Full Version: Your bid for the Presidency
I thought this would be a great exercise for the casual forum.
Here you will lay out your bid for the presidency if you were to run.
Have Fun!
If I am elected president of the United States of America, I would:
1. End all foreign aid and redirect those funds towards Education, medical research, and protecting our own borders.
2. Abolish the IRS and remove all loopholes. Everyone pays a flat income tax of 15% on a monthly basis.
3. Work to pass an amendment where the electoral college is divided by the percentage of votes for each candidate. Example if one candidate gets 45% of the popular vote, he receives 45% of the electoral votes for that state.
4. Allow the option of privatized social security.
5. Penalize companies for moving their manufacturing out of the US
6. Levy fees on businesses if they out source of out the country.
7. Regulate businesses to where a CEO/Board cannot collect bonuses if that companies balance sheet is in the red.
8. Drill in ANWR.
Here you will lay out your bid for the presidency if you were to run.
Have Fun!
If I am elected president of the United States of America, I would:
1. End all foreign aid and redirect those funds towards Education, medical research, and protecting our own borders.
2. Abolish the IRS and remove all loopholes. Everyone pays a flat income tax of 15% on a monthly basis.
3. Work to pass an amendment where the electoral college is divided by the percentage of votes for each candidate. Example if one candidate gets 45% of the popular vote, he receives 45% of the electoral votes for that state.
4. Allow the option of privatized social security.
5. Penalize companies for moving their manufacturing out of the US
6. Levy fees on businesses if they out source of out the country.
7. Regulate businesses to where a CEO/Board cannot collect bonuses if that companies balance sheet is in the red.
8. Drill in ANWR.
Hey Sleeper, I didn't realize you had a liberal streak to you 
.
If I were to run for President, I would run on the following platform:
My basic campaign themes would be "Choice, not chance, determines destiny" (my personal mantra) and "Help people help themselves."
Reform of welfare programs. I would implement a nationwide system of government run cafeterias where anyone can eat for free. At the same time, I would eliminate most federal income supplements (welfare). I think the cafeteria system would eliminate some of the stigma associated with food stamps and it eliminates the discrimination of having to produce identification indicating that you are poor enough to eat there. This would eliminate hunger overnight in America, probably for less money than the current subsidizing of cigarettes, booze, and junk food in lower class America.
Tax system reform. I also am for a flat tax, with a $30,000 deductable. All income over $30k is taxed at a flat 17% (or whatever rate works, I haven't run the numbers).
A freeze on ALL incremental increases in all budgets, across the board. This would move us very close to balancing the budget, without cutting anything (but there would be no increases for the year).
Get some refineries built in the US. Although it takes a decade to construct one, I would get started on projects to increase the US's refining capacity through tax incentives.
Crack down on illegal immigration. This will necessitate an increase in the budget in the Customs and Immigration areas.
Iraq: stay the course until the elections in January. At that point, we would need to coordinate with Iraqis to determine what role they want us to play in Iraq's future. At their request, we would withdraw. Given our level of financial support to Iraq, I doubt that would happen.
War on Terror: re-issue Bush's warning that we will punish any government that harbors terrorists. Specifically, I would call Iran and Syria onto the carpet, loudly and publicly. Iran must dismantle its nuclear program or face "serious consequences"--including bombing of the suspect sites. Certainly I would require evidence of their nuclear energy program (plant locations and designs, energy studies on the reasons for going with nuclear power over oil power, demographic studies, etc.) The nuclear energy excuse is a sham and I would expose it as such.
Free trade would be the basis of my trade policy. None of these silly "outsourcing" rhetoric junk. The US benefits from outsourcing more than any other country. Manufacturing jobs in the US are not gone due to outsourcing, they are gone thanks to productivity improvements (manufacturing jobs world wide have been declining for decades). No tariffs on foreign goods, nor subsidies of domestic goods.
I guess that's enough talking points for now...
.If I were to run for President, I would run on the following platform:
My basic campaign themes would be "Choice, not chance, determines destiny" (my personal mantra) and "Help people help themselves."
Reform of welfare programs. I would implement a nationwide system of government run cafeterias where anyone can eat for free. At the same time, I would eliminate most federal income supplements (welfare). I think the cafeteria system would eliminate some of the stigma associated with food stamps and it eliminates the discrimination of having to produce identification indicating that you are poor enough to eat there. This would eliminate hunger overnight in America, probably for less money than the current subsidizing of cigarettes, booze, and junk food in lower class America.
Tax system reform. I also am for a flat tax, with a $30,000 deductable. All income over $30k is taxed at a flat 17% (or whatever rate works, I haven't run the numbers).
A freeze on ALL incremental increases in all budgets, across the board. This would move us very close to balancing the budget, without cutting anything (but there would be no increases for the year).
Get some refineries built in the US. Although it takes a decade to construct one, I would get started on projects to increase the US's refining capacity through tax incentives.
Crack down on illegal immigration. This will necessitate an increase in the budget in the Customs and Immigration areas.
Iraq: stay the course until the elections in January. At that point, we would need to coordinate with Iraqis to determine what role they want us to play in Iraq's future. At their request, we would withdraw. Given our level of financial support to Iraq, I doubt that would happen.
War on Terror: re-issue Bush's warning that we will punish any government that harbors terrorists. Specifically, I would call Iran and Syria onto the carpet, loudly and publicly. Iran must dismantle its nuclear program or face "serious consequences"--including bombing of the suspect sites. Certainly I would require evidence of their nuclear energy program (plant locations and designs, energy studies on the reasons for going with nuclear power over oil power, demographic studies, etc.) The nuclear energy excuse is a sham and I would expose it as such.
Free trade would be the basis of my trade policy. None of these silly "outsourcing" rhetoric junk. The US benefits from outsourcing more than any other country. Manufacturing jobs in the US are not gone due to outsourcing, they are gone thanks to productivity improvements (manufacturing jobs world wide have been declining for decades). No tariffs on foreign goods, nor subsidies of domestic goods.
I guess that's enough talking points for now...
All right, I'll bite.
* Invert the tax system
The federal government would collect taxes from the states with a reasonable calculation (still need to think about what that would be). The states would collect taxes from their citizens how they see fit. Barring Constitutional constraints/mandates, the federal government would by and large be a parasite of states rather than individual citizens.
* Vote reform
Specifically, rank order voting or a similar scheme. Also, proportional representation for the electoral college.
* Restrain government spending
The federal government is huge and getting huger (particuarly under Dubya). We need to spend within our means and we need to reduce our means. No "borrow and spend" economics if you please. I like Amlord's idea of freezing spending increases.
* Reform how laws are passed
Laws are in effect experiments and we should treat them as such. Before a law is to be passed, it must have the following:
a. enumerated goals
b. criteria for achieving those goals
c. techniques to measure those criteria
d. failure modes
e. time frame
If failure modes are met, then the law is automatically rescinded reverting back to pre-passage. If goals are not achieved within the timeframe, then lawmakers must re-evaluate the law within a certain time limit (outlined in the law itself) and if unable to do so, it is automatically rescinded. Finally, laws cannot contain any "off-topic" items (that is, no pork).
* Line-item veto and line-item veto congressional override
* Iraq
I don't have a good solution here. I'm feeling pretty cynical at this point. We stirred the hornets' nest and it turned out to be a whole bunch of nests. Clearly, invading a country based on...shall we say...less than accurate intelligence and wishful thinking would not be part of my platform. But, since I'd be replacing Dubya, it would be an improvement
.
Um...that's enough for now, I suppose.
* Invert the tax system
The federal government would collect taxes from the states with a reasonable calculation (still need to think about what that would be). The states would collect taxes from their citizens how they see fit. Barring Constitutional constraints/mandates, the federal government would by and large be a parasite of states rather than individual citizens.
* Vote reform
Specifically, rank order voting or a similar scheme. Also, proportional representation for the electoral college.
* Restrain government spending
The federal government is huge and getting huger (particuarly under Dubya). We need to spend within our means and we need to reduce our means. No "borrow and spend" economics if you please. I like Amlord's idea of freezing spending increases.
* Reform how laws are passed
Laws are in effect experiments and we should treat them as such. Before a law is to be passed, it must have the following:
a. enumerated goals
b. criteria for achieving those goals
c. techniques to measure those criteria
d. failure modes
e. time frame
If failure modes are met, then the law is automatically rescinded reverting back to pre-passage. If goals are not achieved within the timeframe, then lawmakers must re-evaluate the law within a certain time limit (outlined in the law itself) and if unable to do so, it is automatically rescinded. Finally, laws cannot contain any "off-topic" items (that is, no pork).
* Line-item veto and line-item veto congressional override
* Iraq
I don't have a good solution here. I'm feeling pretty cynical at this point. We stirred the hornets' nest and it turned out to be a whole bunch of nests. Clearly, invading a country based on...shall we say...less than accurate intelligence and wishful thinking would not be part of my platform. But, since I'd be replacing Dubya, it would be an improvement
.Um...that's enough for now, I suppose.
Great topic Sleeper!
1. Eliminate the department of homeland security, the CIA, the FBI, the NSA and any other similar organization. The functions of all of these organizations would be consolidated into a single department that would operate from a single source of information with no walls between groups.
2. Immediately roll back the Patriot Act in its entirity and call for a study to be conducted to determine what other pieces of legislation infringe upon civil liberties.
3. Completely gut the IRS and the tax code. Every Individual and Corporation would pay a flat tax, there would be no loopholes. The percentage would be agreed upon once a study on the cost of government was conducted.
4. Implement Universal Healthcare as laid out by Kucinich in this thread.
5. Author an amendment to the constitution that would alter the way delegates are sent to the electoral college. Delegates would be sent in proportion to the popular vote in each state. Also, voting would be done in an instant runoff fashion which would allow people to rank candidates and give third parties an in to the system.
6. Author legislation to set a cut off date for social security in order to phase it out. Everyone over a certain age would receive full benefits, there would be a middle bracket that would receive 50% of benefits and the bottom bracket of ages would receive no benefits. A sister law would be passed requiring all employers to offer their employees a 401K program and 15 hours of educational training on 401k's regardless of whether the employee was hourly, salaried, full time or part time.
7. Implement sweeping welfare reform to no longer provide direct financial assitance to anyone. In its place we would implement a Care not Cash program similar to the one currently in place in San Francisco. This program would provide shelter/housing, food, job and educational training and employment.
8. End the "war on drugs" as we know it and focus effort on treatment, education and prevention instead. Legalize Marajuana, Mushrooms and other recreational drugs but subject them to regulation and high taxation.
9. Legalize prostitution and subject the industry to strict regulation and controls as laid out in the Nevada model.
10. Immediately legalize homosexual marriage and allow the full benefits and title of marriage.
11. Launch an agressive plan to rid ourselves of oil dependence within 10 years. This would be done by drastically increasing fuel economy standards to at least what they are in Europe and the UK currently, making heavy investments in public transit, incentivizing research in renewable energy sources, providing tax credits for the purchase of vehicles using renewable energy, provide tax credits for the construction of infrastructure to dispense renewable energy.
