Nov. 2014: 8th District U.S. House of Representatives: Rick Vandeven

__Name:__ Rick Vandeven

__Age:__ 42

__Place of birth:__ Cape Girardeau

__Spouse's, children's names:__ Darlene - wife

Autumn, Amber, and Rori Beth - daughters

__Education:__

St. Ambrose Parochial School, Chaffee

Notre Dame Regional High School, Cape Girardeau

Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau

__Occupation:__ Technician

__Employer:__ Paper industry

__Businesses owned, all or part:__ N/A

__Public offices held or sought; give dates:__ US Representative MO-8th CD - 2010, 2012, 2014 (Candidate)

__Website:__ www.lpmo.org

__Email:__ rickvandeven@sbcglobal.net

__Phone:__ 573-318-5564

__Poverty is among the top issues throughout Missouri's 8th District. What are your strategies to improve the district's economy and create more jobs?:__

Congress could easily remove cannabis from the Schedule 1 list of drugs, and allow Missouri farmers, entrepreneurs, and manufacturers to enter the industrial hemp industry. Amazingly enough, there are over $500 million worth of industrial hemp products purchased in the US, and hemp is illegal to produce. The potential for industrial hemp as a Missouri cash crop will never be realized until Congress gets out the way.

__A constant criticism of Congress is gridlock caused by party clashes. What efforts would you make to work with both parties to pass bills that will improve the state and the district?:__

The Libertarian Party platform really reflects how most people live their lives. A Libertarian elected to Congress would find allies on both sides of the aisle. From anti-war and socially liberal Democrats, to anti-tax and constitutional Republicans; Libertarians can find a lot of common ground with some members of the duopoly parties. The only criteria that I would have regarding my votes is whether or not the legislation benefits some at the expense of others.

__Do you approve of the U.S. airstrikes against ISIS?:__

NO! The US has already spent over $4 trillion fighting the "war on terror". Hundreds of thousands of people have lost their lives. Our troops return home from multiple deployments, find it difficult to adapt to the "new economy", and commit suicide in droves. Veterans' medical care is never considered when starting new wars. It is time to leave the Middle East, and allow those countries that are most affected by ISIS to fight them.

__Do you support the Keystone XL Pipeline project?:__

No. Trans Canada wants to complete the project to pipe bitumen from Alberta, to oil refineries in the Gulf for sale to emerging global markets. In Texas, over 100 tracts of private property were condemned to complete a stretch of the KXLP. Farmers, ranchers, and other property owners are currently fighting eminent domain abuse in other states. I believe that it is wrong to use eminent domain for the benefit of a private foreign corporation.

__Closing remarks:__

Congressional approval ratings rank them somewhere between body odor, and tooth decay. Yet 90% of incumbents will be re-elected. This makes no sense.

Incumbents don't worry about elections. When we receive enough votes, third party candidates remind incumbents that the voters are watching, and they must keep that in mind when casting legislative votes. That is important.

I hope that you will consider voting Libertarian this year. I will appreciate your vote. Thanks!