Shiawassee County 912 Commission

Today, I received a candidate questionnaire from our local Tea Party/912 Commission. I was forewarned that I would be getting one of these in the mail.

The Shiawassee County 912 Commission is more aligned with the Tea Party. I do not have an issue with either of these groups. In fact, I respect the movement in general. I suspect that in the near future, this group will become a recognized political party within the United States.

I have researched both the 912 Project and Tea Party. The 9/12 Project stands for 9 principals and 12 values. Here is a link to their mission statement: the912project

The Tea Party movement is about having a smaller government and less spending. Here is a link to the Tea Party Patriots:Tea Party Patriots

Personally, I have an issue with the candidate questionnaire. First, my opponent Tom Landino is the secretary of this local group. Second, he helped put together these questions.

The conspiracy theorist mind is turning. What if I was to fill this out and the group tabulates my "score" and I get everything wrong. Only they know the right "answers". It would also be fair for me to think that my opponent knows all the "correct" ways to answer these questions that he helped formulate.

Here is one of the questions on the sheet: When does life begin? My opinion is when conception takes place. Others do not feel the same way. This is a Federal issue. I cannot over turn Roe v Wade.

The answers to chose from are : 1. At conception 2. Upon reaching the 3rd trimester 3. At birth. 4. Upon becoming a human being ( age 2)

In all honesty, I can't respond to this request. The questions range from Unions and their affects on society, things that should be enumerated into the Bill of Rights, and types of companies that should receive tax breaks.

From what I understand, this group will send out mailers to registered voters on where each candidate stands on issues and possibly to the local papers. What is their formula for tabulating the answers to these questions? Who will tabulate them?

So if you see that I did not participate, it is not because I am lazy or don't care. I feel as if no matter how I answer, I might not get it right since my opponent helped put these together.