12. Launch an agressive plan to combat global warming, and protect the environment and our national parks. All Grandfathered regulations on factories would immediately be revoked giving them 1 year to modify their operations for today's standards.
13. Remove barriers to free trade and launch agressive programs to retrain workers for new jobs and invest in the industries that will carry America forward.
14. Launch a campaign to improve public health by loudly speaking out against fast food and junk food companies.
15. Call for a complete accounting of all government functions so that redundant and useless departments and positions can be eliminated so that only vital services are left. Additionally, all government departments will be completely modernized to take advantage of the latest technology where it would benefit them.
16. Agressively pay down the deficit and start a program to invest the government's money in other nations for the purposes of stimulating the global economy and generating passive income to supplement tax revenues.
17. Implement the line-item veto.
18. Send an army of social workers into our inner cities to talk with people, find out what their story is, offer advice and assist them in using government programs.
That is all for now I think. I may offer more later, that was actually a lot of fun
Edited to add: Forgot a big one. The government would be run more according to the way business works, not the way it works now. Departments would be rewarded for being efficient and not using their entire budget. The practice of use it or lose it would be eliminated.
1. Eliminate the department of homeland security, the CIA, the FBI, the NSA and any other similar organization. The functions of all of these organizations would be consolidated into a single department that would operate from a single source of information with no walls between groups.
2. Immediately roll back the Patriot Act in its entirity and call for a study to be conducted to determine what other pieces of legislation infringe upon civil liberties.
3. Completely gut the IRS and the tax code. Every Individual and Corporation would pay a flat tax, there would be no loopholes. The percentage would be agreed upon once a study on the cost of government was conducted.
4. Implement Universal Healthcare as laid out by Kucinich in this thread.
5. Author an amendment to the constitution that would alter the way delegates are sent to the electoral college. Delegates would be sent in proportion to the popular vote in each state. Also, voting would be done in an instant runoff fashion which would allow people to rank candidates and give third parties an in to the system.
6. Author legislation to set a cut off date for social security in order to phase it out. Everyone over a certain age would receive full benefits, there would be a middle bracket that would receive 50% of benefits and the bottom bracket of ages would receive no benefits. A sister law would be passed requiring all employers to offer their employees a 401K program and 15 hours of educational training on 401k's regardless of whether the employee was hourly, salaried, full time or part time.
7. Implement sweeping welfare reform to no longer provide direct financial assitance to anyone. In its place we would implement a Care not Cash program similar to the one currently in place in San Francisco. This program would provide shelter/housing, food, job and educational training and employment.
8. End the "war on drugs" as we know it and focus effort on treatment, education and prevention instead. Legalize Marajuana, Mushrooms and other recreational drugs but subject them to regulation and high taxation.
9. Legalize prostitution and subject the industry to strict regulation and controls as laid out in the Nevada model.
10. Immediately legalize homosexual marriage and allow the full benefits and title of marriage.
11. Launch an agressive plan to rid ourselves of oil dependence within 10 years. This would be done by drastically increasing fuel economy standards to at least what they are in Europe and the UK currently, making heavy investments in public transit, incentivizing research in renewable energy sources, providing tax credits for the purchase of vehicles using renewable energy, provide tax credits for the construction of infrastructure to dispense renewable energy.
12. Launch an agressive plan to combat global warming, and protect the environment and our national parks. All Grandfathered regulations on factories would immediately be revoked giving them 1 year to modify their operations for today's standards.
13. Remove barriers to free trade and launch agressive programs to retrain workers for new jobs and invest in the industries that will carry America forward.
14. Launch a campaign to improve public health by loudly speaking out against fast food and junk food companies.
15. Call for a complete accounting of all government functions so that redundant and useless departments and positions can be eliminated so that only vital services are left. Additionally, all government departments will be completely modernized to take advantage of the latest technology where it would benefit them.
16. Agressively pay down the deficit and start a program to invest the government's money in other nations for the purposes of stimulating the global economy and generating passive income to supplement tax revenues.
17. Implement the line-item veto.
18. Send an army of social workers into our inner cities to talk with people, find out what their story is, offer advice and assist them in using government programs.
That is all for now I think. I may offer more later, that was actually a lot of fun
Edited to add: Forgot a big one. The government would be run more according to the way business works, not the way it works now. Departments would be rewarded for being efficient and not using their entire budget. The practice of use it or lose it would be eliminated.
No more victimless crimes. Drugs, prostitution, etc., are completely legal.
No protecting people from themselves (seat belt laws, etc.)
No obscenity laws.
Marry a man, woman, gerbil, or lava lamp, it's not the government's business.
The right to bear arms shall not be infringed. Period.
No foreign aid to anyone, unless there is some SERIOUS quid pro quo going on.
No military intervention anywhere. However, if someone so much as sneezes in our direction, the policy will be EXTREME retaliation. The way Genghis Khan did it, you kill one of my people, I kill 100 of yours, you destroy one of my buildings, I destroy one of your cities. If the price of terrorism is high enough, the government/citizens of every Arab country will be running like headless chickens trying to find all the terrorists before they do something stupid and get them killed.
Without drug war, and policing the world, we would have a lot of free military resources. Which I would then use to secure our borders. I'm talking mine fields, Apaches, the works. If someone breaks into my house I wouldn't stop to ask why, if someone breaks into my country I also wouldn't stop to ask why.
Abortions are 100% legal, at any point in the pregnancy.
Education is the responsibility of each state.
Religion and government will be 100% separate. Period. No faith based anything.
Before ANYTHING is banned, the government must show DIRECT and irrefutable harm resulting from it, not from something associated with it.
It shall be illegal for the letters I R and S to be anywhere near each other. Seriously though, abolish the mess that is our tax system, either in favor of a flat tax, or a national sales tax.
Free trade all the way.
Stop eminent domain.
Intellectual property will have patents that expire, just like everything else.
Decriminalize cybersquatting. Having the foresight to buy up profitable domain names is no different than having the foresight to buy up profitable real estate.
Our Constitution is a contract. If i cannot call up my bank and tell them that my car loan agreement is a "living document" there is no reason it should be done with the Constitution.
The Bill of Rights is absolute.
A guaranteed right to privacy. No government spying on citizens. Let the donut squad work for a change, maybe they'll shed a few pounds.
Conversely, no guaranteed right to privacy for visitors. You want to come in? These are the terms, take it or leave it. If you want to come into my house, you can take your shoes off, or leave. If you want to come into my country let us check you out or leave, my house my rules. The Constitution does not apply to the whole world.
That's it for now, I'm sure I'll be able to think of some more stuff later, being that I don't like much of ANYTHING that is actually happening.
No protecting people from themselves (seat belt laws, etc.)
No obscenity laws.
Marry a man, woman, gerbil, or lava lamp, it's not the government's business.
The right to bear arms shall not be infringed. Period.
No foreign aid to anyone, unless there is some SERIOUS quid pro quo going on.
No military intervention anywhere. However, if someone so much as sneezes in our direction, the policy will be EXTREME retaliation. The way Genghis Khan did it, you kill one of my people, I kill 100 of yours, you destroy one of my buildings, I destroy one of your cities. If the price of terrorism is high enough, the government/citizens of every Arab country will be running like headless chickens trying to find all the terrorists before they do something stupid and get them killed.
Without drug war, and policing the world, we would have a lot of free military resources. Which I would then use to secure our borders. I'm talking mine fields, Apaches, the works. If someone breaks into my house I wouldn't stop to ask why, if someone breaks into my country I also wouldn't stop to ask why.
Abortions are 100% legal, at any point in the pregnancy.
Education is the responsibility of each state.
Religion and government will be 100% separate. Period. No faith based anything.
Before ANYTHING is banned, the government must show DIRECT and irrefutable harm resulting from it, not from something associated with it.
It shall be illegal for the letters I R and S to be anywhere near each other. Seriously though, abolish the mess that is our tax system, either in favor of a flat tax, or a national sales tax.
Free trade all the way.
Stop eminent domain.
Intellectual property will have patents that expire, just like everything else.
Decriminalize cybersquatting. Having the foresight to buy up profitable domain names is no different than having the foresight to buy up profitable real estate.
Our Constitution is a contract. If i cannot call up my bank and tell them that my car loan agreement is a "living document" there is no reason it should be done with the Constitution.
The Bill of Rights is absolute.
A guaranteed right to privacy. No government spying on citizens. Let the donut squad work for a change, maybe they'll shed a few pounds.
Conversely, no guaranteed right to privacy for visitors. You want to come in? These are the terms, take it or leave it. If you want to come into my house, you can take your shoes off, or leave. If you want to come into my country let us check you out or leave, my house my rules. The Constitution does not apply to the whole world.
That's it for now, I'm sure I'll be able to think of some more stuff later, being that I don't like much of ANYTHING that is actually happening.
Hmmm.... If I were president.....
(cue wavy dream scenario fade)
I. Foreign Policy:
1. Stop all trade with China. Sorry, but I prefer my fireworks and shoes to be made by the hands of someone 18 years or older. Stop obliterating human rights, stop your opression of democracy, and get the hell out of Tibet...and then MAYBE we'll talk. Oh, and by the way, we're increasing trade with Taiwan and recognizing Taiwan as an independent nation. You never had claim to Formosa...get over it.
2. Do the same with Vietnam (and if need be) Cuba. Vietnam, your record on human rights is nothing short of despicable. I can have Nikes made somewhere where else... A place where Catholics and Buddhists can practice their faith completely free from oppression. Oh, and Cuba.... I don't care what the Pope says (with all due respect). Your still eight shades of jacked up as far as rights are concerned.
3. North Korea... your human rights are absolutely atrocious. You wanna build nukes and endanger your neighbors? Fine. We will put the squeeze on you by pulling out of South Korea and arming the hell out of South Korea (they have pretty itchy trigger fingers themselves... Oh, and by the way, we'll just propose that...
4. Japan change it's constitution and be allowed to have a standing army. It might be thin, but don't think the Japanese won't sit idly by while you terrorize NorthEast Asia.
5. Pull all troops and financial support out of Saudi Arabia and the rest of the Gulf region within ten years. You want us out? Fine by me. We'll get our oil from somewhere else while we develop alt-energy plans.
6. On states that sponsor terrorism and/or disregard human rights. In the event that were still giving you foreign aid... done. No more. Bye. BYE. If we didn't and you feel the need to back groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, and Al-Qaeda; oppress any or all parts of your citizenry; or decide to build weapons programs that are deemed as offensive... we well put the squeeze on you so tight, you'll think Spandex is back in style. We're not afraid to diplomatically neuter you. We'll talk to whoever will listen and get the entire world to vote you off the island until you change or the people force you to. And if it's decided it's necessary, we will act "de oppresso liber". Be prepared to see that motto a lot if you try to screw around.
