van Brederode, Robert

Meet the Candidate

Party Legend

  • DDemocrat
  • GGreen
  • LLibertarian
  • RRepublican
  • UUnaffiliated

Running For:
NC Senate
District:
13
Political Affiliation:
R
Candidate Website:
https://www.Robert-for-NC.com

Survey

Response Legend

  • YYes
  • NNo
  • UUndecided
  • WView Candidate Comments
  • −No response given by candidate
  • *Comment provided, see Candidate page

Question Response Comments/Notes
1. Should North Carolina parents who choose to educate their children in a non-public school be eligible to receive a state-funded scholarship grant to assist with the cost of tuition and fees? Y* To improve educational outcomes, it is important to introduce an element of competition into the educational market place. A voucher system that allows parents to choose the school that is best for their children would do that. Thus, underperforming schools must either improve their performance or will lose students and funding.
2. Should the N.C. General Assembly authorize non-tribal commercial gambling casinos in North Carolina? Y* I personally don't care for gambling and casinos, and I recognize the danger of and costs associated with gambling addiction. But, it would be odd for government to allow tribal gambling but prohibit anyone else from offering the same gaming services. Casinos certainly bring jobs, economic growth, and generate tax revenue for government. Also, I prefer government to refrain from paternalistic policies by directing citizens what they can and cannot procure or enjoy. Realistically, state government cannot prohibit its citizens to travel to other state to visit casinos or prohibit on-line gambling, so excluding non-tribal operators does not prevent any gambling related negative externalities.
3. Should abortion be prohibited in North Carolina once a fetal heartbeat is detected? Y* Abortion is a difficult topic as there exist good arguments on both sides of the discussion. President Clinton once said that abortion should be legal, safe, and rare. I agree, but the last element, abortions as a rare event, is not what we see right now. A woman certainly can claim physical autonomy, but that does not extend to the body of the unborn baby. Indeed, the fetus resides in her but it remains a separate bodily entity. Of course, there are circumstances under which I as most people believe the right to an abortion should exist, for instance in the rare cases in which the pregnancy is a danger to the woman's life or is likely to cause severe bodily harm to the mother. Or, in cases of rape and incest. But it should never become a form of after the fact birth control. Where to draw the line? The drive in the U.S. to allow late term abortions or even allow termination after the baby is born, is morally repulsive. Most Western countries, including quite liberal ones, pick a point on the timeline of the pregnancy after which abortion is not allowed, except in cases of life or health threatening situations. Three months, for example. That is arbitrary but better than no restriction. In essence, abortion hinges on the balance between a woman's right to choose and the baby's right to live. At some point, the latter must prevail. I think the detection of the baby's heartbeat is a responsible, objective criterion to determine the point after which abortion is no longer allowed, except for cases of health emergencies.
4. Should North Carolina voters be required to show a photo ID in order to vote in North Carolina? Y* Only citizens can vote. Therefore, we must make sure that non-citizens cannot appear on the voter rolls, otherwise citizens’ democratic rights will be diluted. In addition, we must make sure that those who present themselves at the polling place to vote, are who they claim to be to prevent fraud and to protect the integrity of our elections. Our system of self-government cannot work if the citizens loose their trust in the election system.
5. Should the N.C. General Assembly legalize the use of marijuana for medical purposes? Y* But only for medical purposes with doctor's prescription.
6. Should state nondiscrimination laws include "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" as protected classifications? N* Gender dysphoria is a mental disease and should be treated as such. We should be respectful and understanding towards those suffering from that disorder and provide the care they need, but it is counterproductive to give it protected status as this would suggest that it is anything but a disorder.
7. Should biological male students who identify as female be allowed to participate on female sports teams? N* We cannot deny biological reality. Under no circumstance, can males be allowed in female sports. Males have biological advantages over women (more muscle, denser bones, etc.). Therefore, the participation of males in women sports is unfair and takes opportunities, such as scholarships and rewards, away from those who deserve them. Women are entitled to privacy and need to feel safe. Thus, males should not be allowed in women’s locker rooms, rest rooms, and other private places. That is all just common sense.
8. Should organizations that provide abortions be allowed to receive state funds? N* Abortions should be legal up to the detection of the fetal heartbeat, but they should be rare. Most health insurance companies cover abortions, and there is no reason to grow demand for these services by subsidizing the providers.
9. Should North Carolina law allow a medical professional to assist another person in ending their life? -
10. Should a health care practitioner, who is present at the time a child is born alive after a failed abortion attempt, be required by state law to exercise the same degree of skill, care, and diligence to preserve the life and health of that child as would be expected for any other child born alive at the same gestational age? Y* I would hope that is already the law. If not I would most certainly support or introduce legislation to that effect. Such a provision would also be in line with the oath medical practitioners take and no medical professional could therefore seriously object.
11. Should North Carolina public schools be required to allow students to voluntarily participate in “released time” religious instruction during school hours—provided that it takes place off-campus, with parental consent, and at no cost to the public school unit? Y* Schools work for the parents. Parents decide what type of education their children need. Public schools may constitutionally be prohibited from providing religious instruction that aligns with any particular religion or denomination, but as long as schools accommodate all religions and denominations equally, allowing religious instruction on request of the parents, off-campus, and at no cost to the school, should be a requirement to strengthen parents' rights..
12. Should N.C. law (G.S. §90-21.5) continue to allow minors to consent to the treatment of venereal disease or other reportable communicable diseases, pregnancy (not including abortion), abuse of controlled substances or alcohol, and emotional disturbance, without parental consent? N* Parents are the custodians of their children until they come of age. Thus, a precondition for medical treatment should always be parental consent, regardless of the type of disease.
13. Should churches and other qualified religious organizations continue to receive tax-exempt status? N* This is more a federal than a state issue. But in my opinion the tax exemption for charitable and religious organizations is being abused. There are many quite large charitable organizations that are indistinguishable from commercial enterprises but receive preferential tax treatment. That undermines the integrity of our tax system and the principle of equal treatment under the law. That may be less the case for religious organizations, but I think the tax exemptions needs to be reconsidered and, if maintains, be accompanied by strict conditions to prevent abuse.
14. Should a person’s religious beliefs influence the decisions they make while serving in public office? U* Generally, religious beliefs are personal and should play no role in making secular decisions. In public office, one serves the public interest. However, many issues arise where politicians have to make ethical choices and it is simply impossible in those situations to expect public servants to ignore their personal convictions.
15. Should the number of terms a state legislator may serve in the North Carolina General Assembly be limited? Y* Being a legislator should not be a career. You are there to represent your neighbors and the serve the public interest. Long tenure may lead to undesirable concentration of power and corruption.