the Bottineau Elevator because of their role in promoting socialism. There are likely better alternatives to choose from.

References 1 2

6. Could you point me to a North Dakota reference that explains more on why North Dakota government should be downsized and how economic development needs to be left to business and not subsidized by the tax payers?

Yes. The North Dakota Policy Council has done an excellent job in providing talking points for those and more issues in this booklet.

Moving Forward: A North Dakotan's Guide to Public Policy

7. What is the difference between socialism and communism?

Socialism is the economic control of the people by government. In other words, socialism is an economic system where the ownership and operation of the means of production and distribution are controlled by the government. According to Marx, socialism is the transitional phase between capitalism and communism. It is the present goal of Communists. Communism is the dream of a classless society based on the incorrect belief that man is inherently good. Man is not inherently good (but sinful by nature) and therefore both socialism and communism are flawed at the root. Here are more details...