7. Israel/Palestine: We are for Israel's right to exist. We are also for an independent Palestinian state (free and democratic). Here's our stance. We will help achieve a Palestinian state as long as Israel remains secure. We will not talk with any far-left or right wing figures in this quest. Sharon. Done. Arafat, you don't know when to stop. Face it. You've been done for awhile. When moderate figures from both sides are allowed to be apart of creating a peaceful resolution, then we will talk. Until then, we will stop arming Israel but will support their right to defend themselves (in a rational fashion...11 dead Palestinian kids is not appropriate collateral damage for a "Hamas leader".) To Palestinians... we will help push for a state of your own. But the longer you let people like Arafat represent you, the longer you allow terrorism to fester in your neighborhoods, the longer it will take for that goal to be achieved.
8. Push for more democratic, free, and healthy Sub-Saharan Africa. People like Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe are making lives for Africans hell. We need to provide NPO's such as Amnesty International, the Red Cross, Docs/Nurses without borders with as much support as they can handle...and then some more. We need to make sure we commit more than enough time and money to these groups in order to combat disease, famine, and oppression there. It's time that Africa step into the 21st century.
9. Miscellaneous:
Turkey and Iraq....get ready for an independent Kurdistan. We'll hire babysitters if we have to, but by God, if any one you three act out... so help me... Oh, and Indonesia... if we see what with saw with East Timor/ Ache again.....
II. Domestic Policy
1. Illegal Immigration: I don't care how long you've ben here, if you haven't made an attempt at becoming a citizen, pack your bags. Starting on a date soon after my inauguration, if you're caught crossing the border, instant deportation. Unless you're seeking asylum of some sort (in which case you will have your case heard within 48 hours and a judge will decide right there on the spot based on your specific situation), pack your bags. Beginning on the aforementioned date, any illegal immigrants not found yet that are residing in the US have two weeks to declare their intent to become a citizen. They will be given documentation to make sure they do not fall into any loopholes and are sent back. Go through the system.... there's a reason why it's there.
2. Taking care of the mentally/physically handicapped is an issue very dear to my heart. My brother has a severe case of Cerebal Palsy. At one point, my parents will be unable to care for him and attend to his needs. They shouldn't have to even question the quality of care that their son will be receiving. Yet, there are some places that have been so horribly run, it's absolutely sickening. This is why I will make sure, a) state organizations and the private companies that fall under them pass care standards that will ensure that those who depend on us are not failed by us. This will also include hiring standards that make sure only the best qualified are hired as caregivers. b ) cash incentives will be given to people that want to enter this field. c) increase the amount of money families get for taking care of a disabled child.
3. Abortion: This issue has divided this nation for over thirty years and I imagine my proposals will not be agreed on by everybody.
Abortion will be banned unless in the case where the woman is raped or her life is in danger. Partial-birth will certainly stay banned. If you need 5-6 months to decide whether or not you need to keep a child, you need your tubes tied. Let's start taking responsiblity for our actions people.
4. Alternative energy: We need to find alternative energy sources and fast. Our national reserves are up in 2012 and America will not continue to be dependent on foreign nations for energy. Therefore, I will propose that current auto companies will be barred from buying patents from others in the private sector that involve automobiles that run on alternative energy. In fact, we will begin providing cash incentives (R/D loans, grants, tax breaks) to companies and individuals who aggressively seek alternative fuel/energy sources. I don't care if it's Bio-Diesel, Solar, Lunar, Electric, Hydro-electric, alcohol, ethanol, whatever. All I know that we need to conserve our petroleum for other things like plastic and not SUV's who get 20 mpg.
5. Ensuring the environment remains protected. The alt-energy policy will be reflected in this. Harsher penalties for companies that abuse the environment and refuse to respect it.
6. Homelessness: We have to eliminate this problem. We first have to assess whether some need mental health care and for others we ask one question. "What is keeping you from working and contributing to society?" I propose training these people for entry level jobs in a field that suits them and help them find work. As far as housing goes, there are vacant lots all across the nation where housing can be easily established, if only temporary.
7. Drugs: I am open to legalizing recreational drugs, i.e. Mushrooms, Marijuana, Peyote, a.k.a. any drug that can be obtained and used in its natural state. These drugs will only be sold by people who obtain licenses, and one will only be granted a licence after meeting (pardon the pun) high standards. The legal age to purchase and possess these substances will be 21. They will be regulated by each state, with the Federal government setting the bar for licensing standards, age requirements, and taxing. Hardcore drugs such as Cocaine, Heroin, Methamphetamine, PCP, LSD, etc. will continue to be illegal.
8. Gay Marriage: Same sex marriages will be allowed. The religious right and ultra-conservatives can scream about values and the Bible all they want, as long as the heterosexual divorce rate in this nation is at 1 in every 2 (and don't forget, the Old Testament speaks out on divorce), they have no solid argument.
9. There will be no laws dictating what one can do or not in their home, as long as it doesn't violate standing law or endanger the lives of other people. If you wanna drink lighter fluid and pee fire in your asbestos laden bathroom, I will flick the Bic (thanks Dennis Miller!). But as soon as you decide to do something that puts my loved ones at risk... you're done. With great power comes great responsibility. don't screw it up.
This is all just for starters...
Vote Reta/McCain in 2020!
Edited to add that I'd propose the Electoral College be abolished and we go to a "one man, one vote" election process.
(cue wavy dream scenario fade)
I. Foreign Policy:
1. Stop all trade with China. Sorry, but I prefer my fireworks and shoes to be made by the hands of someone 18 years or older. Stop obliterating human rights, stop your opression of democracy, and get the hell out of Tibet...and then MAYBE we'll talk. Oh, and by the way, we're increasing trade with Taiwan and recognizing Taiwan as an independent nation. You never had claim to Formosa...get over it.
2. Do the same with Vietnam (and if need be) Cuba. Vietnam, your record on human rights is nothing short of despicable. I can have Nikes made somewhere where else... A place where Catholics and Buddhists can practice their faith completely free from oppression. Oh, and Cuba.... I don't care what the Pope says (with all due respect). Your still eight shades of jacked up as far as rights are concerned.
3. North Korea... your human rights are absolutely atrocious. You wanna build nukes and endanger your neighbors? Fine. We will put the squeeze on you by pulling out of South Korea and arming the hell out of South Korea (they have pretty itchy trigger fingers themselves... Oh, and by the way, we'll just propose that...
4. Japan change it's constitution and be allowed to have a standing army. It might be thin, but don't think the Japanese won't sit idly by while you terrorize NorthEast Asia.
5. Pull all troops and financial support out of Saudi Arabia and the rest of the Gulf region within ten years. You want us out? Fine by me. We'll get our oil from somewhere else while we develop alt-energy plans.
6. On states that sponsor terrorism and/or disregard human rights. In the event that were still giving you foreign aid... done. No more. Bye. BYE. If we didn't and you feel the need to back groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, and Al-Qaeda; oppress any or all parts of your citizenry; or decide to build weapons programs that are deemed as offensive... we well put the squeeze on you so tight, you'll think Spandex is back in style. We're not afraid to diplomatically neuter you. We'll talk to whoever will listen and get the entire world to vote you off the island until you change or the people force you to. And if it's decided it's necessary, we will act "de oppresso liber". Be prepared to see that motto a lot if you try to screw around.
7. Israel/Palestine: We are for Israel's right to exist. We are also for an independent Palestinian state (free and democratic). Here's our stance. We will help achieve a Palestinian state as long as Israel remains secure. We will not talk with any far-left or right wing figures in this quest. Sharon. Done. Arafat, you don't know when to stop. Face it. You've been done for awhile. When moderate figures from both sides are allowed to be apart of creating a peaceful resolution, then we will talk. Until then, we will stop arming Israel but will support their right to defend themselves (in a rational fashion...11 dead Palestinian kids is not appropriate collateral damage for a "Hamas leader".) To Palestinians... we will help push for a state of your own. But the longer you let people like Arafat represent you, the longer you allow terrorism to fester in your neighborhoods, the longer it will take for that goal to be achieved.
8. Push for more democratic, free, and healthy Sub-Saharan Africa. People like Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe are making lives for Africans hell. We need to provide NPO's such as Amnesty International, the Red Cross, Docs/Nurses without borders with as much support as they can handle...and then some more. We need to make sure we commit more than enough time and money to these groups in order to combat disease, famine, and oppression there. It's time that Africa step into the 21st century.
9. Miscellaneous:
Turkey and Iraq....get ready for an independent Kurdistan. We'll hire babysitters if we have to, but by God, if any one you three act out... so help me... Oh, and Indonesia... if we see what with saw with East Timor/ Ache again.....
II. Domestic Policy
1. Illegal Immigration: I don't care how long you've ben here, if you haven't made an attempt at becoming a citizen, pack your bags. Starting on a date soon after my inauguration, if you're caught crossing the border, instant deportation. Unless you're seeking asylum of some sort (in which case you will have your case heard within 48 hours and a judge will decide right there on the spot based on your specific situation), pack your bags. Beginning on the aforementioned date, any illegal immigrants not found yet that are residing in the US have two weeks to declare their intent to become a citizen. They will be given documentation to make sure they do not fall into any loopholes and are sent back. Go through the system.... there's a reason why it's there.
2. Taking care of the mentally/physically handicapped is an issue very dear to my heart. My brother has a severe case of Cerebal Palsy. At one point, my parents will be unable to care for him and attend to his needs. They shouldn't have to even question the quality of care that their son will be receiving. Yet, there are some places that have been so horribly run, it's absolutely sickening. This is why I will make sure, a) state organizations and the private companies that fall under them pass care standards that will ensure that those who depend on us are not failed by us. This will also include hiring standards that make sure only the best qualified are hired as caregivers. b ) cash incentives will be given to people that want to enter this field. c) increase the amount of money families get for taking care of a disabled child.
3. Abortion: This issue has divided this nation for over thirty years and I imagine my proposals will not be agreed on by everybody.
Abortion will be banned unless in the case where the woman is raped or her life is in danger. Partial-birth will certainly stay banned. If you need 5-6 months to decide whether or not you need to keep a child, you need your tubes tied. Let's start taking responsiblity for our actions people.
4. Alternative energy: We need to find alternative energy sources and fast. Our national reserves are up in 2012 and America will not continue to be dependent on foreign nations for energy. Therefore, I will propose that current auto companies will be barred from buying patents from others in the private sector that involve automobiles that run on alternative energy. In fact, we will begin providing cash incentives (R/D loans, grants, tax breaks) to companies and individuals who aggressively seek alternative fuel/energy sources. I don't care if it's Bio-Diesel, Solar, Lunar, Electric, Hydro-electric, alcohol, ethanol, whatever. All I know that we need to conserve our petroleum for other things like plastic and not SUV's who get 20 mpg.
