Seth King

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Do you support the “Education Freedom Account” program, which gives students access to the per-pupil share of state school funding to spend on private school or home school expenses?

"I am very much a supporter of private schools. This country is tearing itself apart because of the politicization of education. Ideally, parents would send their children to the types of schools they prefer, be they Montessori schools, parochial schools, protestant schools, you name it. There would be much more diversity this way as opposed to the one-size-fits-all approach which has now failed generations of children in this country. That being said, these "education freedom accounts" are a half-measure that could, I'm afraid, lead to greater government control over private education. He who pays the piper picks the tune, as the saying goes. I do not believe Concord or Washington D.C. should have any say in how children are taught. It really shouldn't even be any of their concern. To be clear, I support reducing the size and scope of government. I don't believe in cradle-to-grave government involvement. Imagine how much more happy the country would be if all parents decided where their children went to school and just respected the choice of other parents to teach their children differently?"

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Should New Hampshire ban abortions during the first trimester (e.g. after 6 weeks gestation)?

"I used to be pro-choice for the first 35 years of my life, so I greatly sympathize with people who hold this view. I know all of their talking points because I used them myself routinely. Furthermore, as a small-government libertarian I'm always reticent to ban or criminalize things. But I switched sides for the following reasons. Should government exist? If the answer is yes, then... Should government punish those who destroy *innocent* life? I answer yes. Are the pre-born innocent? I answer yes. Are the pre-born alive? I answer yes. And this is where the real debate comes down. Are the pre-born alive? I think if a person is honest they have to answer yes. Now, that naturally has profound consequences. And because many people are unhappy with these consequences they will lie to themselves and pretend that the pre-born are not alive. But they are alive. And while we may have the *power* to destroy innocent life, it doesn't make it right. Now, that all being said, the pro-life crowd should be careful to really think about the consequences of criminalizing abortion. This sort of action could lead to a slippery slope. For example, if it's okay for the government to punish the killing of the pre-born, what about the harming of the pre-born? Could the government ban women from drinking alcohol or smoking while pregnant? What about eating fatty or sugary foods? As somebody who is a very vocal opponent of the war on drugs, how do I square my pro-life stance with abortifacients that come in a pill form? Clearly, the same government that has utterly failed at preventing people from doing recreational drugs will also fail miserably at stopping abortions with the use of pills. So, in conclusion, the abortion debate is, for an honest and reasonable person, very difficult and nuanced. There are many people on both sides that take an all-or-nothing approach. I'm not one of them. Count me among the many who struggle to find any perfect solution."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Should New Hampshire ban abortions during the second trimester (e.g. after 15 weeks gestation)?

"I used to be pro-choice for the first 35 years of my life, so I greatly sympathize with people who hold this view. I know all of their talking points because I used them myself routinely. Furthermore, as a small-government libertarian I'm always reticent to ban or criminalize things. But I switched sides for the following reasons. Should government exist? If the answer is yes, then... Should government punish those who destroy *innocent* life? I answer yes. Are the pre-born innocent? I answer yes. Are the pre-born alive? I answer yes. And this is where the real debate comes down. Are the pre-born alive? I think if a person is honest they have to answer yes. Now, that naturally has profound consequences. And because many people are unhappy with these consequences they will lie to themselves and pretend that the pre-born are not alive. But they are alive. And while we may have the *power* to destroy innocent life, it doesn't make it right. Now, that all being said, the pro-life crowd should be careful to really think about the consequences of criminalizing abortion. This sort of action could lead to a slippery slope. For example, if it's okay for the government to punish the killing of the pre-born, what about the harming of the pre-born? Could the government ban women from drinking alcohol or smoking while pregnant? What about eating fatty or sugary foods? As somebody who is a very vocal opponent of the war on drugs, how do I square my pro-life stance with abortifacients that come in a pill form? Clearly, the same government that has utterly failed at preventing people from doing recreational drugs will also fail miserably at stopping abortions with the use of pills. So, in conclusion, the abortion debate is, for an honest and reasonable person, very difficult and nuanced. There are many people on both sides that take an all-or-nothing approach. I'm not one of them. Count me among the many who struggle to find any perfect solution."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Should NH add an income tax on earned income?

"Under no circumstances will I support an income tax. It is the most invasive of all of the taxes, requires massive amounts of accounting for compliance, encourages loopholes and punishes the productive. The income tax is the second plank of the ten planks of the Communist Manifesto."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Should NH add a broad-based sales tax?

"I find the sales tax to be one of the least offensive taxes. It's non-invasive to taxpayers' privacy and doesn't require massive amounts of accounting for compliance. Property taxes, on the other hand, are very invasive. I'm offended that state agents get access to the inside of our homes every few years. And furthermore, their property value assessments can be arbitrary and capricious. If the opportunity arose to abolish property taxes in favor of sales taxes, I would strongly consider it. Still, I'm no fan of taxes and would prefer user fees or voluntary taxation when possible."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Should New Hampshire lower business taxes?

