Opinion: Senate election, Matt Waters

With the upcoming Senate election approaching, three Liberty University students explained the policy positions of the candidates.

Matt Waters was born in Hampton, Virginia, and has lived in Virginia all of his life. He works as a fundraiser and consultant. He received his bachelor’s degree from George Mason University and is currently earning a seminary degree from Reformed Theological Seminary. He lives in Fairfax, Virginia, with his wife and five children, according to his campaign website. 

Waters is using the slogan “sic semper tyrannis” for his campaign. It is a Latin phrase that means “thus always to tyrants.” Tyrants should not be tolerated, and that is one of the main points of Waters’ campaign. He is running primarily because of the out-of-control growth and huge amounts of debt caused by the federal government. He does not believe the Founding Fathers would be happy with the current state of the government. 

Matt Waters is for a federal government that operates to protect the rights of the individual. Those rights include the right to life, liberty, property and the pursuit of happiness. With these stipulations, the federal government has overstepped its authority greatly. Waters plans to do what Republicans and Democrats have failed to do — drastically reduce the size of the federal government.

He believes that an individual has the natural right to defend oneself from a threat against person or property, meaning individuals have the right to own and carry firearms. This is not only for hunting or protection from burglary, but also to keep the government in check, so that tyrants might think twice before violating the rights of citizens. 

Waters is 100 percent pro-life. He believes that life is extremely important and should be protected. This means that the fetus in the womb has just as much right to life as someone who is already born. If the government is to exist, then it must protect life. The Libertarian Party also calls for an end of the death penalty, believing that the state makes far too many mistakes and that the right to life is something that shouldn’t be left up to the hands of imperfect humans. 

Waters believes that the free market is the best way to enrich civilized humans. He does not believe that the federal government should have a role in distributing money for the use of charity. He believes that private charity is the best way to take care of the needs of the poor. The market is better equipped to improve lives, and government just gets in the way of economic progress.

On immigration, Waters believes there must be reform. Prospective immigrants wait for years and years to make it into the country because of a flawed system. He believes that there should be more work visas and refugee statuses handed out to peaceful immigrants, and that it should be easier to gain citizenship. He does not believe in a massive, expensive and mostly ineffective wall.

Waters believes that our military spending has become outrageous. We spend more on our military than the next twelve largest countries combined, according to Waters’ website. We have over-extended ourselves and are too involved all over the world. America should not be paying for bombs given to Saudi Arabia for the purpose of killing civilians in Yemen. The founders were fairly non-interventionist, and Waters believes the nation should follow the example that they set. We should have a strong military that is used mainly for defense purposes. 

On Nov. 6 there will be three candidates on the ballot for U.S. Senate in Virginia. Matt Waters will do what the Republicans and Democrats have failed to do. He will work to end the huge amount accumulated debt, cut both spending and the size of the federal government, and work to preserve your individual liberties. If you want to see the Constitution respected again, vote for Matt Waters.