5. Ensuring the environment remains protected. The alt-energy policy will be reflected in this. Harsher penalties for companies that abuse the environment and refuse to respect it.
6. Homelessness: We have to eliminate this problem. We first have to assess whether some need mental health care and for others we ask one question. "What is keeping you from working and contributing to society?" I propose training these people for entry level jobs in a field that suits them and help them find work. As far as housing goes, there are vacant lots all across the nation where housing can be easily established, if only temporary.
7. Drugs: I am open to legalizing recreational drugs, i.e. Mushrooms, Marijuana, Peyote, a.k.a. any drug that can be obtained and used in its natural state. These drugs will only be sold by people who obtain licenses, and one will only be granted a licence after meeting (pardon the pun) high standards. The legal age to purchase and possess these substances will be 21. They will be regulated by each state, with the Federal government setting the bar for licensing standards, age requirements, and taxing. Hardcore drugs such as Cocaine, Heroin, Methamphetamine, PCP, LSD, etc. will continue to be illegal.
8. Gay Marriage: Same sex marriages will be allowed. The religious right and ultra-conservatives can scream about values and the Bible all they want, as long as the heterosexual divorce rate in this nation is at 1 in every 2 (and don't forget, the Old Testament speaks out on divorce), they have no solid argument.
9. There will be no laws dictating what one can do or not in their home, as long as it doesn't violate standing law or endanger the lives of other people. If you wanna drink lighter fluid and pee fire in your asbestos laden bathroom, I will flick the Bic (thanks Dennis Miller!). But as soon as you decide to do something that puts my loved ones at risk... you're done. With great power comes great responsibility. don't screw it up.
This is all just for starters...
Vote Reta/McCain in 2020!
Edited to add that I'd propose the Electoral College be abolished and we go to a "one man, one vote" election process.
I agree with pretty much every thing said here, so I don't want to sound like an echo.
So I will add to the few things said here.
I would support the addition these clauses to the U.S. Constitution:
No more unrelated riders.
This would effectively get rid of hate crimes.
I think this is self explanatory.
Make it harder for congress to appropriate money.
More monetary accountability.
Also, I would support replacement of the 17th amendment with an amendment that follows these goals:
So I will add to the few things said here.
I would support the addition these clauses to the U.S. Constitution:
No more unrelated riders.
QUOTE
Every law, or resolution having the force of law, shall relate to but one subject, and that shall be expressed in the title.
This would effectively get rid of hate crimes.
QUOTE
No Government shall craft any law favoring one class of adult citizens over another, nor provide for punishment under the law for crimes committed against one class of adult persons as opposed to another.
I think this is self explanatory.
QUOTE
No artificial entity such as a corporation may be interpreted to have rights superior to the rights of individuals, nor is a Government madated under this Constitution to consider such artifical entity equal to an individual, and when the rights of individuals and the rights of artificial entities conflict, the rights of individuals shall be held to be superior to the rights of artificial entities.
Make it harder for congress to appropriate money.
QUOTE
Congress shall appropriate no money from the Treasury except by a vote of two-thirds of both Houses, taken by yeas and nays, unless it be asked and estimated for by some one of the heads of departments and submitted to Congress by the President; or for the purpose of paying its own expenses and contingencies; or for the payment of claims against the United States, the justice of which shall have been judicially declared by a tribunal for the investigation of claims against the Government, which it is hereby made the duty of Congress to establish.
More monetary accountability.
QUOTE
All bills appropriating money shall specify in Federal currency the exact amount of each appropriation and the purposes for which it is made; and Congress shall grant no extra compensation to any public contractor, officer, agent, or servant, after such contract shall have been made or such service rendered.
Also, I would support replacement of the 17th amendment with an amendment that follows these goals:
- A senator is selected in a manor chosen by the state (direct election or appointment by State Legislators), including default manor of selection
- A senator can be removed by a majority of each house of the State Legislators, or in a manor that they prescribe.
- The senators are to primarily represent the State Legislators.
- Facilitate communication between the State legislators and there Senators.
1) Send my cabinet and judicial appointments to the Senate. Notify them that they have 60 days to bring each and every candidate to a floor vote. After that 60 days pasess, veto everything as long as any candidates haven't been voted on.
2) Review all of the WoT detainees.
3) Make it crystal clear that the US will not be seeking to "bring terrorists to justice." We will be killing them.
4) Put Michelle Malkin in charge of the INS. Withhold ALL Federal funding, of any sort, to any jurisidiction that obstructs INS activities, refuses to hold illegals, etc.
5) Veto any and all corporate welfare that comes across my desk.
6) Revoke Most Favored Nation Status for the People's Republic of China.
7) Have weekly 1-2 hour interviews with the press.
8) Push nuclear power forward. You want alternative energy that can meet our electrical needs, there it is. Along with the effort to build new, modern, nuclear power facilities, put substantial resources into fuel cell development. Accelerate the building and implementation of the High Level Nuclear Waste Repository.
9) Prohibit the use of federal highway funds for ANY road projects that collect tolls. If a state wants to charge a toll, they gotta build the road themselves.
10) Change the tooth 2 tail ratio of the Department of Defense, boosting the tooth.
11) Initiate a review of all executive orders, revoking all that fail my test of limited government federalism.
12) Use the "Bully Pulpit" of the Presidency to turn the nascent private sector "space race" into a 21st Century version of the America's Cup.
13) Slash funding for AIDS research, directing the funding to diseases that kill more people. Current AIDS research funding is 13 times per death higher than the next closest disease! 13 times, for an easily preventable disease.
14) Move to privatize Social Security.
15) Push repeal of McCain-Feingold, and all restrictions on campaign financing by individual citizens, setting simply a reasonable disclosure threshold. Prohibit any electioneering by unions AND corporations.
16) Withhold Federal funds from any jurisidictions that abuse eminent domain.
17) Push for the repeal of laws that deprive convicted felons of their right to vote. Once the sentence is completed, full civil rights should be restored.
18) Eliminate loopholes in the tax code, reduce the federal regulatory burden, cut Federal spending on extra-Constitutional activities with the intent of eliminating those activities entirely.
19) Notify the Justice Department that MY JD won't be engaging in egregious "charge stacking", and that double jeopardy means being prosecuted twice AT ANY LEVEL for the same incident.
20) Recast the Federal gov'ts role in the "Drug War". Fed may prohibit the movement of drugs across state lines, and absolutely prohibit importation, but it does not have the authority to enforce its drug laws within states. If a state wants to allow maryjane, let em.
That's all for now. Should keep me pretty busy for the first few months.
2) Review all of the WoT detainees.
3) Make it crystal clear that the US will not be seeking to "bring terrorists to justice." We will be killing them.
4) Put Michelle Malkin in charge of the INS. Withhold ALL Federal funding, of any sort, to any jurisidiction that obstructs INS activities, refuses to hold illegals, etc.
5) Veto any and all corporate welfare that comes across my desk.
6) Revoke Most Favored Nation Status for the People's Republic of China.
7) Have weekly 1-2 hour interviews with the press.
8) Push nuclear power forward. You want alternative energy that can meet our electrical needs, there it is. Along with the effort to build new, modern, nuclear power facilities, put substantial resources into fuel cell development. Accelerate the building and implementation of the High Level Nuclear Waste Repository.
9) Prohibit the use of federal highway funds for ANY road projects that collect tolls. If a state wants to charge a toll, they gotta build the road themselves.
10) Change the tooth 2 tail ratio of the Department of Defense, boosting the tooth.
11) Initiate a review of all executive orders, revoking all that fail my test of limited government federalism.
12) Use the "Bully Pulpit" of the Presidency to turn the nascent private sector "space race" into a 21st Century version of the America's Cup.
13) Slash funding for AIDS research, directing the funding to diseases that kill more people. Current AIDS research funding is 13 times per death higher than the next closest disease! 13 times, for an easily preventable disease.
14) Move to privatize Social Security.
15) Push repeal of McCain-Feingold, and all restrictions on campaign financing by individual citizens, setting simply a reasonable disclosure threshold. Prohibit any electioneering by unions AND corporations.
16) Withhold Federal funds from any jurisidictions that abuse eminent domain.
17) Push for the repeal of laws that deprive convicted felons of their right to vote. Once the sentence is completed, full civil rights should be restored.
18) Eliminate loopholes in the tax code, reduce the federal regulatory burden, cut Federal spending on extra-Constitutional activities with the intent of eliminating those activities entirely.
19) Notify the Justice Department that MY JD won't be engaging in egregious "charge stacking", and that double jeopardy means being prosecuted twice AT ANY LEVEL for the same incident.
20) Recast the Federal gov'ts role in the "Drug War". Fed may prohibit the movement of drugs across state lines, and absolutely prohibit importation, but it does not have the authority to enforce its drug laws within states. If a state wants to allow maryjane, let em.
That's all for now. Should keep me pretty busy for the first few months.
I would hate to be president but...
Social Issues
-All abortions are legal, no parent notification, no Laci Peterson law
-Tax the church
-No under god in pledge of allegiance
-Take in god we trust off money
-Same sex marriage allowed
-Decriminalize tarring and feathering Pat Robertson
-Get rid of faith-based initiative and never fund anything remotely religious
-Abolish the death penalty
Education
-No school vouchers
-Increase federal funding for improving school infrastructure
-Vastly increase funding for head start
Election Reform
-Popular vote to elect president
Crime
-Legalize all drugs
-Let everybody out of prison arrested on a drug offense
Fiscal Policy
-Clinton era tax rates, maybe top 1% pays more
-No corporate welfare, less farm subsidies
-NASA, massive budget cut unless they can do something worthwhile
-High taxes on newly legal drugs, use money for education
-High estate tax
Foreign Policy
-Energy independence as quickly as possible to make way for embargo on Saudi Arabia
-Speed up Iraqiazation of coalition forces in Iraq, then leave and hope for the best
-Increase foreign aid especially to Africa and the third world
Other
-Vastly improve commuter rail where practical, ideally to France quality
-Allow advertising for hard liquor and tobacco anywhere
-Find someway to invest in Americans being fat and stupid, it can’t fail
Social Issues
-All abortions are legal, no parent notification, no Laci Peterson law
-Tax the church
-No under god in pledge of allegiance
-Take in god we trust off money
-Same sex marriage allowed
-Decriminalize tarring and feathering Pat Robertson
-Get rid of faith-based initiative and never fund anything remotely religious
-Abolish the death penalty
Education
-No school vouchers
-Increase federal funding for improving school infrastructure
-Vastly increase funding for head start
Election Reform
-Popular vote to elect president
Crime
-Legalize all drugs
-Let everybody out of prison arrested on a drug offense
Fiscal Policy
-Clinton era tax rates, maybe top 1% pays more
-No corporate welfare, less farm subsidies
-NASA, massive budget cut unless they can do something worthwhile
-High taxes on newly legal drugs, use money for education
-High estate tax
Foreign Policy
-Energy independence as quickly as possible to make way for embargo on Saudi Arabia
-Speed up Iraqiazation of coalition forces in Iraq, then leave and hope for the best
-Increase foreign aid especially to Africa and the third world
Other
-Vastly improve commuter rail where practical, ideally to France quality
-Allow advertising for hard liquor and tobacco anywhere
-Find someway to invest in Americans being fat and stupid, it can’t fail
Ok, it seems that the question should have been "if I were elected despot...", but it sure makes it more fun...
