Profile: Bill Gelineau

Name:   Bill Gelineau

Office you are Seeking:  US Congress - 3rd District

Current Profession:  Owner - Real Estate Services Group / Licensed Title Examiner, The Closing Office Title Agency

Age: (optional) 53

Where Do you Live:   Lowell

Marital Status and Children:  Married / Six adult children

 Questionnaire:
 
Why did you decide to run for this office (or for re-election) ?

While recognizing that neither I nor the Democratic candidate has much chance to win in this heavily gerrymandered district, the most important part of the electoral process is the debate of ideas.   As such, I’ve been very disappointed that our current Congressman has chosen to have a “rose garden” strategy of ignoring the voters and avoiding debates and forums.

The ongoing conflicts between the two established political parties (the donkeys and elephants) make solving our problems difficult.   While I am also part of a political party, my election would send a shock wave through Washington that the public is tired of the conflict and want a voice which is not beholden to all the interest groups which fight over the spoils of government.

What particular skill set or experience would you bring to this office?

Life experiences of both struggle and success have provided me with judgment and compassion necessary to help build consensus among people with very different views.    And while heavily involved in my own political activities, there are many issues on which I have the character to seek compromise.

My extensive biography can be found at www.billg-freedom.org .   Most important  in shaping my views are my wife and children (all adults now) which teach us that there is no one solution to problems – and thus much of the doctrinaire rhetoric from both D’s and R’s is more for show than directed toward solutions.   My professional experiences have shown that I can encourage people with very different opinions to work together.

What, in your opinion, is the primary cause for the political polarization that we see in Washington, and what could or should be done about it?

The primary cause is interest group politics.  Both established parties are beholden to interest groups that with to tap into the spending in Washington.   As long as there is a big pile of money, there will be groups willing to work (and spend) to influence how that big pile is spent.

We need fundamental electoral reform.   But rather than attempting to limit the spending of the interest groups, I would work to do two things:  1)  Curb discretionary spending to make the benefits to specials interests less useful; and, 2)  Work to fundamentally change the electoral process to limit the ability of those interests to control the process.

If the deficit is a major concern, how best should we deal with it as a nation, spending cuts, tax increases or both?

We’ve heard a lot about the “financial cliff” or sequester at the end of the year – and how terrible it would be to have broad automatic cuts.   I’m not sure that isn’t exactly what we really need.   The most noise comes from the groups that can’t control the process.    I cover this extensively on my website under the Issues Tab and heading: Economic Policy – It’s the Spending, Stupid.

Some leveling of tax treatment will be called a tax increase by Republicans.   That’s nonsense, of course.   Capital Gains (short term) should not be given more favorable treatment than wages.    I’ve written extensively on this under Tax Policy on my site.

I am the only candidate that has endorsed the Simpson-Bowles Deficit Reduction Plan.   Again, both established parties are so beholden to special interests that they can’t even agree to this basic start to recalibrate our government spending and fix the deficit.

What is the biggest issue facing Michigan that you believe you could positively impact by holding the federal office that you are seeking?

There are so many issues facing our state.   But, the one that concerns me most is the extensive poverty among our families and individuals.   I would work with others in Congress to revamp the many bureaucracies established by long-running programs that haven’t worked.

I will be a loud voice for a total reshaping of our “so-called” anti-poverty programs.    First among these is a complete change in the Drug War.   This effort has stripped the country of resources – both human and monetary – devastating our core cities and imposing a gigantic expense.    This misapplication of government funds has eroded our ability to fund infrastructure improvements needed for the USA to compete in the 21st century.