"Business taxes increase accounting costs and ultimately get passed onto the consumer. Business taxes do not 'stick it to the man.' Instead they stick it to the little guy, which is all of us."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should New Hampshire add a tax on capital gains?

"There should be no taxes on capital gains."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Should New Hampshire government do more to address climate change?

"There are many environmental problems plaguing the world such as plastic in the oceans, overfishing, landfills, water shortages, deforestation, etc. Unfortunately, all of these problems have been ignored and our focus has been set on the phantom menace of 'climate change.' There simply isn't enough room to fully discuss this topic here, but let it be noted that... #1 carbon dioxide is plant food #2 higher concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere allow plants to grow with less water #3 the planet, according to NASA, is actually getting greener, i.e. more carboniferous vegetation #4 if we want a greener planet, then we have to get more carbon from somewhere #5 the fossil fuels we burn today used to be vegetation above ground when the planet was much greener I live in the country. I love nature and being outdoors. I have a vested interest in protecting not just *the* environment, but *our* environment. Unfortunately, many of the measures taken to protect the environment have had the oppositve effect. If a person truly love nature, they'll keep an open mind and be willing to learn what the "other side" has to say."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Do you support giving voters who register without ID on Election Day a ballot that only counts if they return identifying documents to the state before a deadline?

"On the one hand, I definitely do not support easy avenues for people to cheat. On the other hand, there is an argument to be made that these provisional ballots can give away who a person voted for. I think elections are publiziced well enough, early enough, that there is no excuse not to be registered in time. Same day registrations without an ID should not be allowed."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Should the state do more to encourage municipalities to remove zoning barriers to housing development?

"I'm no huge fan of zoning laws. But I believe in decentralization and localism. The state should have no concern for how local municipalities organize themselves."

Voting Record, 2024

Voted against increasing the maximum electric generating capacity to participate in net energy metering, from one to five megawatts (HB 523)

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Should New Hampshire guarantee the right to access abortion before 24 weeks?

"I used to be pro-choice for the first 35 years of my life, so I greatly sympathize with people who hold this view. I know all of their talking points because I used them myself routinely. Furthermore, as a small-government libertarian I'm always reticent to ban or criminalize things. But I switched sides for the following reasons. Should government exist? If the answer is yes, then... Should government punish those who destroy *innocent* life? I answer yes. Are the pre-born innocent? I answer yes. Are the pre-born alive? I answer yes. And this is where the real debate comes down. Are the pre-born alive? I think if a person is honest they have to answer yes. Now, that naturally has profound consequences. And because many people are unhappy with these consequences they will lie to themselves and pretend that the pre-born are not alive. But they are alive. And while we may have the *power* to destroy innocent life, it doesn't make it right. Now, that all being said, the pro-life crowd should be careful to really think about the consequences of criminalizing abortion. This sort of action could lead to a slippery slope. For example, if it's okay for the government to punish the killing of the pre-born, what about the harming of the pre-born? Could the government ban women from drinking alcohol or smoking while pregnant? What about eating fatty or sugary foods? As somebody who is a very vocal opponent of the war on drugs, how do I square my pro-life stance with abortifacients that come in a pill form? Clearly, the same government that has utterly failed at preventing people from doing recreational drugs will also fail miserably at stopping abortions with the use of pills. So, in conclusion, the abortion debate is, for an honest and reasonable person, very difficult and nuanced. There are many people on both sides that take an all-or-nothing approach. I'm not one of them. Count me among the many who struggle to find any perfect solution."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should the state increase funding for child care providers?

"Child care is the responsibility of parents and guardians, not the taxpayers. In truly needy cases, voluntary charity can step in. Creating more entitlements would only increase Americans' already overly-inflated entitlement mentality."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Do you support New Hampshire’s current system of public school funding, with about two-thirds of total funding coming from local property taxes?

"This is difficult question to answer because it requires significant nuance. But I will say that I am 100% opposed to schools being funded or controlled by Concord or Washington D.C. Again, I support local control and local funding as much as possible."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Should New Hampshire legalize the recreational use of marijuana by allowing home-growing and private use without sales?

"I don't like the way any of these questions are worded. I am 100% for ending the war on drugs, and that includes cannabis. People have the right to grow, use, and sell cannabis, whether the government recognizes that right or not. My goal is to end the government's unjust intrusion into our lives."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Should New Hampshire legalize the recreational use of marijuana by licensing growers and private retail locations?

"I don't like the way any of these questions are worded. I am 100% for ending the war on drugs, and that includes cannabis. People have the right to grow, use, and sell cannabis, whether the government recognizes that right or not. My goal is to end the government's unjust intrusion into our lives."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Should New Hampshire legalize the recreational use of marijuana by establishing state-run cannabis stores?