I. War on Terror:
A. Diplomacy:
Free trade, as much as we can stomach, with everybody. Free trade develops countries far better than aid, or military intervention. Reduce the conditions that produce zealous suicide bombers.
B. Intelligence:
we can't play by the same rules in the US vs. US citizens that we can elsewhere, so we still need the FBI & the CIA. However, I'd have a cabinet level intelligence czar, and the CIA would be the clearinghouse for all intelligence (the CIA cannot legally arrest anyone in the US, the FBI can). I would create an intelligence system that would put the Mossad to shame. I want human intelligence in every country on the planet.
C. WMD pre-emption:
I'd buy up every stinking last nuke on the planet. I'd track, as much as possible, every WMD precursor. I would act, unilaterally, if necessary, to disrupt WMD production / accumulation as soon as I found enough evidence (to be revealed soon after the fact) to justify it, to the American people first, and the rest of the world second.
D. Border defense:
No ship would get within cruise missle distance of our shores without a clear bill from a reputable departure port. This would probably require much of our naval forces to be returned from overseas duties, but so be it. Improve the Aegis system to the point that it is a credible cruise missle defence, and create a land-based version of it for our northern and southern borders. Northern & Southern borders would be patrolled and defended by Reserve Divisions. Inspect incoming containers & products via whatever path of entry they take. Require 100% inspection for shipments from 'suspect' countries.
E. Retaliation:
Any country that launched an ICBM would be reduced to glassified soil within 45 minutes. Develop our Marine Expiditionary Units, and our Airborne forces such that they can forcibly insert the equivalent of a full mechanized division within 72h of 'GO', anywhere in the world.
F. Target Hardening:
Reserve and N.G. security at critical infrastructure. Gradually increasing tax / user fees on such infrastructure such that each is eventually self-supporting (or replaced by a non-critical substitute). Create 5 regional air-mobile multi-role response teams for mitigation and investigation of any terrorist incident.
II. Iraq: Stay the course. City by city, region by region, eliminate the gunmen, allow democratic PROPORTIONALLY Representative elections, and turn over the keys.
III. Healthcare
5 year conversion to a Swiss-style, market-based, universal healthcare system. 1st step: migrate from employer-based health insurance to individual-based.
2nd step: reduce disconnect between healthcare consumer and healthcare costs by requiring a percent of costs to be paid (out of health savings or pocket), up to an annual maximum
3rd step: migrate medicaid funds to partial subsidies for low-wealth, low-income citizens.
4th step: make insurance purchase compulsory for individuals
Insurance companies compete for individuals, doctors compete for patients.
IV. Democracy
Barring a gee-whiz constitutional amendment:
A. Encourage states to allocate their electoral votes proportionally.
B. Encourage states to allocate their congressional representative proportionally.
C. Encourage state to elect their Senators through IRV or better, Ranked-Pairs.
D. Disband the Commission on Presidential Debates.
V. Revenue & Fiscal Policy
A: Propose an amendment limiting Federal Discretionary Spending to two hundredths (2/100) more than the previous year, barring supermajority vote of Congress.
B: Shift all federal taxes, over 5 years to the following:
1. Resource use charges: auction value charges for government licenses to mine, drill, broadcast, harvest timber, fish, or graze. One third (1/3) of this revenue would be returned, in equal amounts, to each adult citizen of the U.S., as a Citizen's Dividend for use of our shared natural resources.
2. Federal highway system maintenance paid for entirely with vehicle registration fees, fuel taxes, and tolls. No federal money for new highway lane miles.
3. Automated Payment Transaction tax: any non-cash monetary transaction would be taxed at ~0.1% each way. Cash withdrawals or deposits woudl be taxed 0.3% each way.
4. Pollution Taxes: starting VERY small, but increasing annually, all pollutants would be taxed. 1/3 of this would be returned to each adult citizen as a rebate, 1/3 would be used for clean up of abandoned sites and/or establishment of wilderness areas, and 1/3 of this would be used for general revenue.
5. As each of these taxes come on-line, reduce income and corporate taxes in a revenue neutral pattern. For personall income taxes, gradually expand the 10% bracket upwards until it is a flat tax, and then expand the standard deduction.
6. Strongly encourage, and assist, the several states to shift their taxes to taxes on the land value (not property, not income, not sales) contained within them, as well as the use of state-owned property for grazing, fishing, mining, etc.
VI: Welfare reform:
Freeze welfare spending at current dollar number levels. Phase out majority of welfare as aforementioned Citizen Dividends and Pollution Rebates become significant. Eliminate the Federal Minimum Wage.
VII: Social Security Reform:
Phase in compulsory individual private retirement accounts and disability pensions for younger workers. Continue to fulfill obligations to current workers who do not opt out of the system. The Citizen Dividend and Pollution tax Rebate will provide a meager minimum universal income.
VIII: Energy policy:
Recognizing that cheap energy has powered our industrial might for years, prepare for the end of oil as a cheap source of energy by introducing low taxes on oil as a pollutant (see above) which in effect subsidizes alternative energy sources while raising revenue. The 1/3 rebate would be a net benefit to most consumers.
I. War on Terror:
A. Diplomacy:
Free trade, as much as we can stomach, with everybody. Free trade develops countries far better than aid, or military intervention. Reduce the conditions that produce zealous suicide bombers.
B. Intelligence:
we can't play by the same rules in the US vs. US citizens that we can elsewhere, so we still need the FBI & the CIA. However, I'd have a cabinet level intelligence czar, and the CIA would be the clearinghouse for all intelligence (the CIA cannot legally arrest anyone in the US, the FBI can). I would create an intelligence system that would put the Mossad to shame. I want human intelligence in every country on the planet.
C. WMD pre-emption:
I'd buy up every stinking last nuke on the planet. I'd track, as much as possible, every WMD precursor. I would act, unilaterally, if necessary, to disrupt WMD production / accumulation as soon as I found enough evidence (to be revealed soon after the fact) to justify it, to the American people first, and the rest of the world second.
D. Border defense:
No ship would get within cruise missle distance of our shores without a clear bill from a reputable departure port. This would probably require much of our naval forces to be returned from overseas duties, but so be it. Improve the Aegis system to the point that it is a credible cruise missle defence, and create a land-based version of it for our northern and southern borders. Northern & Southern borders would be patrolled and defended by Reserve Divisions. Inspect incoming containers & products via whatever path of entry they take. Require 100% inspection for shipments from 'suspect' countries.
E. Retaliation:
Any country that launched an ICBM would be reduced to glassified soil within 45 minutes. Develop our Marine Expiditionary Units, and our Airborne forces such that they can forcibly insert the equivalent of a full mechanized division within 72h of 'GO', anywhere in the world.
F. Target Hardening:
Reserve and N.G. security at critical infrastructure. Gradually increasing tax / user fees on such infrastructure such that each is eventually self-supporting (or replaced by a non-critical substitute). Create 5 regional air-mobile multi-role response teams for mitigation and investigation of any terrorist incident.
II. Iraq: Stay the course. City by city, region by region, eliminate the gunmen, allow democratic PROPORTIONALLY Representative elections, and turn over the keys.
III. Healthcare
5 year conversion to a Swiss-style, market-based, universal healthcare system. 1st step: migrate from employer-based health insurance to individual-based.
2nd step: reduce disconnect between healthcare consumer and healthcare costs by requiring a percent of costs to be paid (out of health savings or pocket), up to an annual maximum
3rd step: migrate medicaid funds to partial subsidies for low-wealth, low-income citizens.
4th step: make insurance purchase compulsory for individuals
Insurance companies compete for individuals, doctors compete for patients.
IV. Democracy
Barring a gee-whiz constitutional amendment:
A. Encourage states to allocate their electoral votes proportionally.
B. Encourage states to allocate their congressional representative proportionally.
C. Encourage state to elect their Senators through IRV or better, Ranked-Pairs.
D. Disband the Commission on Presidential Debates.
V. Revenue & Fiscal Policy
A: Propose an amendment limiting Federal Discretionary Spending to two hundredths (2/100) more than the previous year, barring supermajority vote of Congress.
B: Shift all federal taxes, over 5 years to the following:
1. Resource use charges: auction value charges for government licenses to mine, drill, broadcast, harvest timber, fish, or graze. One third (1/3) of this revenue would be returned, in equal amounts, to each adult citizen of the U.S., as a Citizen's Dividend for use of our shared natural resources.
2. Federal highway system maintenance paid for entirely with vehicle registration fees, fuel taxes, and tolls. No federal money for new highway lane miles.
3. Automated Payment Transaction tax: any non-cash monetary transaction would be taxed at ~0.1% each way. Cash withdrawals or deposits woudl be taxed 0.3% each way.
4. Pollution Taxes: starting VERY small, but increasing annually, all pollutants would be taxed. 1/3 of this would be returned to each adult citizen as a rebate, 1/3 would be used for clean up of abandoned sites and/or establishment of wilderness areas, and 1/3 of this would be used for general revenue.
5. As each of these taxes come on-line, reduce income and corporate taxes in a revenue neutral pattern. For personall income taxes, gradually expand the 10% bracket upwards until it is a flat tax, and then expand the standard deduction.
6. Strongly encourage, and assist, the several states to shift their taxes to taxes on the land value (not property, not income, not sales) contained within them, as well as the use of state-owned property for grazing, fishing, mining, etc.
VI: Welfare reform:
Freeze welfare spending at current dollar number levels. Phase out majority of welfare as aforementioned Citizen Dividends and Pollution Rebates become significant. Eliminate the Federal Minimum Wage.
VII: Social Security Reform:
Phase in compulsory individual private retirement accounts and disability pensions for younger workers. Continue to fulfill obligations to current workers who do not opt out of the system. The Citizen Dividend and Pollution tax Rebate will provide a meager minimum universal income.
VIII: Energy policy:
Recognizing that cheap energy has powered our industrial might for years, prepare for the end of oil as a cheap source of energy by introducing low taxes on oil as a pollutant (see above) which in effect subsidizes alternative energy sources while raising revenue. The 1/3 rebate would be a net benefit to most consumers.
<I originally wrote this for a different board some time ago, but the classics never go out of style>
Ladies and Gentlemen, I stand before you today to ask for your vote. I ask not for myself but for those other, less telegenic people who can't front a major media campaign but who count on the simple graft and patronage of a major political party to keep them alive each day. I've seen the horror of entire communities of political consultants wiped out with a simple change in election strategy, I've seen career low level appointees cast out, forced to live each day in the private sector because previous administrations brought in their own low level political appointees. I've looked this tragedy in the face and seen it, and it is for the face of this tragedy that I am running.
