Interview
Ted Nugent
Ted Nugent first gained fame during the late 1960s and early 1970s as a guitarist for the Amboy Dukes. Later starting a successful solo career, Nugent has now sold over thirty million records. Nugent has gained fame lately as a conservative political activist, often affiliated with the Tea Party Movement. The Imagineer discussed the economy, the Obama administration, and the state of the Republican Party with Ted Nugent.
Conducted by Alexander D. Farris
Imagineer: What do you feel were the causes of the current economic downturn? Do you think the causes were structural or circumstantial, caused by greedy bankers or caused by a structural inadequacy of capitalism?
Nugent: Though the sundry causes leading up to the economic collapse go back to a long history of government intrusion, corruption, disconnect, and blatant irresponsibility, including violations of the U.S. Constitution, most notably the New (raw) Deal and the (not so) Great Society, it is more than obvious that the flagrant, insane spending orgy by brain-dead bureaucrats alone would have been enough to cripple any economy anywhere. With Obama bringing about a whole new vulgar degree of accountability abandonment, the rails have been terminally greased for America's once great capitalist train to derail at an all-time laughable warp speed.
Imagineer: How do you believe the Obama administration has handled the situation, and would you have done anything differently?
Nugent: Obama has taken the concept of corrupt bureaucrats to a whole-new, obscene low. Not only would I have done everything much differently, I always have done things much differently in our own household. It's called living within your means, spending prudently, and saving for a rainy day. Bling-bling and blubber are not essentials for quality of life.
Imagineer: As a lifelong resident of Michigan, how does it feel to see your state's economy flounder around helplessly? Who is to blame for this, and do you have a solution?
Nugent: It breaks my heart. Try this on for size Michigan—and America: We are an apple orchard. We cannot spend more to grow and sell our apples than we take in from the sales. Wild, huh.
Imagineer: You have been quoted several times as saying that you may run for political office. If you were to run for office, what would be your intentions with regard to the economy?
Nugent: Slash the living hell out of the waste and corruption and the outrageous army of do-nothing bureaucrats. I would fire every government worker whose job I would deem to be redundant and wasteful. No able-bodied human being would ever get a handout again. Welfare would end. Period. Families, churches, and charities would cover the basics for those truly in need. I would instantly cut taxes and illogical regulations across the board in order to create an entrepreneur friendly environment in what should once again be the most productive state in the nation.
Imagineer: In regards to Iraq and the U.S. war strategy, you have said that "our failure has been not to Nagasaki them," and in your most recent book, Ted, White, and Blue, you explain how war could be the answer to many of our current political problems. Do you think Michigan and other states heavily affected by the economic downturn should lobby for a more "Nugent-ized" war approach and attempt to attract factories needed to supply such an approach in order to grow the local economy?
Nugent: I stand by total warfare against our enemies, ASAP, like in now. I also believe the Tea Party movement is indeed a lobbying voice for what I and the vast majority of productive Americans believe in.
Imagineer: Who would you like to see on the Republican Party presidential ticket in 2010?
Nugent: I dearly admire Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, and Sarah Palin, just to name a few. But I will say this: Upon honest examination of most issues, Glenn Beck is my favorite American voice out there today. Glenn would be the first to tell you that there must be someone perfect for the job other than him, but I have not seen that person yet. For now, I pray very hard.
Next: Dennis Kucinich