"I don't like the way any of these questions are worded. I am 100% for ending the war on drugs, and that includes cannabis. People have the right to grow, use, and sell cannabis, whether the government recognizes that right or not. My goal is to end the government's unjust intrusion into our lives."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Should New Hampshire raise the minimum wage?

"We should abolish the minimum wage. A business can pay an intern $0 per hour, but they cannot pay an employee $1 per hour. How does this make sense? Not everybody or every job is worth $15/hour. There are many businesses who would love to hire and train new employees with no experience. But they cannot afford to hire zero-experience employees at minimum wage. Let me give you an example. Imagine a young teenager who wants to work at the local machine shop. He has no experience but he would love to start as the floor sweeper for $3/hour. He lives with his parents and his necessities are paid for, so the wage isn't needed to live on, but it gives him a sense of pride and encourages him to move up the ranks. Eventually, the employer decides to give the kid a chance and work the drill press where there's little chance of hurting himself or breaking anything expensive. He pays the kid $4/hour now. In time the kid learns more machines and his pay increases. It may come that the employer simple doesn't have a full-time position for the kid making $30/hour, but that's okay, because the kid now has machine shop experience. He knows his way around. He knows the names of all of the machines and how to clean and maintain them. And he even knows how to use a couple of the machines. He now has marketable skills that can earn him $10/hour somewhere. Within a few years this kid will become a professional machinist without having to spend tens of thousands of dollars at a trade school, going into debt. If we abolished minimum wage laws there would probably be a lot less people going to schools in professions they later find out they really don't like, only after having gone in to debt for tens of thousands of dollars. Increasing minimum wages, on the other hand, would only remove the bottom rungs of the economic latter and would increase unemployment and welfare."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should New Hampshire add legal protections for residents of other states who travel here for health care related to abortion or gender transition?

"This requires a nuanced response. Regarding abortion, I affirm my pro-life stance, and that life begins at conception. That being said, our current law in New Hampshire is that abortions are legal up until 24 works gestation, as well as any time after with certain exceptions. I fail to see why or how we would deny somebody from out of state an abortion simply because the state they reside in has banned it. Nor do I see how we could protect them from legal ramifications in their own state. But I also fail to see how another state could bring a case against somebody when the abortion didn't happen in their own state, unless maybe the father was against it. I hope everyone can see how tricky of a situation this would be. The response is somewhat similar for gender transitions for children. I affirm my strict stance against it, but whatever the current law is in New Hampshire should be applicable for all, not just New Hampshire residents. But again, it gets tricky when there's a dispute between parents and their residing state has different laws than ours. To be clear, I believe gender transitioning for children should be banned in New Hampshire."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Should New Hampshire repeal the ban on abortion after 24 weeks gestation?

"I used to be pro-choice for the first 35 years of my life, so I greatly sympathize with people who hold this view. I know all of their talking points because I used them myself routinely. Furthermore, as a small-government libertarian I'm always reticent to ban or criminalize things. But I switched sides for the following reasons. Should government exist? If the answer is yes, then... Should government punish those who destroy *innocent* life? I answer yes. Are the pre-born innocent? I answer yes. Are the pre-born alive? I answer yes. And this is where the real debate comes down. Are the pre-born alive? I think if a person is honest they have to answer yes. Now, that naturally has profound consequences. And because many people are unhappy with these consequences they will lie to themselves and pretend that the pre-born are not alive. But they are alive. And while we may have the *power* to destroy innocent life, it doesn't make it right. Now, that all being said, the pro-life crowd should be careful to really think about the consequences of criminalizing abortion. This sort of action could lead to a slippery slope. For example, if it's okay for the government to punish the killing of the pre-born, what about the harming of the pre-born? Could the government ban women from drinking alcohol or smoking while pregnant? What about eating fatty or sugary foods? As somebody who is a very vocal opponent of the war on drugs, how do I square my pro-life stance with abortifacients that come in a pill form? Clearly, the same government that has utterly failed at preventing people from doing recreational drugs will also fail miserably at stopping abortions with the use of pills. So, in conclusion, the abortion debate is, for an honest and reasonable person, very difficult and nuanced. There are many people on both sides that take an all-or-nothing approach. I'm not one of them. Count me among the many who struggle to find any perfect solution."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should NH require local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement?

"Counties and townships are not sovereign entities within New Hampshire. While I generally favor local control over many aspects of governance, criminal laws are created at the state level. We cannot have, for instance, something completely legal in one town that is strictly forbidden in the next, punishable by years in prison. New Hampshire should be helping with the efforts to curb illegal immigration and we cannot allow dens of criminality within our state."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Should NH pass stricter gun control laws?

"Not only should we not pass stricter gun laws, we should be getting rid of any gun laws that are on the books. Gun laws are immoral and unconstitutional and have no place in a free society."