The road will not be short nor easy and, apart from when I run in Kansas, it will not be flat. In some places the pavement may be in disrepair. But I shall run and I shall keep running-running to get to a place called Washington; running so that someday I can have other people to run for me so I can focus on the business of the people and getting whatever piece of it is worth my time.
We have lived in an age of high crimes in the highest offices which is why I commit myself to low crimes-mine will not be the administration of scandal but rather one of low level theft, jay walking, watering the lawn without a permit; it is through these small steps that will allow larger steps to be taken and larger shoes to be worn while I take those steps. And take those steps I shall, even though I have someone to run for me.
Everywhere I go, I'm asked "what am I for, what do I believe in?" And I have thought, and I have prayed, and I can say "I AM for things, I DO believe things" and I say it with the pride and conviction that comes from being for something and believing in something that may or may not be the same something I am for. If this be bold, then so be it for I do not fear boldness when it comes to what I believe and what I am for or even what I am for and what I believe.
I believe in children. I see them everywhere and, unlike many of the other things I see everywhere, I hear them and they seem to have corporeal bodies. This is the core of my belief, that there are children, that they are real, that these children are our future and we must teach them well and let them lead the way. I also believe in listening to soft rock stations. I will protect our children from the scourge of drugs and alcohol-children today are drinking beers, smoking pot, sniffing glue and I say to you: Let me drink that beer, let me smoke that pot, let me sniff that glue. For ever beer I drink, every joint I bogart, every container of industrial adhesive I huff is one less for the children of America. And it's one more for me. And that is something we can all agree on.
I run for the love of this country. I remember a time when a man could spout platitudes and be considered wise, I remember a time before TV, I didn't like it, but I remember it. I run because this country must go back to what made it great. This country must move forward fearlessly into the future. This country must find what it has lost. I run because this country should also remember to wear it's hat when the weather gets cold, and a scarf too. I say to you today, let me remind you to put on that hat and that scarf and let us all go together. I do not promise easy answers, I don't know where we must go as a country but I know you should all use the bathroom before we leave because I don't want to have to stop once we're on the road.
I have heard your hope and I have heard your dreams. I have tapped your phones and watched you in the shower through a telescope, especially those of you who are more attractive than most.
Friends, and I call you friends because I can't remember every one of your names, I am here to run, I am here to win, I am here to rest afterwards, and I am here for your vote.
I thank you.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I stand before you today to ask for your vote. I ask not for myself but for those other, less telegenic people who can't front a major media campaign but who count on the simple graft and patronage of a major political party to keep them alive each day. I've seen the horror of entire communities of political consultants wiped out with a simple change in election strategy, I've seen career low level appointees cast out, forced to live each day in the private sector because previous administrations brought in their own low level political appointees. I've looked this tragedy in the face and seen it, and it is for the face of this tragedy that I am running.
The road will not be short nor easy and, apart from when I run in Kansas, it will not be flat. In some places the pavement may be in disrepair. But I shall run and I shall keep running-running to get to a place called Washington; running so that someday I can have other people to run for me so I can focus on the business of the people and getting whatever piece of it is worth my time.
We have lived in an age of high crimes in the highest offices which is why I commit myself to low crimes-mine will not be the administration of scandal but rather one of low level theft, jay walking, watering the lawn without a permit; it is through these small steps that will allow larger steps to be taken and larger shoes to be worn while I take those steps. And take those steps I shall, even though I have someone to run for me.
Everywhere I go, I'm asked "what am I for, what do I believe in?" And I have thought, and I have prayed, and I can say "I AM for things, I DO believe things" and I say it with the pride and conviction that comes from being for something and believing in something that may or may not be the same something I am for. If this be bold, then so be it for I do not fear boldness when it comes to what I believe and what I am for or even what I am for and what I believe.
I believe in children. I see them everywhere and, unlike many of the other things I see everywhere, I hear them and they seem to have corporeal bodies. This is the core of my belief, that there are children, that they are real, that these children are our future and we must teach them well and let them lead the way. I also believe in listening to soft rock stations. I will protect our children from the scourge of drugs and alcohol-children today are drinking beers, smoking pot, sniffing glue and I say to you: Let me drink that beer, let me smoke that pot, let me sniff that glue. For ever beer I drink, every joint I bogart, every container of industrial adhesive I huff is one less for the children of America. And it's one more for me. And that is something we can all agree on.
I run for the love of this country. I remember a time when a man could spout platitudes and be considered wise, I remember a time before TV, I didn't like it, but I remember it. I run because this country must go back to what made it great. This country must move forward fearlessly into the future. This country must find what it has lost. I run because this country should also remember to wear it's hat when the weather gets cold, and a scarf too. I say to you today, let me remind you to put on that hat and that scarf and let us all go together. I do not promise easy answers, I don't know where we must go as a country but I know you should all use the bathroom before we leave because I don't want to have to stop once we're on the road.
I have heard your hope and I have heard your dreams. I have tapped your phones and watched you in the shower through a telescope, especially those of you who are more attractive than most.
Friends, and I call you friends because I can't remember every one of your names, I am here to run, I am here to win, I am here to rest afterwards, and I am here for your vote.
I thank you.
Since I was nominated by the fine citizens of AD as 'Member you would most like to be elected to office 2003-2004'......it's only fitting that I lay out my platform 
Foreign Policy/Military:
-Close all foreign bases, perform the necessary environmental cleanup and call it even.
-Use the money formerly allocated for the expenses of those bases to do two things:
1. Build 5-7 more carriers, but design them for rotary wing use and troop transport. This way we can take a Brigade or Division of the 101st ABN, or additional Marine Expeditionary Units virtually anywhere in the world and use these carriers as 'floating lily pads' to launch assaults and return to, without worrying about basing or overflight rights, and force protection.
2. Stockpile pre-positioned heavy armor and other vehicles, ammunition, water, etc...in friendly, stable countries in all corners of the world. Much like we do in Diego Garcia and Kuwait, but on a larger scale. This would require lightly manned facilities, and would reduce sealift time in the event we needed armor fast in a conflict.
-Reduce the Army to 9 divisions, using the 1/3 rule: 1/3 Armor, 1/3 Medium Infantry (Stryker), 1/3 Airborne/Air Assault. Increase the Ranger Regiment by 1 Battalion, increase Special Forces by 1 Battalion per Group and an additional Squadron for Delta. (I'm not sure of the wish lists of the other services, so I would need to talk to the respective service chiefs)
-Increase the size and funding of the Coast Guard across the board.
-Support the formation of a Palestinian state, as that seems like the only possible avenue that may end homicide bombings. Insure the global recognition of that state, while ensuring beyond a shadow of a doubt, Israel's security. Ensure that statehood is not granted until democratic reforms are instituted and Arafat is retired.
-Work for a re-structuring of the UN Security Council. Take France off, and allocate a permanent seat for the EU, Japan and India.
-Work for a simple law to preserve a once hallowed institution: To join the U.N.'s democratic assembly, a country must first be democratic. Why should a U.N. diplomat be allowed to demand from foreigners the very privileges that his government denies to its own people?
-Work tirelessly to ensure elections are held on time in Iraq. Immediately work with the new government to rotate US troops out of country within 6 months after the new leader is inaugurated. Relace our troops with UN member nations, primarily from the Gulf States until they are no longer needed.
-Continue the course in Afghanistan, stabilizing the central government with the help and leadership of NATO. Work closely diplomatically and militarily with Pakistan to scour and clear the border region between the two nations.
Education:
-Downsize the beauracracy of the DOE.
-Increase school vouchers, with oversight at the state level.
-Keep charter schools, but bring them in under an umbrella of standards and oversight.
Energy Policy:
-Drill in ANWR.
-Build 2-3 refineries.
-Close aging nuclear plants, but replace them with clean, state of the art facilities.
-Vastly increase wind, geo-thermal and solar power projects, to eventually take the place of coal and electric plants.
-Have a long term vision of powering our entire nation with a combination of nuclear and alternative power.
-Reduce our reliance on ME oil, replacing our needs with Russian, Canadian and ANWR.
-Use federal funds to invest in hybrid vehicles, starting with the GSA fleet.
Healthcare:
-Free healthcare for all children to the age of 18.
-Shift away from employer provided healthcare (a relic from WWII). Replace with medical savings accounts and tax credits.
-Free basic emergency medical care, and free medical screening. (STD, cancer, etc..)
-Place Reserve and National Guard on the Tricare healthcare plan, just like active duty.
Social Security:
- A combination of three systems:
1. The present system for those already covered, already paying into (if they wish to keep it) and future persons who sign up for it.
2. A voluntary hybrid systems, allowing private investment of up to 50% of funds paid to SSN, and a basic safety net for those participants.
3. Total self sufficiency. Voluntary route where no taxes are withheld whatsoever. The individual is totally responsible for his or her retirement savings and is provided no safety net by the government aside from those services available to all citizens free of charge.
Crime:
-Start with the legalization of marijuana, eventually (after study and research) leading to de-criminalization of all drugs.
-Immediately pardon all drug offenders, provided they were not charged with coinciding violent offenses.
-Provide drug rehabilitation for users at low cost, or payment by community service.
-Keep the three strikes law for violent offenders and institute it nationally.
-De-criminalize prostitution.
Taxes:
-Abolish the IRS and move immediately to the FAIR TAX system.
-End the tax exempt status of all churches, unless they perform a viable and visible role in helping their community (thus taking some burden off of the government).
-End federal taxing of all active duty military. (I believe this would do wonders for recruiting and retention rates.)
-End medicare taxes on active duty military.
Misc:
-End abuses of Eminent Domain.
-Close the borders entirely until we reform the INS and strengthen the Border Patrol. Institute a system of remote ground sensors and Predator/Global Hawk UAV's to cut down on random patrols and quicken response time.
-Nationalize the welfare-to-work program, providing job training and childcare.
-Trade food stamps for a debit card-like system to reduce fraud.
-Re-evaluate ALL federal government departments to streamline function.
I could go on forever, there's so many areas that need help....but until I'm formally elected, I better get some work done at my day job.
Foreign Policy/Military:
-Close all foreign bases, perform the necessary environmental cleanup and call it even.
-Use the money formerly allocated for the expenses of those bases to do two things:
1. Build 5-7 more carriers, but design them for rotary wing use and troop transport. This way we can take a Brigade or Division of the 101st ABN, or additional Marine Expeditionary Units virtually anywhere in the world and use these carriers as 'floating lily pads' to launch assaults and return to, without worrying about basing or overflight rights, and force protection.
2. Stockpile pre-positioned heavy armor and other vehicles, ammunition, water, etc...in friendly, stable countries in all corners of the world. Much like we do in Diego Garcia and Kuwait, but on a larger scale. This would require lightly manned facilities, and would reduce sealift time in the event we needed armor fast in a conflict.
-Reduce the Army to 9 divisions, using the 1/3 rule: 1/3 Armor, 1/3 Medium Infantry (Stryker), 1/3 Airborne/Air Assault. Increase the Ranger Regiment by 1 Battalion, increase Special Forces by 1 Battalion per Group and an additional Squadron for Delta. (I'm not sure of the wish lists of the other services, so I would need to talk to the respective service chiefs)
-Increase the size and funding of the Coast Guard across the board.
-Support the formation of a Palestinian state, as that seems like the only possible avenue that may end homicide bombings. Insure the global recognition of that state, while ensuring beyond a shadow of a doubt, Israel's security. Ensure that statehood is not granted until democratic reforms are instituted and Arafat is retired.
-Work for a re-structuring of the UN Security Council. Take France off, and allocate a permanent seat for the EU, Japan and India.
-Work for a simple law to preserve a once hallowed institution: To join the U.N.'s democratic assembly, a country must first be democratic. Why should a U.N. diplomat be allowed to demand from foreigners the very privileges that his government denies to its own people?
-Work tirelessly to ensure elections are held on time in Iraq. Immediately work with the new government to rotate US troops out of country within 6 months after the new leader is inaugurated. Relace our troops with UN member nations, primarily from the Gulf States until they are no longer needed.
-Continue the course in Afghanistan, stabilizing the central government with the help and leadership of NATO. Work closely diplomatically and militarily with Pakistan to scour and clear the border region between the two nations.
Education:
-Downsize the beauracracy of the DOE.
-Increase school vouchers, with oversight at the state level.
-Keep charter schools, but bring them in under an umbrella of standards and oversight.
Energy Policy:
-Drill in ANWR.
-Build 2-3 refineries.
-Close aging nuclear plants, but replace them with clean, state of the art facilities.
-Vastly increase wind, geo-thermal and solar power projects, to eventually take the place of coal and electric plants.
-Have a long term vision of powering our entire nation with a combination of nuclear and alternative power.
-Reduce our reliance on ME oil, replacing our needs with Russian, Canadian and ANWR.
-Use federal funds to invest in hybrid vehicles, starting with the GSA fleet.
Healthcare:
-Free healthcare for all children to the age of 18.
-Shift away from employer provided healthcare (a relic from WWII). Replace with medical savings accounts and tax credits.
-Free basic emergency medical care, and free medical screening. (STD, cancer, etc..)
-Place Reserve and National Guard on the Tricare healthcare plan, just like active duty.
Social Security:
- A combination of three systems:
1. The present system for those already covered, already paying into (if they wish to keep it) and future persons who sign up for it.
2. A voluntary hybrid systems, allowing private investment of up to 50% of funds paid to SSN, and a basic safety net for those participants.
3. Total self sufficiency. Voluntary route where no taxes are withheld whatsoever. The individual is totally responsible for his or her retirement savings and is provided no safety net by the government aside from those services available to all citizens free of charge.
Crime:
-Start with the legalization of marijuana, eventually (after study and research) leading to de-criminalization of all drugs.
-Immediately pardon all drug offenders, provided they were not charged with coinciding violent offenses.
-Provide drug rehabilitation for users at low cost, or payment by community service.
-Keep the three strikes law for violent offenders and institute it nationally.
-De-criminalize prostitution.
Taxes:
-Abolish the IRS and move immediately to the FAIR TAX system.
-End the tax exempt status of all churches, unless they perform a viable and visible role in helping their community (thus taking some burden off of the government).
-End federal taxing of all active duty military. (I believe this would do wonders for recruiting and retention rates.)
-End medicare taxes on active duty military.
Misc:
-End abuses of Eminent Domain.
-Close the borders entirely until we reform the INS and strengthen the Border Patrol. Institute a system of remote ground sensors and Predator/Global Hawk UAV's to cut down on random patrols and quicken response time.
-Nationalize the welfare-to-work program, providing job training and childcare.
-Trade food stamps for a debit card-like system to reduce fraud.
-Re-evaluate ALL federal government departments to streamline function.
I could go on forever, there's so many areas that need help....but until I'm formally elected, I better get some work done at my day job.
Wow DT. You definately have my vote if you ever run for office.
QUOTE(Sleeper @ Oct 12 2004, 11:21 AM)
Wow DT. You definately have my vote if you ever run for office.
I'd have to agree... perhaps you should consider it.
DTOM, I agree with a good deal of your foreign policy ideas. Especially two I can't believe I overlooked myself. The first was taking France offthe UNSC and giving seats to Japan and India. These two nations are the major players in their continent and need to be more involved in UNSC issues. The second is one of those no-brainers that no one ever thinks about. In order to join a democratic institution, one should have democratic ideals. That's not to say the few absolute monarchies left ( isn't there one still in Scandinavia) have to become burgeoning democracies, but anyway, I liked those ideas DTOM!
Donttreadonme for president in 2012!
Donttreadonme for president in 2012!
I can't run for President (unless the Schwarzenegger amendment gets passed! ) so I'll think in terms of Prime Minister over here.
Constitution
1. Immediate abolition of the hereditary monarchy, to be replaced in all duties and privileges, but not in powers, with an elected monarch. Qualification for candidacy would be dependent on never having been a member of a political party (immediately putting paid to the "President Blair/Thatcher" nightmare scenario bandied about by monarchists).
2. Crown prerogative to disappear altogether - the central place of the monarch in the British constitution to be replaced by "the people", including in oaths of office for politicians, police officers, the military, etc. The "People's Prerogative", particularly with regard to patronage, would reside not with the executive but with the legislature.
3. Abolish the House of Lords and replace it with issue-specific committees for each legislative bill, selected randomly from the electoral roll like a jury.
4. Disestablishment of the Church, with the new constitution to be expressly and resolutely secular. All churches either become registered charities, in which case their good works become subject to independent scrutiny to make sure their tax exempt status is valid, or private businesses, to be taxed as such.
Tax
1. Taxes on fuel, alcohol, tobacco, etc to be frozen at current levels linked to inflation. Companies in these sectors would then be visible when they use the tax regime as cover for the price gouging they consistently indulge in.
2. Inheritance tax threshold to be raised to half a million pounds, but the rate to be raised to 50%. Rates to rise to 100% for any "dynasitc" wealth or income inherited - i.e anything (other than physical property that the beneficiaries intend to live in or use themselves, rather than sell, rent or lease) that was itself bequeathed to the testator from a previous generation. Meritocratic social mobility requires downward as well as upward movement, and inherited dynastic wealth is as much a barrier to social and economic mobility as those imposed by poverty.
3. Personal income tax allowances to be increased to £10,000 for each individual.
4. Basic income tax rate rises to 25%, to threshold of £40,000 (i.e. you can earn £50,000, and pay £10,000 tax on it, so the effective rate is 20%)
5. Intermediate income tax rate of 50% to threshold of £90k (i.e. the first £10 is tax free, the next £40k pays £10k, and the next £50k pays £25k. So if your gross earnings are £100k, you pay £35k tax, or 35%)
6. Top tax rate of 70% on gross earnings above £100k. Quit whining, you're still rich.
7. Tax threshold levels to be linked to average earnings and automatically to rise with them at the start of each tax year, so the split of tax taken from each band always stays the same (until the other guy comes in and ruins everything).
8. Benefits in kind, and capital gains, to be taxed in exactly the same way under the same regime, based on the higher of the two values - that spent by the donor or that gained by the receiver - but always paid by the recipient. If your share option scheme makes you a millionaire when your normal salary is £40k, you get taxed like a millionaire.
9. No other personal allowances or deductables.
10. Special nightclasses to be instituted to retrain all the accountants who lose their jobs because the income tax system is now simple enough for everyone to understand.
11. Flat rate purchase tax of 10% on everything.
12. Abolish Council Tax and use local incomes taxes instead, based on the central system outlined above, with only the rates being variable, not the thresholds. No central government component - let's make the system transparent. The central savings should help pay for taking the lowest earners out of the income tax system altogether.
13. Abolish employers payroll taxes (i.e. employers NI contributions) but shift corporation tax to a turnover basis. It should mirror personal taxation entirely - small businesses should pay no tax at all, bigger ones should pay intermediate amounts, and big ones should pay more, and the definitions of small, bigger and big should be set in stone.
14. This turnover tax should be set low and the thresholds high - maybe 0.3% at the lower level, perhaps 0.5%-1% at the top - but should apply to all revenues generated on UK operations. If you want to trade here, you pay the going rate of tax here (Messrs Murdoch, Fayed, Branson, etc., please note).
15. No import or export taxes on any good or service. If it gets used or applied inside the UK, it gets taxed at the going rate. If it doesn't, it doesn't pay tax while it sits in storage here.
Domestic policy
1. Institute a qualification system - a la Green Card - for British residency for non-EU citizens, and deport people found to be here that don't qualify. But reemphasise asylum policy, to get people away from the idea that refugees and illegal immigrants are the same thing.
1 a. In addition, all British citizens resident abroad, are liable to income tax on all income derived abroad, on penalty of forfeiture of their citizenship. No more whining tax exiles in tax havens - you're either British, or you're not, and British people pay British taxes (Messrs Connery, Caine, If you don't like it, get citizenship somewhere else.
1 b. As part of this, there would be a concerted campaign of negotiations to repatriate some or all of the taxes raised in this way to the country of residence, in return for collecting the taxes on Britain's behalf). If the local rate is 5% and the ex-pat pays 50% tax, then 5% is refunded locally, and 45% comes back to Britain. The host country still gets what they are entitled to, and the Brit still pays for the privilege of carrying one of the world's most respected passports. No sense punishing the locals, and no great loss to the Brit, who is only paying what they would have at home, with (chances are) much better weather.
2. Scrap PFI/PPP going forward, and only use private tenders for public works where public works have been tried and failed. This applies to hospital cleaners as well and hospital builders.
3. Increase military spending, particularly on the Royal Navy and Air Force, with the medium term aim of having forces deployable on their own, with no US support. This would involve a shift away from the GPS network to something else, but that's no bad thing, and defence procurement policies that didn't first ask "will it be compatible with what are the Americans using?"
4. Stop going down the cul-de-sac of "choice" as a way to improve public services. People don't want to have to choose a school for their kids or a hospital for their sick mother. They want the local one to be good.
5. Scrap the 50% target of people to have first degree qualifications. It's too high. Go back to something sensible, achievable and affordable like 10-15%, and fund it publicly. Use any cost savings, plus additional public money, to restart the emphasis on work apprenticeships to produce a vocationally skilled workforce.
6. Restructure the police force, with some additional investment as necessary, to produce more beat policemen and, more particularly, an expanded detective branch. Prison is not a deterrant to crime when criminals think they will not be caught. So catch more of them.
International affairs
1. Voluntary revocation of Britain's permanent UNSC seat in return for an EU, Indian, Japanese - the world doesn't need us there any more. This would be conditional on France giving up theirs too. Also, move to qualified majority votes, rather than vetos, in all UNSC decisions.
2. Scrapping of all manufacturing and agricultural subsidies within the EU, and tariffs between the EU and other countries; the spending saved to be diverted to other programs, such as
a. environmental protection
b. subsidisation of leisure and tourism. Make flying to Europe as cheap for Americans as driving to the mall, and more attractive than the theme park belts of Florida or LA. Not entirely stupid, since you'll be spending your money once you get here.
c. basic and applied scientific research, especially into areas such as cloning therapies, particle physics, and possible replacements for the internal combustion engine. Any patents that result to be 50% owned by the inventor and 50% by the EU, so the public domain benefits directly from its investment.
3. Intelligence services to be directed by the apolitical head of state, not the political government of the day. No more directed collection of intelligence to suit political objectives - political policy decisions instead to be taken after consideration of independently gathered intelligence.
4. Shift emphasis of foreign embassies abroad from being the promotional arm of UK Ltd to being more about protecting and supporting British citizensand their interests, whether at home or abroad.
5. Concerted pressure in every global trade and diplomatic forum to tax aviation fuel at the going rate in every tax jurisdiction on the planet. No transportation market can be a level playing field while aviation gets such a hidden subsidy.
) so I'll think in terms of Prime Minister over here.Constitution
1. Immediate abolition of the hereditary monarchy, to be replaced in all duties and privileges, but not in powers, with an elected monarch. Qualification for candidacy would be dependent on never having been a member of a political party (immediately putting paid to the "President Blair/Thatcher" nightmare scenario bandied about by monarchists).
2. Crown prerogative to disappear altogether - the central place of the monarch in the British constitution to be replaced by "the people", including in oaths of office for politicians, police officers, the military, etc. The "People's Prerogative", particularly with regard to patronage, would reside not with the executive but with the legislature.
3. Abolish the House of Lords and replace it with issue-specific committees for each legislative bill, selected randomly from the electoral roll like a jury.
4. Disestablishment of the Church, with the new constitution to be expressly and resolutely secular. All churches either become registered charities, in which case their good works become subject to independent scrutiny to make sure their tax exempt status is valid, or private businesses, to be taxed as such.
Tax
1. Taxes on fuel, alcohol, tobacco, etc to be frozen at current levels linked to inflation. Companies in these sectors would then be visible when they use the tax regime as cover for the price gouging they consistently indulge in.
2. Inheritance tax threshold to be raised to half a million pounds, but the rate to be raised to 50%. Rates to rise to 100% for any "dynasitc" wealth or income inherited - i.e anything (other than physical property that the beneficiaries intend to live in or use themselves, rather than sell, rent or lease) that was itself bequeathed to the testator from a previous generation. Meritocratic social mobility requires downward as well as upward movement, and inherited dynastic wealth is as much a barrier to social and economic mobility as those imposed by poverty.
3. Personal income tax allowances to be increased to £10,000 for each individual.
4. Basic income tax rate rises to 25%, to threshold of £40,000 (i.e. you can earn £50,000, and pay £10,000 tax on it, so the effective rate is 20%)
5. Intermediate income tax rate of 50% to threshold of £90k (i.e. the first £10 is tax free, the next £40k pays £10k, and the next £50k pays £25k. So if your gross earnings are £100k, you pay £35k tax, or 35%)
6. Top tax rate of 70% on gross earnings above £100k. Quit whining, you're still rich.
7. Tax threshold levels to be linked to average earnings and automatically to rise with them at the start of each tax year, so the split of tax taken from each band always stays the same (until the other guy comes in and ruins everything).
8. Benefits in kind, and capital gains, to be taxed in exactly the same way under the same regime, based on the higher of the two values - that spent by the donor or that gained by the receiver - but always paid by the recipient. If your share option scheme makes you a millionaire when your normal salary is £40k, you get taxed like a millionaire.
9. No other personal allowances or deductables.
10. Special nightclasses to be instituted to retrain all the accountants who lose their jobs because the income tax system is now simple enough for everyone to understand.
11. Flat rate purchase tax of 10% on everything.
12. Abolish Council Tax and use local incomes taxes instead, based on the central system outlined above, with only the rates being variable, not the thresholds. No central government component - let's make the system transparent. The central savings should help pay for taking the lowest earners out of the income tax system altogether.
13. Abolish employers payroll taxes (i.e. employers NI contributions) but shift corporation tax to a turnover basis. It should mirror personal taxation entirely - small businesses should pay no tax at all, bigger ones should pay intermediate amounts, and big ones should pay more, and the definitions of small, bigger and big should be set in stone.
14. This turnover tax should be set low and the thresholds high - maybe 0.3% at the lower level, perhaps 0.5%-1% at the top - but should apply to all revenues generated on UK operations. If you want to trade here, you pay the going rate of tax here (Messrs Murdoch, Fayed, Branson, etc., please note).
15. No import or export taxes on any good or service. If it gets used or applied inside the UK, it gets taxed at the going rate. If it doesn't, it doesn't pay tax while it sits in storage here.
Domestic policy
1. Institute a qualification system - a la Green Card - for British residency for non-EU citizens, and deport people found to be here that don't qualify. But reemphasise asylum policy, to get people away from the idea that refugees and illegal immigrants are the same thing.
1 a. In addition, all British citizens resident abroad, are liable to income tax on all income derived abroad, on penalty of forfeiture of their citizenship. No more whining tax exiles in tax havens - you're either British, or you're not, and British people pay British taxes (Messrs Connery, Caine, If you don't like it, get citizenship somewhere else.
1 b. As part of this, there would be a concerted campaign of negotiations to repatriate some or all of the taxes raised in this way to the country of residence, in return for collecting the taxes on Britain's behalf). If the local rate is 5% and the ex-pat pays 50% tax, then 5% is refunded locally, and 45% comes back to Britain. The host country still gets what they are entitled to, and the Brit still pays for the privilege of carrying one of the world's most respected passports. No sense punishing the locals, and no great loss to the Brit, who is only paying what they would have at home, with (chances are) much better weather.
2. Scrap PFI/PPP going forward, and only use private tenders for public works where public works have been tried and failed. This applies to hospital cleaners as well and hospital builders.
3. Increase military spending, particularly on the Royal Navy and Air Force, with the medium term aim of having forces deployable on their own, with no US support. This would involve a shift away from the GPS network to something else, but that's no bad thing, and defence procurement policies that didn't first ask "will it be compatible with what are the Americans using?"
4. Stop going down the cul-de-sac of "choice" as a way to improve public services. People don't want to have to choose a school for their kids or a hospital for their sick mother. They want the local one to be good.
5. Scrap the 50% target of people to have first degree qualifications. It's too high. Go back to something sensible, achievable and affordable like 10-15%, and fund it publicly. Use any cost savings, plus additional public money, to restart the emphasis on work apprenticeships to produce a vocationally skilled workforce.
6. Restructure the police force, with some additional investment as necessary, to produce more beat policemen and, more particularly, an expanded detective branch. Prison is not a deterrant to crime when criminals think they will not be caught. So catch more of them.
International affairs
1. Voluntary revocation of Britain's permanent UNSC seat in return for an EU, Indian, Japanese - the world doesn't need us there any more. This would be conditional on France giving up theirs too. Also, move to qualified majority votes, rather than vetos, in all UNSC decisions.
2. Scrapping of all manufacturing and agricultural subsidies within the EU, and tariffs between the EU and other countries; the spending saved to be diverted to other programs, such as
a. environmental protection
b. subsidisation of leisure and tourism. Make flying to Europe as cheap for Americans as driving to the mall
, and more attractive than the theme park belts of Florida or LA. Not entirely stupid, since you'll be spending your money once you get here. c. basic and applied scientific research, especially into areas such as cloning therapies, particle physics, and possible replacements for the internal combustion engine. Any patents that result to be 50% owned by the inventor and 50% by the EU, so the public domain benefits directly from its investment.
3. Intelligence services to be directed by the apolitical head of state, not the political government of the day. No more directed collection of intelligence to suit political objectives - political policy decisions instead to be taken after consideration of independently gathered intelligence.
4. Shift emphasis of foreign embassies abroad from being the promotional arm of UK Ltd to being more about protecting and supporting British citizensand their interests, whether at home or abroad.
5. Concerted pressure in every global trade and diplomatic forum to tax aviation fuel at the going rate in every tax jurisdiction on the planet. No transportation market can be a level playing field while aviation gets such a hidden subsidy.
Here you will lay out your bid for the presidency if you were to run.
Elect me and I will go to the UN and use an old resolution to justify the invasion of the United States of America for possessing dangerous WMD and to carry out regime change with the stated aim of bringing democracy to the American people.
Then, together with a broad coalition of like minded nations, I will invade and liberate the USA, using superior firepower to quell any pockets of resistance by 'anti Americans' and put a temporary government in place.
A few ministerial buildings may be looted and the numbers of civilian casualties may be high in the ensuing chaos, but I am confident that the American people will greet our invading armies with gratitude and flowers and at no point will the number of civilian deaths rise above unacceptable levels.
We may lose a few soldiers during OAF (Operation American Freedom), but on the whole the costs will be well below current defence estimates and it will not be necessary for our soldiers to burden our economy with combat pay, or special benefits. However should our defence spending rise above its current level, then I am sure we are all willing to make that extra sacrifice in the knowledge that our actions will strengthen our nation and make the world a better and safer place.
Once we have America back up and running again, we will of course hold democratic elections in those area's that are deemed safe enough for the voters, but whilst we are waiting we will sub contract all the messy little details to some old friends of the VP.
Elect me and I will go to the UN and use an old resolution to justify the invasion of the United States of America for possessing dangerous WMD and to carry out regime change with the stated aim of bringing democracy to the American people.
Then, together with a broad coalition of like minded nations, I will invade and liberate the USA, using superior firepower to quell any pockets of resistance by 'anti Americans' and put a temporary government in place.
A few ministerial buildings may be looted and the numbers of civilian casualties may be high in the ensuing chaos, but I am confident that the American people will greet our invading armies with gratitude and flowers and at no point will the number of civilian deaths rise above unacceptable levels.
We may lose a few soldiers during OAF (Operation American Freedom), but on the whole the costs will be well below current defence estimates and it will not be necessary for our soldiers to burden our economy with combat pay, or special benefits. However should our defence spending rise above its current level, then I am sure we are all willing to make that extra sacrifice in the knowledge that our actions will strengthen our nation and make the world a better and safer place.
Once we have America back up and running again, we will of course hold democratic elections in those area's that are deemed safe enough for the voters, but whilst we are waiting we will sub contract all the messy little details to some old friends of the VP.
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